About drop-in engine filters and aftermarket air intakes.

[dkzk21]

I've noticed that, when it comes to replacing the stock air filter on these vehicles, lots of people have a problem with using "performance" drop-in filters in the stock intake box. You can't mention you got a KN or Sprint Filter without someone pointing out you are killing your engine by letting extra dust in for more woosh sounds.

However, I don't ever see that kind of talk in threads where people showcase their PRL/Takeda/Infinity Design/etc intake upgrades, despite the fact the filters that come paired with these intakes are usually of the same type as a KN (oil+gauze) or a Sprint (dry, synthetic nano-fiber).

So I suppose my question is, am I missing something here? Is there something about aftermarket-designed intakes that makes their high-flow filters just as effective at filtering as a stock cotton filter? Or is it just some sort of weird double standard?

This is less about this board and more about a generalized attitude I've encountered everywhere people talk about cars.

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[UWU-mancer]

It’s a weird thing people are cool with.
I for one already have dust in the intake post filter. I have a prl intake. It’s filter is straight up trash

I for one am saving up for another intake. There’s a few now that radically change enough to allow a larger dry filter. Dry filters don’t flow as well as the oiled ones. Hence why you’d want more surface area via a larger filter

also. Iirc, the spoon/sprint drop in is supposed to filter well no?

 

[jaypinto]

It’s a weird thing people are cool with.
I for one already have dust in the intake post filter. I have a prl intake. It’s filter is straight up trash

I for one am saving up for another intake. There’s a few now that radically change enough to allow a larger dry filter. Dry filters don’t flow as well as the oiled ones. Hence why you’d want more surface area via a larger filter

also. Iirc, the spoon/sprint drop in is supposed to filter well no?

Dang I didnt know what about the PRL filter. Not very UWU. What intake are you thinking of?

 

[UWU-mancer]

Dang I didnt know what about the PRL filter. Not very UWU. What intake are you thinking of?

No bro not UWU at all! Been looking at the 27won (upgraded intercooler will clean up any heat from that intake) or the Cobb (if hondata ever decides to support Mac) or the awe

 

[Victorofhavoc]

Unpopular fact:

Oem intake and filters are more than good enough for the flow the oem turbo allows for, even tuned. Your primary limitation on induction flow is the turbo and impeller itself. Everything north of that is larger than the hole on the turbo so basic fluid dynamics will tell you there is no restriction.

Where "benefits" exist with aftermarket Intakes is how they fool the ecu (based on sensor placement) or help keep heat out of the post filter path. You can accomplish the latter yourself with some gold foil and patience.

Yes, you're correct in that you're genuinely trading engine life for sound. A simple oil analysis post intake install will show what's making it past the seals and filters and to the engine. Sometimes it's within tolerance and other times not. All filters are different. Some load up a ton quickly and then don't flow well compared to paper, but keep dust out. Others flow as well or better than paper but let dust through. And others still will flow worse AND let more dust through. The oem setup does the best balancing act for long term.

There are a few decent dry filters (like the aem dry setup), but they require very frequent cleaning to keep from clogging. I've also seen a few aftermarket filters that have holes large enough for grains of rice to pass through .

 

[UWU-mancer]

Unpopular fact:

Oem intake and filters are more than good enough for the flow the oem turbo allows for, even tuned. Your primary limitation on induction flow is the turbo and impeller itself. Everything north of that is larger than the hole on the turbo so basic fluid dynamics will tell you there is no restriction.

Where "benefits" exist with aftermarket Intakes is how they fool the ecu (based on sensor placement) or help keep heat out of the post filter path. You can accomplish the latter yourself with some gold foil and patience.

Yes, you're correct in that you're genuinely trading engine life for sound. A simple oil analysis post intake install will show what's making it past the seals and filters and to the engine. Sometimes it's within tolerance and other times not. All filters are different. Some load up a ton quickly and then don't flow well compared to paper, but keep dust out. Others flow as well or better than paper but let dust through. And others still will flow worse AND let more dust through. The oem setup does the best balancing act for long term.

There are a few decent dry filters (like the aem dry setup), but they require very frequent cleaning to keep from clogging. I've also seen a few aftermarket filters that have holes large enough for grains of rice to pass through .

I don’t think any reasonable person wouldn’t agree with U. Some of us ricers want that wooshy sound

just looking at the stock intake. U can just tell by how basic it looks in terms of turns and bends and what not. It’s a solid intake. For sure.

