When most people think about purchasing an intake, they want it for the performance increases. While an intake is probably the best bang-for-the-buck modification you can make to add power and torque to your Mazda, there is another huge but often overlooked benefit, which is the improved gas mileage.
How is that possible?
Most CorkSport intakes use a conical dry flow air filter with 3” outlet that is much less restrictive than the factory filter. This directly translates to better gas mileage. We have also calibrated our precision-machined MAF housings and intakes to exacting tolerances and have designed them to work better and more efficiently than the factory intake system.
Where’s the proof?
We were beginning to get feedback from customers stating that they were seeing improvements in their gas mileage with the addition of the intake.
I have a brand new 2012 Mazdaspeed3 that is stock apart from the intake. With this new intake I have seen my average mpg for the last 12,000 miles of normal break in driving go from 28.4 to 31 miles per gallon while now driving in a much more aggressive manner during the last 1,000 miles. I am thoroughly impressed and I hope that this information can be of use to your company and other customers. – Alex B.
To be sure we needed to control the test conditions and make our own conclusions.
After testing the Skyactiv CX-5 with the factory intake system, we showed an average of 34.0 MPG. After adding the CorkSport Short Ram Intake, we have been showing an average of 38.5 MPG. This is a 13% improvement in fuel mileage just by adding the intake system.
We then went a step further and did extensive in town gas mileage testing. Though the results were not as impressive, they were still substantial. The baseline with the stock intake was 29.3mpg and improved to 31.2 with the CorkSport Short Ram Intake. This is a 6.5% improvement in fuel mileage.
Of course the CX-5 SkyActiv was designed with fuel mileage in mind so getting great MPG’s in this car was not surprising. This is when we decided to take our testing to the next level and see what could be achieved on the Mazdaspeed3.
As it turns out, the Mazdaspeed3 showed similar improvements in gas mileage in the city, but significantly less on the highway. We had a 6.1% improvement in city driving and a 4.4% Improvement on the highway, with a peak of 33.2mpg with the CorkSport Mazdaspeed intake installed.
Some customers have seen additional increases, but the results are generally subject to how a person drives. Remember, with that increase in torque and horsepower, you will be more tempted to have a heavier right foot, too.
What’s the Payoff?
With gas prices yo-yoing over the last couple of years, too, at some points topping $4.00 a gallon here in the Pacific Northwest, we estimate that the intake will be able to pay for itself in around 13,000-16,000 miles. With a national average of around 15,000 miles driven per year, you can expect your intake purchase to pay off quickly and then start getting money back in your pocket from the fuel savings.
Not only does less gas mean more money in your pocket, but fewer emissions as well, so you can tell all your environmentalist friends that you are doing your part!
To recap, better mpg, more money in your pocket and you a decrease in your carbon foot print. This all sounds good to me.
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