Induction Kits, worth it?
Discussion
If they provide a performance boost, why don't manufactures design them that way in the first place? I know the air box reduces noise etc, but this shouldn't be a concern in a sport version if an extra few bhp is in the offering? Is the induction kit business all just a con, your thoughts?
Most people prioritise a quieter car over performance. For example my mum's 1.6 Astra has a normal airbox to keep the noise down.
Sporty cars can sometimes benefit from an induction kit, but more often than not they just draw in hot air from the engine bay. So it can be the case that the increase in intake temp more than offsets the gain from lower restriction leading to worse overall performance.
Some cars come with induction kits as standard, some with sausage filters, some with airboxes and some with no filter at all.
If you name a specific car I'm sure people will be able to explain why that particular model does or doesn't have an induction kit. As with a lot of things it's horses for courses. There's no single universal 'best' solution, only the best compromise based on a defined set of objectives which vary from car to car.
Sporty cars can sometimes benefit from an induction kit, but more often than not they just draw in hot air from the engine bay. So it can be the case that the increase in intake temp more than offsets the gain from lower restriction leading to worse overall performance.
Some cars come with induction kits as standard, some with sausage filters, some with airboxes and some with no filter at all.
If you name a specific car I'm sure people will be able to explain why that particular model does or doesn't have an induction kit. As with a lot of things it's horses for courses. There's no single universal 'best' solution, only the best compromise based on a defined set of objectives which vary from car to car.
http://autospeed.com/cms/A_1361/article.html Try this, and read part 2 at the bottom. There are some great articles on that website.
Personally I think that a modified factory airbox with the standard paper filter is the best balance between power and protection. With a cold air intake into the factory airbox you will get a nice throaty sound too. It all depends on your car's intake design, some are very good from factory, some are very restrictive. It's all trial and error.
Hope that helps,
Clarkey
Personally I think that a modified factory airbox with the standard paper filter is the best balance between power and protection. With a cold air intake into the factory airbox you will get a nice throaty sound too. It all depends on your car's intake design, some are very good from factory, some are very restrictive. It's all trial and error.
Hope that helps,
Clarkey
It's always a compromise, between noise, performance, maintance and most importantly cost.
With a nice K&N style filter you have to clean it now and again, yet another job your average joe will not do. Also something you can charge for come service time.
A decent cold air induction kits also costs money.
You also want to have some head room so you can sell that extra special high performance version 2 months after your high performance car has been released.
With a nice K&N style filter you have to clean it now and again, yet another job your average joe will not do. Also something you can charge for come service time.
A decent cold air induction kits also costs money.
You also want to have some head room so you can sell that extra special high performance version 2 months after your high performance car has been released.
Defcon5 said:
mrmr96 said:
Some cars come with induction kits as standard, some with sausage filters, some with airboxes and some with no filter at all.
What car has no filter at all?
Plus loads of tuner cars, drag cars, race cars etc. To be fair, there's not many you can buy 'off the shelf' direct from the manufcaturer which don't have any filter at all.
most cold air intakes are a crock of s
t. usually the shorter the intake pipe the better, even if the air isnt all that cold. granted more mass of air an engine can use the better, and colder air is better, but you have to understand how air accelerates inside a tube. in a short intake tube, the engine only has to suck air the air in the short tube a little ways, because a short tube has less volume it takes less work to move the air from the intake pipe into the intake manifold. because it takes less work, the air has more velocity per given mass. the longer the tube, the more air it has to accelerate every time the engine wants a gulp of air. so because you have to more air to essentially get the same amount in the engine, it takes more work to do, but the engine only does the same amount of work every time so the air velocity in the intake pipe is slower meaning less inertia for the mass of air. so the balance is to find, the point where the colder air is dense enough while being as short as possible to give the air the most momentum inside the intake. this is why most original intakes have the inlet positioned near a colder part of the engine bay, with some sort of plenum before the throttle body. the plenum acts sort of like a storage container for air.
t. usually the shorter the intake pipe the better, even if the air isnt all that cold. granted more mass of air an engine can use the better, and colder air is better, but you have to understand how air accelerates inside a tube. in a short intake tube, the engine only has to suck air the air in the short tube a little ways, because a short tube has less volume it takes less work to move the air from the intake pipe into the intake manifold. because it takes less work, the air has more velocity per given mass. the longer the tube, the more air it has to accelerate every time the engine wants a gulp of air. so because you have to more air to essentially get the same amount in the engine, it takes more work to do, but the engine only does the same amount of work every time so the air velocity in the intake pipe is slower meaning less inertia for the mass of air. so the balance is to find, the point where the colder air is dense enough while being as short as possible to give the air the most momentum inside the intake. this is why most original intakes have the inlet positioned near a colder part of the engine bay, with some sort of plenum before the throttle body. the plenum acts sort of like a storage container for air.Most of the benefits of these induction kits are at the top end with the throttle wide open. The only reason that mpg suffers is usually because the driver enjoys the induction sound and drives harder....
My '87 vettes acceleration and throttle response was improved quite a bit courtesy of itg, and even better since I fitted straight through pipes as well.
Whilst servicing my '94 Accord, I noticed the paper airfilter was very dirty and was amazed at the £18 cost of a new one. I checked out ebay and found a lovely, huge, new, cone shaped cold air kit for £12 which came complete with all adapters and fittings. As the upper and lower double airbox on the Accord was full of leaves and litter, I dumped it all and fitted the new kit in about 20mins. The result was definately positive, and its a lifetime filter which only needs a clean once in a while. It was enhanced via another custom made s/s freeflow exhaust (with cat for £150 ..not bad!). I drive routinely down to Chichester from SW Scotland and have noticed a definate improvement in the mpg. Performance wise it is better, but only like the vette, when the throttle is wide open and accelerating hard.
All in all, taking in costs, maintainance and improved running, it has worked out for me in both cases and wouldn't hesitate to do so again on another vehicle. Do a search on ebay under 'cold air induction' but check that the cone sucks from inside as well as the outside as some don't do both which will restrict the intake flow.
My '87 vettes acceleration and throttle response was improved quite a bit courtesy of itg, and even better since I fitted straight through pipes as well.
Whilst servicing my '94 Accord, I noticed the paper airfilter was very dirty and was amazed at the £18 cost of a new one. I checked out ebay and found a lovely, huge, new, cone shaped cold air kit for £12 which came complete with all adapters and fittings. As the upper and lower double airbox on the Accord was full of leaves and litter, I dumped it all and fitted the new kit in about 20mins. The result was definately positive, and its a lifetime filter which only needs a clean once in a while. It was enhanced via another custom made s/s freeflow exhaust (with cat for £150 ..not bad!). I drive routinely down to Chichester from SW Scotland and have noticed a definate improvement in the mpg. Performance wise it is better, but only like the vette, when the throttle is wide open and accelerating hard.
All in all, taking in costs, maintainance and improved running, it has worked out for me in both cases and wouldn't hesitate to do so again on another vehicle. Do a search on ebay under 'cold air induction' but check that the cone sucks from inside as well as the outside as some don't do both which will restrict the intake flow.
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