Developing an ideal intake for a turbo setup

[IBill4You]

So I am struggling with building an intake for a turbo application. Without having the resources to design, build, and test different options, I am hoping to get some feedback from the community before I move forward. I have obtained aluminum mandrel bent piping for a cold air intake. I was hoping to place the filter behind an air duct located behind the fog light bezel area.

I am curious whether this cold air induction design would be more or less effective than attaching the filter directly the the compressor housing and ducting cold air to a box around the filter that would not be completely enclosed.

The cold air intake design would ensure lower temperatures on the front mount turbo setup, but would be more restrictive than the a filter mounted directly on the compressor housing. Not wanting to compromise I am left wondering if minimizing restriction by mounting the filter directly to the compressor housing and plumbing cold air would be more efficient.

Any takers here? I'm interested in theory and application. Should I be more interested in fitting a larger intercooler? Yes, but I am getting hung up with wanting the most correct answer here.


@Sportsguy83

[mrk1]

Filter on the turbo works fine, I was seeing 2 degrees above ambient intake Temps with that. I like the simplicity of filter on turbo. Putting a filter down in the fender works nicely but takes more parts. I do think your over thinking it a bit.

Get ready for "hot air intake" or "cold water intake" comments.

[protpibe]

Originally Posted by IBill4You

So I am struggling with building an intake for a turbo application. Without having the resources to design, build, and test different options, I am hoping to get some feedback from the community before I move forward. I have obtained aluminum mandrel bent piping for a cold air intake. I was hoping to place the filter behind an air duct located behind the fog light bezel area.

I am curious whether this cold air induction design would be more or less effective than attaching the filter directly the the compressor housing and ducting cold air to a box around the filter that would not be completely enclosed.

The cold air intake design would ensure lower temperatures on the front mount turbo setup, but would be more restrictive than the a filter mounted directly on the compressor housing. Not wanting to compromise I am left wondering if minimizing restriction by mounting the filter directly to the compressor housing and plumbing cold air would be more efficient.

Any takers here? I'm interested in theory and application. Should I be more interested in fitting a larger intercooler? Yes, but I am getting hung up with wanting the most correct answer here.


@Sportsguy83

That sounds like a ton of work for some "maybes" lol. Just put a filter on the compressor and run meth if you're concerned about IATs.

[Sammakko]

i'd recommend having a bit of piping off the turbo inlet. it allows you a place to pull constant vacuum from, if you so desire.

[cdrazic93]

I like how everyone tags sportsguy lol

[mrk1]

Here is my 3" intake down behind the headlight. No more washer bottle though.

[spitfire481]

Originally Posted by mrk1

Here is my 3" intake down behind the headlight. No more washer bottle though.

I did the same as you. Never used the washer fluid anyway.

We used to see E.T drops on our VW drag car between open turbo (no filter, turbo back against firewall), and a 4" inlet pipe routed to the headlight opening. Car always ran better with the inlet pipe than without. I'm also talking 40psi of boost and 8 second passes though.

[Sportsguy83]

I have filter right on turbo.

Jamesm (HRI Tuning) did some tests to see if it was significant, noticeable and worth it to have the filter relocated for cold air. The results were that it made negligible difference, so filter on turbo for simplicity it is.

I did not get the mention btw

[cdrazic93]

@Sportsguy83, there's your mention.

[IBill4You]

LOL Thanks for all the replies guys. I'm going to go ahead and throw together a CAI and log with Ecutek before and after. Hopefully this weekend. I'd love to throw a larger intercooler in there, but I have to figure out a new way to mount my oil cooler etc. I'm not sure if the lines are long enough to push it behind the passenger fog light bezel or not.

[puma]

For a couple of pull on the highway or the dyno, i doubt it makes a difference but running 30+ minutes intense on a race track is worth getting every single bit of fresh air you can because it because hot under the hood. We usually build a box around the filter with air pick up right from the front to make sure we pick up the air as fresh from the outside as possible and make a ram air effect to it. (more effective for NA but still)

On our RSX race car our box was opened towards the transmission and we were seeing 55 degC IAT. When we closed the box and picked up air out front we started seeing IAT only 5-10 degC higher than outside temp, it was a reduction of almost 20 degC with just the air pick up location!

[King Tut]

I'm just here for a mention. I remember reading an article back in my Honda B series days where the difference between filter on turbo and an intake routing the filter to where the OEM airbox sat made a very noticeable difference.

[raven1231]

@Sportsguy83

[STV3]

If your intercooler is doing its job, then the intake should not matter at all on a turbo charged car.