doesnt the turbo heat our intake air?

[jimmya4]

can someone explain why it is important to try an get as cold of air as possible with the intake? at a certain point i would assume that the air passing through the touching thousand degree turbo will be significantly heated anyways? i think people have done research and dynos that show more power with a cold intake on our cars but can someone explain? thanks

[grmntoy]

thats why you have intercoolers,(cools out the air after it comes out of the turbo) , then goes to your intake.Thats why we upgrade our intercoolers(bigger ones) also rather than keep the smaller stock fmic's that come with the vehicle(arent as efficient in cooling). Yeah, your right cold air is better for combustion in any engine, thats been proven ages ago when they created the wheel . lol

[jimmya4]

of course i know about the reasoning of intercoolers haha. i should have been more clear in asking so that my real point is why do we try to get all these cold air intakes if it goes to waste. some intakes sound cool but i see everyone trying to find the best way to get the air going through the intake to be the coldest.

[jimmya4]

sorry just to make it clear im talking about the intake intake, everything that occurs before entering the turbo. i know exactly how and why we need better intercoolers (which are after the turbo)

[eMacPaul]

There was a thread about intakes... I think started by Keith@APR... he posted the actual thermodynamics equations.

But basically, the colder the air starts, the colder it's going to be after going through the intake.

Although depending on its efficiency, a good IC might make that a negligible difference.

[dougyfresh]

colder air is denser

Denser air increases engine volumetric efficiency, filling the cylinders with more molecules of air.

More air means more fuel ===> more power

[Alkemix]

well, generally i've known true CAI to usually have a snorkel, or the filter relocated to an area where true outside (cold) air is available. The available aftermarket intakes seem just like filter/housing upgrades/inlet upgrades, but not really a true CAI. GSG created what looks like a true CAI. Maybe our stock intake should also be considered a CAI, more so than aftermarket, because the airbox/filterbox is fully enclosed with a snorkel that feeds from the outside, which is why we usually get better performance with stock. Aftermarket intakes try to take advantage of the the built in stock snorkel, but since they are not a full enclosure, they get heatsoak regardless, because the cone filter is taking in air from every which direction which air leaks in the "heatshield" that those CAI manufacturers provide and so you still get a fair amount of that thousand degree contact air.

Then take what the last 2 guys said, and yes, cold air intakes make a difference. Oxygen molecules are chemically necessary for combustion. gasoline could not burn without it. More oxygen = better combustion. Colder = denser oxygen mass is gaseous form.

[grmntoy]

personally i think its all bull.....after market intakes on our cars are really just baught for sound and a little less restrictive airflow from the stock box. Good question though, but in reality i personally think its a marketing gimmic(ways they make money).

[grmntoy]

plus the air thats compressed in the turbine passes through very quickly. So cold air intakes in my opinion once again can be for that small percentage of efficiency, again which is bull to me lol hahahhaha.

[Charles]

I think it works similar to this:

Say the air coming in to the intake is 70 degrees. When it goes through the compressor housing, it gets heated 20 degrees. Now you have air coming out of the compressor, and into the intercooler, at 90 degrees.
Now, say you have a CAI and the air coming in is 50 degrees. From there you have air coming out of the compressor and into the intercooler at 70 degrees. Therefore, the intercooler has to deal with cooler air, meaning even colder air coming out of the intercooler and into the manifold.

At least that's my super technical take on it.

[Hyphy]

stock airbox is fine..unless you have $350 to buy a carbonio.

[jimmya4]

thanks guys i got some good input on this thread haha. so ive come to conclusion with 2 factors: 1) the colder the air that goes into the turbo (even though it will be heated), the colder it will come out. 2) air is denser when it is colder so if you put in denser air to the turbo, it can use more air to force into the engine.

am i right?

[Keith@APR]

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=257109

Hey all!

I have begun the above thread just for these questions. I invite you guys to join us! Beware, there is a ton of reading to catch up on already.

[Alkemix]

Keith... i totally tried to read your thread, but i'm at work and your thread could potentially get me fired. I'll try to cuddle up to it with full glass of cab tonight.

[Keith@APR]

Keith... i totally tried to read your thread, but i'm at work and your thread could potentially get me fired. I'll try to cuddle up to it with full glass of cab tonight.

Can't say I didn't warn you!

Speaking of cab, I see a 97 StoneStreet in my very near future you just reminded me that I have! Not the best out there for sure but damn I love it for some reason.

[Alkemix]

11 years to pop? I'm too sentimental... anything over 6 years I just can never find the right occasion.

[Keith@APR]

11 years to pop? I'm too sentimental... anything over 6 years I just can never find the right occasion.

My girl worked as a sommelier and wine distribution sales rep where she would get one bottle per case sold as a bonus. She did this for about 4 years in which time I had to build a wine closet as she was apparently pretty good at it and even though she hasn't worked there for 5 years or so we literally have 100's of bottles still. I used to have a list but would forget to cross em off after I would come back for the second bottle for some reason.

Needless to say everyone I know get's wine for presents.

[RedS-line]

^how about a free bottle with every new exhaust / fmic?

My THEORY on the intake air topic is that since I see plenty of big turbo applications running large cone filters without heatshieldling that the air only changes a couple of degrees which may only account for an extra 1-2hp if any.