new intake system installed

[westwest888]

Allow me to share my evolved thinking on intake systems. I never really cared about the intake system until I had both software and exhaust. The engine is able to sweep away gases quickly, but the front of the car is bottlenecked. I tried an experimental part from a vendor last year - it was a silicone intake tube that connects the stock airbox to the throttle body. At 5200 RPM the engine would lose power because the tube basically collapsed. The 3.0TFSI is like a 600 pound machine that generates vacuum pressure. If you can step on the tube with your foot and crush it, the engine can also crush it. I held two revisions of another vendor's tube and they were much stronger - I could barely tell which one was the revision but apparently they did the 2nd batch in an even tougher reinforced material.

I decided that I wanted to go with a hard tube, so the only option on the market is the APR Carbino Stage 2 system (about $200). You can't actually have a hard tube all the way through because it would break off when the engine is shaking under load. So on the throttle body end, it has a ribbed cuff. On the airbox end, it has a silicone tube in the same material other vendors use. A clamp goes on both touch points of the tube so secure it to both the airbox and the carbon fiber tube. It looks a little bit band aid-ish but it should get the job done just fine. Note that the throttle body end is slightly smaller than the airbox end - perhaps 3" down to 2.5" but I didn't measure.

The factory, paper air filter is the original one I got with the car. I replaced that with the cotton filter from the AWE S-FLO system, at a cost of around $60. Once a year (every 7000 miles in my case) I'll get it oiled at my service shop.

The car feels noticeably quicker. I think the REVO tune wanted to rip and couldn't get enough air through the throttle body.

The APR stage 1 piece is perfectly fine, I just want to live inside the letter of the law with California CARB. Any modifications to the airbox are grounds for failing the car or a fine. I'm sort of skirting the edge where someone might think the car came this way, since the old RS4 has a similar-ish engine bay treatment. I fully expect the carbon fiber to change color when it gets hot, just as it does in RS4. I'm OK with that.

I should also note that the shop that installed it is 2Bennett Audi Automotive in Sacramento, CA. They're cool guys and did a really great job. Check out their new shop in a defunct Ford dealership. They restore classic Quattro cars for like $100k, if you are into that type of thing. They also make lots of motorsports parts, like custom rolled springs and custom sourced Brembo caliper and some-other-rotor kits, which are a good value proposition. They sponsor the Audi Golden Gate club and seem to have a good relationship with the members.

[pandi]

Isn't the injen intake a hard tube?

[helix139]

You actually paid someone to install that?

[xmikegx]

It's not the intake cutting power at 5200 it's the supercharger.

[kdub]

Was your requirement also to keep the factory airbox? The Roc Euro intake also uses a "hard" tube.

[esimp2k]

I've been around a while and still consider myself a noob in many aspects. That being said after reading many westwest posts here, comments here and comments on AR I take his opinion on any automotive related item with the proverbial grain of salt.

[PsYkHoTiK]

You actually paid someone to install that?

I personally would have gone all out since it's pretty quick to switch back to the stock box if anyone ever needed inspection...

[westwest888]

I personally would have gone all out since it's pretty quick to switch back to the stock box if anyone ever needed inspection...

What's wrong with the stock box?

I don't mind paying someone to do the work while the car is in for other things.

[PsYkHoTiK]

What's wrong with the stock box?

I don't mind paying someone to do the work while the car is in for other things.

There's a flap/scoop in the stock intake box that directs air to the lower part of the air box instead of letting it hit the cone filter directly. I think that's the main gripe of the stock air box (adds restriction).

Here's a picture I took when I installed the intake on the B8 S4:


If you look at the bottom left corner of the flap, you'll see a bit of yellow - that's the stock air filter that sits right behind the flap.

What you replaced was just the air tube (it is more free flowing and has less sound deadening material).

[westwest888]

I did put a less restrictive filter in that box.

[cspcrx]

There's a flap/scoop in the stock intake box that directs air to the lower part of the air box instead of letting it hit the cone filter directly. I think that's the main gripe of the stock air box (adds restriction).

