Snow Screen Removed and Improvement Noticed

**MrFunk** · 07-20-2016 03:38 PM

I know this has been somewhat discussed previously...

My buddy removed his snow screen earlier in the summer off his 10' S4 (he has the AWE intake as well) and said he noticed an improvement in throttle response.
I finally decided to remove mine this weekend. It was not clogged up at all really but I could see how the mesh would be a very constraining for air to pass through with any kind of efficiency.

For those who don't know, the snow screen sits under the plastic cover on top of your front grill. It's a screen which covers the entrance to the intake "scoop" and is designed to catch snow and allow it to melt at that point prior to entering the intake and clogging it up. It's just clipped in and pops right out with no effort.

I will report that I absolutely noticed a difference after removing it, especially at lower speeds - and in fact I'd go as much as saying the improvement is beyond what I noticed when I upgraded my air intake and exhaust. Perhaps it's just placebo but it feels like the throttle is more punchy.

Thought I'd share... took all of 3 minutes to remove. I'd be curious if anyone else notices/d any improvements after removing it.

**Lensch09** · 07-20-2016 03:59 PM

Where we're going, we don't need snow screens...

-DL

**whiped** · 07-20-2016 04:01 PM

Interesting, I will pull mine after work and let you know what I think.

**cspcrx** · 07-20-2016 04:04 PM

First mod I made to my car was pulling that thing out. It was full of crud and you could blow on it and feel how resistant it was to air flow.

**LYKUNO** · 07-20-2016 04:07 PM

Hmmm, this is a good reminder to take mine out and at least clean it. Last time it was out was 5 years ago when I installed the intercooler protection screen. Now I just need to get it back from the body shop. Out of paint last week and into reassembly this week, and hopefully the new wheel/tire that was ordered will be here soon. Spending 4 weeks (so far) in a rental car is a pain.

**MrFunk** · 07-20-2016 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by whiped

Interesting, I will pull mine after work and let you know what I think.

Yeah report back... give it a couple days in case there's any ECU adaptation with the additional massive amounts of air flow!

**14S4GWM** · 07-20-2016 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by LYKUNO

Hmmm, this is a good reminder to take mine out and at least clean it. Last time it was out was 5 years ago when I installed the intercooler protection screen. Now I just need to get it back from the body shop. Out of paint last week and into reassembly this week, and hopefully the new wheel/tire that was ordered will be here soon. Spending 4 weeks (so far) in a rental car is a pain.

I bet yours is completely blocked. That's a long time, I clean mine often.

**LYKUNO** · 07-20-2016 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by 14S4GWM

I bet yours is completely blocked. That's a long time, I clean mine often.

It's on my priority list of things to check!

**vwblackb5** · 07-20-2016 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by 14S4GWM

I bet yours is completely blocked. That's a long time, I clean mine often.

^This.

OP, probably more of a placebo effect than anything. If you have VCDS, you should log Block 002 with/without snow screen and tell us what you see in terms of Air Mass g/s.. for science of course.

**whiped** · 07-20-2016 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by vwblackb5

If you have VCDS, you should log Block 002 with/without snow screen and tell us what you see in terms of Air Mass g/s.. for science of course.

I will do this when if I get home at a reasonable time tonight.

Damn UPS guy decided not to drop off my new subwoofer today so I cannot do that project like I had planned.

**colby7** · 07-20-2016 05:36 PM

Yes, if you keep yours on, please clean it. I cleaned mine after one year of ownership, and it looked like the filter in my clothes dryer after a cycle. Major blockage.

I'm good friends with the GIAC dealer in town, and he said GIAC recommends removing it.

**MrFunk** · 07-20-2016 06:19 PM

Remove that bad boy - why wouldn't you?

**VenturiRS** · 07-20-2016 06:24 PM

I'm too lazy to check, does anyone have a picture of said screen + location?

**LYKUNO** · 07-20-2016 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by VenturiRS

I'm too lazy to check, does anyone have a picture of said screen + location?

It's covered in detail with pics in this thread. The screen itself looks like this:

**VenturiRS** · 07-20-2016 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by LYKUNO

It's covered in detail with pics in this thread. The screen itself looks like this:

Many thanks to you good sir.

**adamtc4** · 07-20-2016 09:40 PM

Wow just took mine out and I was surprised with how restrictive it is. I tried blowing air through it with my hand on the opposite side and couldn't feel a thing. I decided to just remove it and leave it off. No extra unicorns felt with the butt dyno but I don't know how it can't help.

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**JustPlaneChris** · 07-21-2016 06:40 AM

Pulled mine last night, it was slightly dirty but not horrible. This morning, I'd already forgotten about it. First green light of the day I started off and said to myself "oops, must have accidentally switched to Dynamic last night while futzing with the MMI in the garage". Nope, still in Individual, with throttle in Auto. Definitely snappier off idle!

And here I was ready to call BS.

**MrFunk** · 07-21-2016 07:00 AM

Originally Posted by JustPlaneChris

Pulled mine last night, it was slightly dirty but not horrible. This morning, I'd already forgotten about it. First green light of the day I started off and said to myself "oops, must have accidentally switched to Dynamic last night while futzing with the MMI in the garage". Nope, still in Individual, with throttle in Auto. Definitely snappier off idle!

And here I was ready to call BS.

!! Yes... I think especially at lower speeds where there is less ram force it's getting more volume without the screen. It certainly is not helping flow that's for sure.

**whiped** · 07-21-2016 08:47 AM

Pulled mine last night.

