Intake Debate...Needed or Not???
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Intake Debate...Needed or Not???
I had the Injen Race Division Intake for my '02 WRX before & the only reason I took it out is b/c roads here in NJ tends to flood when it rains.
I hear of people that air intake systems(cold or short ram) doesn't really do any good performance gains. Is this true?
What's a good short ram intake for the WRX? So far I've looked at the HKS Racing Suction Kit, Zero Sports Intake system, etc.
Thanks,
MArky
I hear of people that air intake systems(cold or short ram) doesn't really do any good performance gains. Is this true?
What's a good short ram intake for the WRX? So far I've looked at the HKS Racing Suction Kit, Zero Sports Intake system, etc.
Thanks,
MArky
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 313
From: Atlanta/Cayman Islands
Car Info: 2002 White WRX Wagon (WWW)
Ok as far as I understand, the reason that people don't see any gains from intakes is this:
It is a turbo car, the turbo sucks the air in and rams it into the engine. The pressure going into the engine is controlled by what is for all purposes a simple valve. The computer controls the "boost" or pressure of the air going into the engine by controlling that valve. The turbo can create more pressure than the engine needs at most times (so long as it is spinning) so making it easier for the turbo to suck air is not gonna give you more air going into the engine because the turbo is already doing a well enough (or better) job of supplying the engine with air. It may reduce the load on your turbo ever so slightly but what's that gonna do? Does this make sense? In a naturally aspirated car you want to free up the intake as much as possible because it is the engine itself sucking the air in. If you free up the intake on a NA car it can suck more air and more easily, allowing more air into the engine and that equals a power gain of some amount. Does this make sense? Also the reason cold air intakes are not gonna do anything is that the air gets super heated in the turbo so that slightly colder air being sucked from the wheel well doesn't equate to anything really... Anyway if this isn't clear enough I'll try again later, or someone else can step in and clarify....
It is a turbo car, the turbo sucks the air in and rams it into the engine. The pressure going into the engine is controlled by what is for all purposes a simple valve. The computer controls the "boost" or pressure of the air going into the engine by controlling that valve. The turbo can create more pressure than the engine needs at most times (so long as it is spinning) so making it easier for the turbo to suck air is not gonna give you more air going into the engine because the turbo is already doing a well enough (or better) job of supplying the engine with air. It may reduce the load on your turbo ever so slightly but what's that gonna do? Does this make sense? In a naturally aspirated car you want to free up the intake as much as possible because it is the engine itself sucking the air in. If you free up the intake on a NA car it can suck more air and more easily, allowing more air into the engine and that equals a power gain of some amount. Does this make sense? Also the reason cold air intakes are not gonna do anything is that the air gets super heated in the turbo so that slightly colder air being sucked from the wheel well doesn't equate to anything really... Anyway if this isn't clear enough I'll try again later, or someone else can step in and clarify....
Get a nice flowing filter like a K&N/Perrin/Green etc.
That's all you need really. Unless you want the hear the turbo spool, BOV and Wastegate flutter more, then keep the intake.
-Gagan
That's all you need really. Unless you want the hear the turbo spool, BOV and Wastegate flutter more, then keep the intake.
-Gagan
Hurray, it's Ian!!
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Car Info: 2002 MBP WRX Sedan
https://www.i-club.com/forums/showth...277#post310277
this link here above gives you a perfect response to any questions you have about getting any sort of intake for your car. read it thoroughly, live by it. haha.
this link here above gives you a perfect response to any questions you have about getting any sort of intake for your car. read it thoroughly, live by it. haha.
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*sigh* Once again, I preach the good news of the Green panel filter and removed silencer. I decry the CEL and power performance woes that result from short rams and CAI's. Get a short ram only if you're running 300+hp or a larger turbo. I am likely to post this same reply in another thread before the year's up 
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From: Sacramento CA
Car Info: 02 Impreza WRX sedan
Origami posted by Pogi
I hear of people that air intake systems(cold or short ram) doesn't really do any good performance gains. Is this true?
I hear of people that air intake systems(cold or short ram) doesn't really do any good performance gains. Is this true?
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