Air intake mods

[RedSnail]

I decided to install an air intake (photo included)
I purchased a cylindrical shaped air filter, a metal heat shield, a silicon coupler and the DOAX MAF adaptor (Thanks DOAX!). As with my airbox mod, I decided to run some tests to show what the computer is seeing (using my OBDii reader). I then headed to a muffler shop I've gone to for years (Miami Muffler) to get a custom intake pipe with a mounting bracket. The pipe is 2.5 inches in diameter then tapers to 2/2.25 inches on the MAF end.

Test 1
I measured MPG from the car display to see if the drive back from the shop at the same conservative driving speeds would alter it. To the shop I got 43 MPG. With the intake, it was the same on the way home. So a win for MPG.

Test 2
I used the OBDii to see if intake temps were affected. In stop and go traffic it went up to 132 F on an 84 F day. (Forgot to take the screenshot). On a run with the airbox it was 107 F.
It appears that despite the filter covering heat shield it didn't help in traffic/idle.

Test 3
I drove the car down the same 5 mile stretch of highway at 55 MPH (outside temp 84 F). At a consistent cruising speed the temperate did drop compared to stop and go traffic/idle though it did not go below what the airbox plus ducting produced (See screenshots)

Sound test
I floored the car twice to hear how it sounded. To my surprise it sounded deep instead of the "angry bees" sound I have experienced in my prior 4 cylinder cars. In normal driving it sounded the same as the airbox. A pleasant outcome.


Future tests
-Repositioning the air ducting I used before to run from the passenger fog light section to the intake.
-Adding either spray on coating or heat reflecting material to the intake pipe.
-I may fabricate a custom box around the filter itself to insulate it from the engine heat (big maybe)

[Daox]

Looks good!

[RedSnail]

Got around to the next test today. I bought some Cool Tape from my local auto parts store.

I took apart my intake setup and wrapped the metal pipe portion with the cool tape.

I then reassembled it and put the air ducting I had used before to direct air from the air space in the front bumper to the air filter itself (note the metallic stuff by it).

I then did the usual 5 mile highway drive at 55 mph. The temperature outside was 90 F.

It appears that the intake temperature is higher than my previous test by about 3 degrees. Not what I wanted but at least now I know the true numbers. Still happy with the sound and the same MPG.

[Basic]

so does that mean the cool tape traps the heat from the engine compartment into the warm air intake and doesn't let it escape?


Could be good for uber MPGs

[RedSnail]

@Basic - Not so sure that's what is happening.

I did another 5 mile run this time with the heat shield removed. The outside temp was 75 F.


Temperature difference isn't as great as before. Might suggest that:
1) A single sided heat shield doesn't allow as much overall airflow in the engine.
2) The metal in the heat shield might be retaining heat.
3) A custom heat shield/cold air intake box may yield colder results.

Going to look at all my setups and associated data before taking the next step. I'm enjoying the experimentation though.

[Fummins]

So are you trying to get more mpg, more power, or more noise?

If the goal is cooler air I'd try to mount the filter somewhere cooler. There aren't many options on the cvt Mirage I just looked but looking at the engine pic you posted, it looks like you must have a 5 speed and there might be pant loads of room to ditch the factory rubber intake tube at the throttle body and make your own intake with some pvc or abs plumbing from the homeless despot. If you have the room, maybe see if you can route it down towards the back of where the drivers foglight would go, I'm pretty sure there's tons of room for any cone filter. Maybe even go so far as cut out the hole to get some flow? The pipe would run right behind the rad fan so maybe this would be a terrible idea? I'd try it.

I think mounting the filter on top the engine with metal pipe with florida heat might be doing the opposite of feeding the engine cooler air compared to the stock intake? I didn't look at all your readings though.

That's kinda how the cold air intake on my old firebird was. The filter was routed down in the same location that I just mentioned behind the bumper, the previous owner cut out the bottom of the inner fender and installed a big hvac elbow fitting. It bottomed out leaving parking lots and required some black spray paint now and then.

[RedSnail]

I'm definitely more HP driven than the other two. However, I'm trying out different setups to see what the data says is happening.

Yes, it's a 5 spd. Didn't know about the engine bay space differences between the two transmissions. Thanks.

As for moving the intake to the bumper and/or replacing the OEM hose with another material, that is something I know from my own prior experience worked wonders on my 96 Escort. Unfortunately, we get quite a lot of rain in Miami which caused my Escort to hydrolock a few times. Not fun. As such, I'm trying to avoid that with this car. Keeping the filter in the engine bay area is a fair compromise. I did keep the air ducting from my prior setup which does a decent job of getting colder air to the filter from the bottom front grill. I may move that to the passenger side fog light in the future. Another thought I've had is making a custom CAI box (with insulation) around the filter to see if enclosing it would further lower temperatures. A few YouTubers documented their designs and some even recorded lowered temperatures. As per the OEM hose that may be something I get done later both for cosmetics and added performance (hopefully).

[mohammad]

I didnt know you could hydrolock more than once? i thought it was a one and done thing?