The Butt dyno did not notice any real improvements.

I thought about logging but, decided to start working on my sub install instead.

Pic for those curious:

**bberg22** · 07-21-2016 08:51 AM

Is it really necessary to leave in even in the winter if you have an after market open air style intake? My understanding is it is to prevent water from entering the intake, which would likely not happen if you don'y have a closed intake system???

**whiped** · 07-21-2016 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by bberg22

Is it really necessary to leave in even in the winter if you have an after market open air style intake? My understanding is it is to prevent water from entering the intake, which would likely not happen if you don'y have a closed intake system???

That was kind of my thought as well...

**rcz22** · 07-21-2016 09:20 AM

Originally Posted by whiped

That was kind of my thought as well...

also curious if its ok to leave off with stock intake?

**MrFunk** · 07-21-2016 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by bberg22

Is it really necessary to leave in even in the winter if you have an after market open air style intake? My understanding is it is to prevent water from entering the intake, which would likely not happen if you don'y have a closed intake system???

From my understanding, it's there to capture SNOW, not water. To prevent, in the very unlikely scenario, in a big snow storm - snow building up inside the intake and clogging it up. Correct me if I'm wrong...

**bberg22** · 07-21-2016 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by MrFunk

From my understanding, it's there to capture SNOW, not water. To prevent, in the very unlikely scenario, in a big snow storm - snow building up inside the intake and clogging it up. Correct me if I'm wrong...

i guess I meant water from melted snow. Potentially this screen could also become clogged just as easily with snow I would think.

**sacandagaD** · 07-21-2016 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by rcz22

also curious if its ok to leave off with stock intake?

There is a filter inside the airbox anyway, so removing it isn't going to let crap go straight into your intake, but I could see some chipmunks making a nice little nest in there, if you left it parked outside for too long.

**S4Flyer** · 07-21-2016 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by bberg22

i guess I meant water from melted snow. Potentially this screen could also become clogged just as easily with snow I would think.

I guess I don't see the point. If either the snow screen or air filter became clogged with snow, it would be easier to clear the air filter, no? (in a road-side scenario)

**SwankP3RF3ct10n** · 07-21-2016 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by S4Flyer

I guess I don't see the point. If either the snow screen or air filter became clogged with snow, it would be easier to clear the air filter, no? (in a road-side scenario)

Snow melts... additionally, if the screen becomes blocked, the intake scoop will still pull in air from under the hood. That's why there's perforations in the top of the scoop and that's why nothing in that scoop system is exactly "air tight". Air will be sucked in via these alternate sources if that screen becomes a restriction. I think if you took a long hard look at the intake system, all of this would make perfect sense and be quite elementary.

**SteveYem** · 07-21-2016 11:14 AM

I'm thinking this won't really make a difference for those with aftermarket, open-filter element style intakes (i.e. without a closed airbox).

**rtl5009** · 07-21-2016 11:30 AM

it would have to be really cold to not have the snow melt right away in there.

**tgsweat** · 07-21-2016 11:48 AM

So i just went and removed mine after reading this post. I have an Injen intake with the top portion of the air box removed. I'm pretty in tuned with my car and it definitely made a difference. Mostly in the lower end. Feels more peppy.

**rtl5009** · 07-21-2016 12:46 PM

could just be a cooler day, I am skeptical if this actually makes a difference on an after market intake. Stock intake it will def make a big difference.

**tgsweat** · 07-21-2016 12:54 PM

Its 91 out right now and DA is similar to yesterday but who knows. Its only took 5 minutes to do so nothing to lose lol Pretty sure i'm not imagining it though. Keep in mind with the Injen you are still using the stock airbox, so more air is definitely getting in.

**XxSullyxX123** · 07-21-2016 12:55 PM

I can't recall if I put the screen back in when I did the ECS full carbon intake. Gotta check now

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**JeriQo** · 07-21-2016 12:56 PM

seeing all the pollen and dust getting caught there, im leaving mine on to leave my air filter cleaner.

**Usa** · 07-21-2016 04:22 PM

I haven't had mine on since I added the roc-euro about a year ago... no need for two filters, engine compartment does get a little more dirtier I suppose nothing crazy though.

**14S4GWM** · 07-21-2016 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by Usa

I haven't had mine on since I added the roc-euro about a year ago... no need for two filters, engine compartment does get a little more dirtier I suppose nothing crazy though.

That's the main reason I've left mine in.

**mgaman** · 07-21-2016 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by rtl5009

it would have to be really cold to not have the snow melt right away in there.

Come visit sometime :P ;)

I am going to check mine tonight, I haven't cleaned it since I got the car a few years ago

**MrFunk** · 07-21-2016 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by SwankP3RF3ct10n

Snow melts... additionally, if the screen becomes blocked, the intake scoop will still pull in air from under the hood. That's why there's perforations in the top of the scoop and that's why nothing in that scoop system is exactly "air tight". Air will be sucked in via these alternate sources if that screen becomes a restriction. I think if you took a long hard look at the intake system, all of this would make perfect sense and be quite elementary.

Exactly - if the screen gets clogged with snow the engine will still get air from under the hood and other sources (it's not 100% sealed). But if the the intake/filter gets clogged then there is no other source of air into the engine. I'll probably put it back in during the winter.

The screen for sure reduces air flow - by how much I don't know - but I'd say a noticeable amount at lower speeds. Remove it for a week and see what you think. It takes all of 5 minutes and that screen is not filtering much - mine was pretty clean when I removed it. No harm in giving it a go...