Here's a picture I took when I installed the intake on the B8 S4:


If you look at the bottom left corner of the flap, you'll see a bit of yellow - that's the stock air filter that sits right behind the flap.

What you replaced was just the air tube (it is more free flowing and has less sound deadening material).

Thanks for post the picture was thinking of this one and did not understand, probably because I have not opened it.
Did you just use a dremel or cutoff wheel to cut it out?

[Screwly]

I did put a less restrictive filter in that box.

Lol

[westwest888]

It's not the intake cutting power at 5200 it's the supercharger.

Yes, I believe it's related. At that point the supercharger is spinning at something like 15,000 RPM and the bypass valve starts to open. Then massive pressure on tube as a metric ton of air rushes through it and out the other side.

[apexit1]

Wait so where do you think the bypass vents to?

[PsYkHoTiK]

Thanks for post the picture was thinking of this one and did not understand, probably because I have not opened it.
Did you just use a dremel or cutoff wheel to cut it out?

With the APR intake, that part was actually removed. Just the single big piece of the air box is used. I think the softer rubber(esque) piece also collapses a little bit with pressure under boost.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

[PsYkHoTiK]

Wait so where do you think the bypass vents to?

Atmospheric? :p

(I kid, I kid)

Here's a cool video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zKjp_OZN34

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

[CircuitTested]

Yes, I believe it's related. At that point the supercharger is spinning at something like 15,000 RPM and the bypass valve starts to open. Then massive pressure on tube as a metric ton of air rushes through it and out the other side.

If you can name the fluid dynamics effect that would cause this we would appreciate it. During your search I think you will realize why a flexible tube works (OEM) even in this application.

Also, please share with us your calculations to get to a "metric ton of air."

[Jones2012s4]

If you can name the fluid dynamics effect that would cause this we would appreciate it. During your search I think you will realize why a flexible tube works (OEM) even in this application.

Also, please share with us your calculations to get to a "metric ton of air."

LOL! Over compensating for something me thinks.

[Okan509]

lulz

[westwest888]

If you can name the fluid dynamics effect that would cause this we would appreciate it. During your search I think you will realize why a flexible tube works (OEM) even in this application.

Also, please share with us your calculations to get to a "metric ton of air."

Tube, Y U NO let air through. The one the vendor gave me had no support or ribbing. It put a legit dead spot in the power band. Going back to OEM fixed it. APR got me the gain I was looking for in the material I was seeking.

[westwest888]

If you can name the fluid dynamics effect that would cause this we would appreciate it. During your search I think you will realize why a flexible tube works (OEM) even in this application.

Also, please share with us your calculations to get to a "metric ton of air."

It's 330 liters of air a second. That's 165 bottles of Pepsi through that tube, for you family guys.

1320 cm3 * 15000 rpm / 60 seconds

[CircuitTested]

It's 330 liters of air a second. That's 165 bottles of Pepsi through that tube, for you family guys.

1320 cm3 * 15000 rpm / 60 seconds

Oh, so you meant Pepsi soda tons of air. Got it. Thanks for clarifying.

[infinkc]

You drove from SF to 2bennet to have it installed You could have drove a few more miles and i would have done it for free. I installed mine with my newborn daughter in her Bjorn on my chest.

[richib86]

...

[PsYkHoTiK]

...

This thread is awesome!

[Skidrowe]

You drove from SF to 2bennet to have it installed You could have drove a few more miles and i would have done it for free. I installed mine with my newborn daughter in her Bjorn on my chest.

I let 2Bennett install it in my car. In fact, it was the exact intake that is installed in your car now. However, I also had them remove and ship the ECU to APR, install the CPS radiator, reservoir, and pump, and install some sway bars and end links. I should have saved myself 1 hour of labor and done it myself. In that case it would have also been done correctly. I have since learned of the pleasure of installing your own mods versus writing a check for someone else to do it by installing my exhaust, Alu Kruz, and Roc-Euro intake myself.

