Do I need cold air w/ alky??

[87NAT]

I have been reading the gazillion arguments on this board from years past: cold air kit vs. K & N right on MAF to turbo. Was the arguing over the best option moot now that alky has stepped into the picture as a "must run" mod in the last few years.

Been thinking about removing my cold air kit now that I am on alky. I would think having the shortest possible route with less bends to the turbo is the way to go.

Do you think that running the alky will do the same job you are trying to do with pulling in the outside air with a cold air kit? I dont have any scientific proof or real world tests...I am just curious. I do know alky cools the charge but will it replace the density that you can achieve with outside air vs. under the hood? I know alot of you can chime in and give me some good info on this.

 

[BlackMetal]

Just my opinion but I would keep the cold air kit. I don't think there'd be much measureable difference in air flow between a shorty intake and a cold air kit with one or two extra bends in it, but I DO think it's always helpful to do everything possible in terms of intake temps.

It would be different if cooling the air below a certain temp stopped making any difference, but the colder the better, so just because alky does most of the job doesn't mean you don't want to try to get cold air into the intake.

I could be completely wrong but that's my opinion.

 

[Ross L]

I think they should be called...

a "not quiet as hot as under the hood intake" It's a pet peeve of mine:wink: I mean, come on, it's 95 degree's here with 99% humidity. Calling them a "cold air intake" is a little crazy. My opinion is the shorter the intake track, the better.:biggrin:
Ross L

 

[Dreamcar86]

a "not quiet as hot as under the hood intake" It's a pet peeve of mine:wink: I mean, come on, it's 95 degree's here with 99% humidity. Calling them a "cold air intake" is a little crazy. My opinion is the shorter the intake track, the better.:biggrin:
Ross L

The only reply I can come up with is, if the outside temperature is 95 degree's what is the temperature under the hood? I would rather pull in the outside temp of 95 then under the hood temp of 100 plus degree's.
Maybe it should be called an ambient air intake kit instead of cold air kit.:biggrin:

 

[Ross L]

"ambient air intake" or AAI. That I like:biggrin: Probably wouldn't bring in the $$$ though:wink:

 

[BlackMetal]

I don't think these cars will ever really have a "short intake" when you consider the entire route up to the throttle body. In and out of the turbo, down to the I/C, through the I/C, back up through the up-pipe, I don't think an extra bend to get the air filter out of the engine compartment is exactly going to matter much. Plus people are slapping on front-mounts with two miles of piping and then still making a big deal out of a cold air kit having too many bends, makes no sense.

I think restriction is a bigger deal when it comes to pushing something out (exhaust) than it is when pulling air in.

Plus like dreamcar86 said, it might not be "cold" air behind the bumper but it's sure cooler than what's in the engine bay. Pop the hood on a hot summer day and sometimes it's too hot to even stand near the engine, I definately don't want that air going into my intake.

Some real world tests between the two would be nice to see, otherwise it's just a theoretical discussion that could go on forever.

 

[87NAT]

I don't think these cars will ever really have a "short intake" when you consider the entire route up to the throttle body. In and out of the turbo, down to the I/C, through the I/C, back up through the up-pipe, I don't think an extra bend to get the air filter out of the engine compartment is exactly going to matter much. Plus people are slapping on front-mounts with two miles of piping and then still making a big deal out of a cold air kit having too many bends, makes no sense.

I think restriction is a bigger deal when it comes to pushing something out (exhaust) than it is when pulling air in.

Plus like dreamcar86 said, it might not be "cold" air behind the bumper but it's sure cooler than what's in the engine bay. Pop the hood on a hot summer day and sometimes it's too hot to even stand near the engine, I definately don't want that air going into my intake.

Some real world tests between the two would be nice to see, otherwise it's just a theoretical discussion that could go on forever.

You are right about the bends before the air actually gets to the TB...

But that doesnt answer my question..does the alky do the job of "cold air induction"? If I can get rid of just a few bends I will do it.

Maybe I need to email the "rocket scientists" at NASA for some input Im sure at least one of those guys owns a turbo charged, alky fed hot rod.

 

[Grumpy]

Melissa has the "ambient air intake" .... allways have ... but thats only a 10.10 street car we drive everyday

 

[Madcat455]

I would think that the AAI would be a keeper as you're not allways on ALKY. the AAI would help for normal driving.

OTOH though.... whats the point in a AAI since the turbo heats up the air anyway??? just to give the turbo a lower air temp to start heating

 

[Razor]

I think the problem is when the car is sitting that everyone freaks out over the underhood temp. When the car is going 60 MPH down the road.. its all ambient no?

My take, the issue with cold air kits is the suck in more dirt/debris from outside clogging filters sooner. Performance wise, I have never seen at ET difference.

Bling.. looks.. the CAI kits look awesome.

 

[TurboBob]

With a stock style intercooler, you pre-heat it to whatever temperature you are sucking into the intake. So the "cold air kit" intakes will help heep the intercooler cool. (depending on lots of factors....)

I would think the cooler air would spool better.

Underhood temps are pretty hot, even when moving...

 

[87natl]

Agreed. Underhood temps are always going to be hotter, even when moving. Heck, most of us are driving black cars, to boot. What do you think that black hood does in summer time sunshine? LOL!

Tell ya what. Go check the outside temp, then stick a thermometer under the hood wherever you are planning on having your new filter, and take a drive for a while. Stop, get out and pop the hood and check that thermometer and tell us what you find.

 

[Razor]

You have a temp sensor already. Look at ATS on your scanmaster and yuo'll see the temp.

Do your testing at a track.. tell me before and after

 

[Boost231]

The lower the inlet temp the better. hell just look at us hotair guys. every little drop we can get in temp going into the turbo the better.

 

[Ross L]

so is this AAI?:biggrin: (Grumpy's)
Looks like mine, only a lot faster!

 

[XLR8]

Moving the air filter out of the engine compartment enabled me to build boost better at the line while at the track. I had a hard time building boost when the air temp was flahing hot, hot, hot. Of course my track is at 5800' and we don't have a lot of air to begin with.

 

[Grumpy]

well that was an old set up from years ago .. only 11.4 car at the time :redface: here is her "new" one....well for now

 

[87NAT]

You have a temp sensor already. Look at ATS on your scanmaster and yuo'll see the temp.

Do your testing at a track.. tell me before and after

I was waiting for Razor to chime in with his signature "Bring it to the track then tell me if it makes a difference". You da man Julio.

I still am not getting any opinions on the alky...I did not want this to turn into another CAI vs. Underhood Air Intake thread. I just want to know if the alky cools down the air charge enough that you dont need any so called "cold air" . Some people theorize you dont need an IC with alky so I am just posing a different question. I am not running down the CAI systems by any means...just looking for an answer if there is one.. There might not be any data on these boards to support this issue.

 

[Grumpy]

I was waiting for Razor to chime in with his signature "Bring it to the track then tell me if it makes a difference". You da man Julio.

I just want to know if the alky cools down the air charge enough that you dont need any so called "cold air" .

10.10@ 132 (STREET TRIM) and I am leaving to cruise the beach in a few hours that enuff

 

[87NAT]

Yeah Dan..thats enough...Melissa's car is proof on that issue. Thanks for the info.

But then remember what I told u the other day...her car is a freak!!!