Post by exodus on Apr 21, 2005 6:41:00 GMT -5
Myth: My cone air intake rox0r ur BOx0R!!11oneone!
Ram and cold air intakes are great. For race cars, with race gearing. These are great when the engine goes into "SUCK" mode (probably around the same time the VIG changes the air route on our intake manifolds).
Up until this point, the engine relies on "induction." Using a device to route air into the throttle body and intake manifold. Tuning properly for a good low end curve can be very difficult. Simply changing intake length, diameter, and not so simply, the shape, will have dramatic impact on your power and torque curves.
In an ideal enviroment you would have 2 different intakes. A short, fat, induction tube, preferably routed towards cold air. This would be for high rpm, aimed at peak HP. The other would be a very long and narrow tube (with some sort of "scoop"). This would be aimed at low end torque and HP.
This is the basic idea already in place in our engines, using the variable intake geometry. The longer, narrower path creates velocity, building up torque. While the short and wide path allows for maximum air consumption needed at high rpms. BMW attempted the 2 seperate intakes, though I'm not sure what ever became of it.
While you guys may believe that your current intake is extremely restrictive, have you ever actually tested it out? The same thing with the resonator in the fenderwell. I'm not trying to flame here, I'm looking for information, without actually doing it myself =P.
Those of you with your stock airbox in place, and thinking about installing a ram, or cold air intake: With the car in neutral (WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ON!), rev your engine up to redline. Try to remember how long it takes. Now unhook the intake tube from the throttle body and move it out of the way. Try again. If the engine gains RPMs signifigantly faster, then your current intake setup is restrictive.
Try the same thing with the resonator.
Just a little advice for those of you thinking about dumping the bucks on intake modifications. When you first install it, you'll notice a drop in low end torque (don't deny it, we all know it happens). You'll also notice that your horsepower gain is barely available (which is minimal to begin with). You still have to downshift to pass confidently. You'll notice no real advatages to this in a daily driver.
While for drag racing this modification may be viable. Though I don't think with such wide gear ratios on our car it'd do any good. A CAI also doesn't show it's full potential until around 80 mph. I believe the fastest I've seen an aveo get on the 1/4mi is 88mph... So you need to weigh the disadvantages to the drastic change in low and mid power curve, to the gain received in the high.
Comments and questions are welcome, I'd like them to stay constructive. None of this "My CAI PWNZ j00!!11111!LOL!" please.
This might become a weekly thing as I noticed a lot of people that are very misinformed... Maybe we'll even get into racing technique! till next time!
Ram and cold air intakes are great. For race cars, with race gearing. These are great when the engine goes into "SUCK" mode (probably around the same time the VIG changes the air route on our intake manifolds).
Up until this point, the engine relies on "induction." Using a device to route air into the throttle body and intake manifold. Tuning properly for a good low end curve can be very difficult. Simply changing intake length, diameter, and not so simply, the shape, will have dramatic impact on your power and torque curves.
In an ideal enviroment you would have 2 different intakes. A short, fat, induction tube, preferably routed towards cold air. This would be for high rpm, aimed at peak HP. The other would be a very long and narrow tube (with some sort of "scoop"). This would be aimed at low end torque and HP.
This is the basic idea already in place in our engines, using the variable intake geometry. The longer, narrower path creates velocity, building up torque. While the short and wide path allows for maximum air consumption needed at high rpms. BMW attempted the 2 seperate intakes, though I'm not sure what ever became of it.
While you guys may believe that your current intake is extremely restrictive, have you ever actually tested it out? The same thing with the resonator in the fenderwell. I'm not trying to flame here, I'm looking for information, without actually doing it myself =P.
Those of you with your stock airbox in place, and thinking about installing a ram, or cold air intake: With the car in neutral (WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ON!), rev your engine up to redline. Try to remember how long it takes. Now unhook the intake tube from the throttle body and move it out of the way. Try again. If the engine gains RPMs signifigantly faster, then your current intake setup is restrictive.
Try the same thing with the resonator.
Just a little advice for those of you thinking about dumping the bucks on intake modifications. When you first install it, you'll notice a drop in low end torque (don't deny it, we all know it happens). You'll also notice that your horsepower gain is barely available (which is minimal to begin with). You still have to downshift to pass confidently. You'll notice no real advatages to this in a daily driver.
While for drag racing this modification may be viable. Though I don't think with such wide gear ratios on our car it'd do any good. A CAI also doesn't show it's full potential until around 80 mph. I believe the fastest I've seen an aveo get on the 1/4mi is 88mph... So you need to weigh the disadvantages to the drastic change in low and mid power curve, to the gain received in the high.
Comments and questions are welcome, I'd like them to stay constructive. None of this "My CAI PWNZ j00!!11111!LOL!" please.
This might become a weekly thing as I noticed a lot of people that are very misinformed... Maybe we'll even get into racing technique! till next time!