-Skid

[westwest888]

If I owned a plantation in the Carolinas I could see doing this stuff myself. I live in a city with 1,000,000 people sharing a 7 mile stretch of land surrounded by water on 3 sides. It is an absurd luxury to even have a car. No room for a big snap on tool rack. Division of labor is necessary.

2Bennett was on the way to the track.

Tune and test, gentlemen. Tune and then test.

[13S4]

If I owned a plantation in the Carolinas I could see doing this stuff myself. I live in a city with 1,000,000 people sharing a 7 mile stretch of land surrounded by water on 3 sides. It is an absurd luxury to even have a car. No room for a big snap on tool rack. Division of labor is necessary.

2Bennett was on the way to the track.

Tune and test, gentlemen. Tune and then test.

You need 1 flat head screw driver to install an intake. Actually most people (not you) could probably do it in under 15 minutes with a butter knife. I have a hard time even responding to what you post on here... It's like you don't even read the other comments.

[esimp2k]

You need 1 flat head screw driver to install an intake. Actually most people (not you) could probably do it in under 15 minutes with a butter knife. I have a hard time even responding to what you post on here... It's like you don't even read the other comments.

Lol. Westwest is silly as my oldest would say.

[BzzzBom]

You need 1 flat head screw driver to install an intake. Actually most people (not you) could probably do it in under 15 minutes with a butter knife. I have a hard time even responding to what you post on here... It's like you don't even read the other comments.

But why would you want to?

[xmikegx]

How many liters of Pepsi cola is apr stage 3 going to flow? The new intake will need to be made of adamantium!!!

[westwest888]

What is wrong with patronizing businesses that I like? This forum isn't about trolling earnest people, as you'd like it to be. It's about vendors and selling products. That's what pays for the servers and bandwidth.

Why don't you 3D print your own silicone hose? Are you just lazy or rich or stupid and rich? I've been accused of the latter, as if $60 matters on a $60,000 investment.

[westwest888]

You need 1 flat head screw driver to install an intake. Actually most people (not you) could probably do it in under 15 minutes with a butter knife. I have a hard time even responding to what you post on here... It's like you don't even read the other comments.

Unless you show up at the big boy track I assign a weight of 0 to your comments. I start threads as an open logbook of my mods, carefully chosen one at a time. Then I hurl them down a track at 130 mph and make sure they work. While it would be haplessly independent of me to install every mod myself, losing track time because I torqued something incorrectly or missed a simple step is more expensive than getting help and track tested advice from people who do what I do, in real life.

Thousands of people read my threads. I'm sorry those people also have to read comments that add no value.

[Ynnekdude]

Why don't you 3D print your own silicone hose? Are you just lazy or rich or stupid and rich? I've been accused of the latter, as if $60 matters on a $60,000 investment.

You're going to need to 3D print yourself a whole new engine when that thing knocks itself to death this summer.

Then I hurl them down a track at 130 mph and make sure they work.

[Screwly]

Unless you show up at the big boy track I assign a weight of 0 to your comments. I start threads as an open logbook of my mods, carefully chosen one at a time. Then I hurl them down a track at 130 mph and make sure they work. While it would be haplessly independent of me to install every mod myself, losing track time because I torqued something incorrectly or missed a simple step is more expensive than getting help and track tested advice from people who do what I do, in real life.

Thousands of people read my threads. I'm sorry those people also have to read comments that add no value.

Jesus that is hilarious!

[phillips2024]

Wow. Too funny.

[helix139]

Thousands of people read my threads. I'm sorry those people also have to read comments that add no value.

LOL

[s4buckeye]

I absolutely have to come to Thunderhill or Sac Raceway to watch you roll.

I will bring vid to prove you really exist, so please let me know the next time you are going so I can capture the Unicorn.

[apexit1]

I've grown to like your threads. They consistently bring entertainment, not many have that kind of talent. btw a car is not an investment, not this one at least.

[richib86]

Thousands of people read my threads. I'm sorry those people also have to read comments that add no value.

no they view your posts to see the ridiculous things you post about and the hilarious comment that follow... mostly the latter