I can’t even imagine maxing it out either. It’s basically a straight shot into the inlet. Big UWU energy

 

[Victorofhavoc]

I don’t think any reasonable person wouldn’t agree with U. Some of us ricers want that wooshy sound

just looking at the stock intake. U can just tell by how basic it looks in terms of turns and bends and what not. It’s a solid intake. For sure.

I can’t even imagine maxing it out either. It’s basically a straight shot into the inlet. Big UWU energy

Wanting more sound is totally reasonable. I'd still like to make time to replace all the noise canceling parts of the stock intake for just plain Jane ti pipe and silicone. Just have to find what I can give up to make time for that

 

[Tw1stedlog1k]

I've always been of the opinion that intakes were not performance mods. Like exhaust. It's all for noise unless you're really pushing the envelope and trying to squeeze every last bit of performance out of the car.

 

[UWU-mancer]

I've always been of the opinion that intakes were not performance mods. Like exhaust. It's all for noise unless you're really pushing the envelope and trying to squeeze every last bit of performance out of the car.

The days of intakes making 10-15 horsies is definitely over. Seems like manufacturers have gotten good at making their intakes now. I feel old now….

 

[Tw1stedlog1k]

That was one thing I noticed on these cars and it was confirmed when the tuners really dug into them. The factory intake design is really good and the same with the exhaust.

Fueling is the real bottleneck when pushing these cars. A "Stage 2" tune with and without exhaust and intake bolt-ons net very similar gains.

 

[Victorofhavoc]

That was one thing I noticed on these cars and it was confirmed when the tuners really dug into them. The factory intake design is really good and the same with the exhaust.

Fueling is the real bottleneck when pushing these cars. A "Stage 2" tune with and without exhaust and intake bolt-ons net very similar gains.

The only issue with the factory design is the dumb intake over turbo design. That could have been solved...

You just sit collecting heat, which makes things very lethargic. No aftermarket intake really fully addresses that. The prl titanium comes close, but still has a lot of cast aluminum touching a 2000F glowing turbo. I'd love to see full titanium piping up to the vac hose coupler. Or at the very least a beefy titanium/gasket betwixt the intake and that hot little number that sucks and blows.

 

[ABPDE5]

The only issue with the factory design is the dumb intake over turbo design. That could have been solved...

You just sit collecting heat, which makes things very lethargic. No aftermarket intake really fully addresses that. The prl titanium comes close, but still has a lot of cast aluminum touching a 2000F glowing turbo. I'd love to see full titanium piping up to the vac hose coupler. Or at the very least a beefy titanium/gasket betwixt the intake and that hot little number that sucks and blows.

Acuity's intake should address this. They did explicitly confirm via email that: (i) it exists; (ii) will be sold for consumer use. But, they said they are waiting on CARB approval, and they advised their expectation was this would take awhile.

 

[Victorofhavoc]

Acuity's intake should address this. They did explicitly confirm via email that: (i) it exists; (ii) will be sold for consumer use. But, they said they are waiting on CARB approval, and they advised their expectation was this would take awhile.

I'm curious with what they come up with!

The two things that I'd love to see:
Insulation from the turbo
Keeps stock filter design but makes it a quicker swap

 

[ABPDE5]

I'm curious with what they come up with!

The two things that I'd love to see:
Insulation from the turbo
Keeps stock filter design but makes it a quicker swap

I think the filter is likely to be different. Looks like it routes directly from the turbo to the wheel well, but this is just based off a pic from their socials. They also shared a very short snippet of a pod discussing a bit of the design advantages (efficiency / weight):

I understand it requires more effort and ups the install difficulty, but I am surprised nobody else has attempted a solution that avoids routing over the turbo.

 

[Victorofhavoc]

I think the filter is likely to be different. Looks like it routes directly from the turbo to the wheel well, but this is just based off a pic from their socials. They also shared a very short snippet of a pod discussing a bit of the design advantages (efficiency / weight):

I understand it requires more effort and ups the install difficulty, but I am surprised nobody else has attempted a solution that avoids routing over the turbo.

Why didn't Honda just turn the turbo? There has to be some reason they decided to go with this convoluted packaging.

The tc series cars have the intake going shorty to the front, I believe in either the upper grill pocket or the headlight. For a true racecar, going to the headlight is a great move. Cuts all that weight off the nose and no one really needs it. The exception is events like 25hrs of thunderhill, which do require night driving.

I'm looking to shove an oil cooler out of the way and route some air out of the high pressure upper pocket into the fender pocket there. I wonder where exactly they're planning to route since it's not exactly easy packaging there. I also wonder what filter swaps will look like... But I guess that doesn't matter much since I've known a lot of people to just never change their air filter once they go aftermarket .

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