Mazda3 Forums banner

The Intake and Exhaust Story

9.5K views 10 replies 4 participants last post by  AZ-520  
#1 ·
Here is an undeniably useful story/report/review for all you people out there that have a mazda 3 'i' or and 's' (OZ terms Neo, Maxx, Maxx Sport, SP23) that would like to gain a better performance or sound or just achieve a healthier car :)

So i bought my first 2005 Mazda 3 'i' (Maxx Sport) 2.0, i wasn't much into modding back then so i kept the car basically all stock, except for a better sound system, different colour interior lights and........

Image


Installed a HPS Short Ram Intake (Tubing 2.5"), didnt want to risk hydrolock with a CAI

Everything else was stock on this car and installing that SRI was the best thing i've done for that car, it changed the car from a soft weakling to a soft ROARING car that pulled harder than ever. I loved the SRI for it.

Anyway i sold it with its stock parts and then bought a 2004 Mazda 3 'S' (SP23) 2.3

Image


Now this car i starting modding little by little.
1. Sound system upgraded, 2 amps and 6 speakers.
2. Interior Lighting
3. Front lip and rear aprons
4. Rear engine mount Street Unit (street)
5. JBR RSB
6. Matsu Strut Bar
7. Painted Engine covers
8. HPS SRI/FUJITA F5 CAI
9. Custom 2.25" Cat back exhaust with cat delete

Now 1 thing i noticed with this is that i installed the HPS SRI into it with everything else stock and the car did not have a dramatic improvement like my old 2.0 'i' did

Then i installed my rear engine mount and that helped alot, planted the wheels to the ground more and gave more power to them. It was a great mod, other than the vibrations which has died down now.

Skipping over the RSb mod and Strut bar.......................

Then i thought heck i'll delete the 2nd Cat on my car with a stock exhaust and the SRI on the car. MANNNNNNn was that a BAD MISTAKE! The car just felt like shit, it did not pull at low rpms like it used to, it didnt even change the power at the top end. I had no idea why this happened other than the back pressure theory.

Then i put my FUJITA CAI ON!!! GOD FUJITA OWNSSS!!! The car CAME BACK TO LIFE! It was pulling harder than ever from bottom to the top end, it was a way better improvement than the SRI, i had torque and power all over :)

Now just yesterday, after researching for months, i got myself a Custom 2.25 inch (lets call it flex pipe back since the cat was already deleted). The sound, you hear it when you turn the car on, it becomes quite as soon as the rev drops, there is no way you can here it over your CAI. No drone whatsoever, screams just enough when i step on, PERFECT, i hate loud exhausts.

Anyway, driving back home with brother, the car felt like it lost some torque down low, but gained alot past the middle to the top. Then driving it around my block with brother, the car feels much better all over the powerband. then a few hours later, driving to the gym, just by myself, the car has torque, it has enough to make me feel like the car was on a diet and has just lost 200 kilos. The car just feels so light now and picks up speed sooo fast and easily. Very good improvement just by an exhaust mod.

So what i figured this to be is, the hps with a 2.5" tubing did great deal for a 2.0 mazda 3 with stock exhaust tubing (2.0") although didn't do much for the 2.3 mazda 3.
Deleting the cat on a 2.3 mazda stock exhaust and SRI mazda made me lose power.
Replacing the SRI with a 2.75" tubing FUJITA CAI and a cat delete with stock exhaust gave me very good power.
Getting a 2.25" cat back with cat delete and the FUJITA CAI gave me great power and torque everywhere. I did not lose any torque down low like many people say.

Now the car Inhales better and exhales better to become a healthier car that is ready to go on its toes.
 
#2 ·
Nice! glad to hear you found out what works best for you. i have the fujita F2 cai, 3" piping for great higher end gains and a reducer around the maf so there are low end gains as well :D. my exhuast is same size piping as yours but i have a magnaflow that includes a resonator, muffler, and keeps the 2nd cat. so your entire exhaust system has a much better flow than mine, and prolly feels great to hit on. (went with magnaflow becuase of their known quality, and BEAUTIFUL sound)

do you have any plans of installing headers? that thing would be a N/A beast hahaha kanda :lol:

im installing mine today actually, (msds). deletes the first cat, so you would be going catless if you ran these. my plan is to replace the 2nd cat with magnaflows highflow cat, while running these headers, and magnaflow cbe. entirly modded exhaust set up form headers back :)
 
#3 ·
Honestly after doing these mods to the car, i'm very tempted to do the headers too :p but its soo god damn complex and causes lots of issues.

Also, yes i only have a resonator and a muffler. I spoke to the bloke, i told him, i do not want this thing loud, and now the exhaust can only be heard from the outside of the car when i step on it, where as you'd have to listen carefully to hear it inside. Theres never any drone, its my perfect exhaust, stealthy and a great performance gain.

Also for the piping sizing of the exhaust.. this is my theory.

2.5" intake pipe for the 2.0 mazda is perfect becoz it suits its stock exhaust piping of 2" which is also perfect for the car. Any larger would be bad and lose down torque. I do not recommened a cai, or a larger pipe size for the 2.0, not worth it with a 2.0 engine, unless your going to do many other performance mods.

I definitely recommened a cai for the 2.3 instead of an SRI and if you want more high end gains, a 3" tube, more down low gain a 2.5" tube or a 2.75" tube for power spread all over the powerband.

I mean its the exact theory of the exhaust, if exhaust is 2.5" with with an intake and no turbo, u lose torque down low, if its the stock exhaust, its restrictive, so a 2.25" in exhaust is in my mind the best setup for a daily driver who wants power all over, without losing torque..

If you want to go higher than 2.25 inch, i'd only recommend this to people with headers and off course turbos.
 
#4 ·
well i got the header install done yesterday, and it rly isnt that hard. just a little research will give you the info needed to avoid any problems. and i can tell your good at researching so you would be fine. i went with msds, seems to be the most trouble free. and has 2.25" outlet pipe, so it's a great compliment with the exhaust. def. recommend msds for headers if you decide to get headers.
 
#5 ·
ohh i dunno about that. i dont think i've read one review where the bloke did not receive any hassles from the header he installed. i dont want to be troubled by my ride.
maybe soon i'll try it out, but definitely not now. you should do a review on the msds header and let people see how u go.
 
#10 ·
i plan to write a review when i get time.

no cel's, the only hassle was actually installing the headers. i had 150k miles worth of rust to deal with. and there is always the risk of the o2 sensors, they often strip, or the threading melts inside the stock header. however, mine came out with no problem. a weak of pb blaster and heat works like a charm.
 
#11 ·
I got lucky with my o2 sensors, primary was stripping, even after pre-soaking with pb blaster days before, got lucky and had enough threads to work will. My car only had 27k on it as well. It is a crap shoot. As for the cels, I have had none, I had the bung weld 3 inch behind the vibrant cat, the only one I have now. I have heard in very cold temps you could get a cel, but I live in the desert. I am using the hyper tech with this set-up along with bsd mod, grounding kit, it pulls pretty good.