09-01-2013, 02:39 PM
I've not run any tests, that is why I leave it ALL standard. I've seen specific tests of this intake system though, and done lots of IAT logging to know that power gains are non-existent up to 150bhp, and with IAT/ram air effect you may possibly degrade those features if you mod.
From the piles of books and testing I have seen of different intake systems, then that is an area (gauze and concertina piping) where I'd look for turbulence and reduced flow efficiency.
Gauze is there to protect the MAF, just as the air filter is there to protect the engine. When they were new a new MAF might have been very expensive, I'm not sure. Right now with scrap yards full of them I'd be inclined to dump the gauze and smooth the concertina pipe. Easy to test the pressure drop over that run too.
But before I'd do anything I'd simply check the pressure just before that bend at the compressor inlet at normal road speeds. If it's anywhere above positive pressure with a standard intake (which I have a strong feeling it is from lots of reading about intake system designs and how the 306 HDi one works), then I'd say that anything you do will not make a difference.
Remember K&N and the like marketed their products when everything had a pancake filter and carbs, and petrol was 25p a litre and efficiency and emissions were not really a big factor.
I remember sticking a big K&N on a carb 2.0 4 pot 8v petrol and it felt a lot better vs the pancake filters 1 inch inlet haha! An inlet that fed off engine bay air via a crappy tin foil pipe that stuck a shroud over the exhaust manifold!
So this K&N which just sucked in normal under-bonnet air was amazing!
Then come the 90's, cat converters, ECU control, CR injection systems, a drive for low emissions and massive efficiency. Intake systems were suddenly designed with at least some effort, and suddenly things like K&N's and the like lost a lot of their market.
They soon started making panel replacements because a cone was worse than a panel which ran on the forced air intakes and cool air feeds etc.
But then panels were pointless too, the only real selling point was it was re-usable...
I'm happy for people to spend money on mods in the hope they add power/efficiency. Just giving my 2p on the system we have in the 306 HDi out of the box.
Yes, if you plan to upgrade to 250bhp, then that back pipe might be a bit crap. I don't doubt that. But until you get over 200bhp I'd concentrate on doing the important stuff right and make sure you put the funds there, because there is nothing worse than aiming for 200bhp+ and skimping on the important fundamentals.
Pump/injectors/turbo are essential for reliable high power tuning.
It's just gutting to see people splashing out on cams and engine balancing and stuff early on because their aim is 200bhp, but then run out of money and end up with a buggered turbo or HP pump and end up abandoning the project before they even get going
Dave
From the piles of books and testing I have seen of different intake systems, then that is an area (gauze and concertina piping) where I'd look for turbulence and reduced flow efficiency.
Gauze is there to protect the MAF, just as the air filter is there to protect the engine. When they were new a new MAF might have been very expensive, I'm not sure. Right now with scrap yards full of them I'd be inclined to dump the gauze and smooth the concertina pipe. Easy to test the pressure drop over that run too.
But before I'd do anything I'd simply check the pressure just before that bend at the compressor inlet at normal road speeds. If it's anywhere above positive pressure with a standard intake (which I have a strong feeling it is from lots of reading about intake system designs and how the 306 HDi one works), then I'd say that anything you do will not make a difference.
Remember K&N and the like marketed their products when everything had a pancake filter and carbs, and petrol was 25p a litre and efficiency and emissions were not really a big factor.
I remember sticking a big K&N on a carb 2.0 4 pot 8v petrol and it felt a lot better vs the pancake filters 1 inch inlet haha! An inlet that fed off engine bay air via a crappy tin foil pipe that stuck a shroud over the exhaust manifold!
So this K&N which just sucked in normal under-bonnet air was amazing!
Then come the 90's, cat converters, ECU control, CR injection systems, a drive for low emissions and massive efficiency. Intake systems were suddenly designed with at least some effort, and suddenly things like K&N's and the like lost a lot of their market.
They soon started making panel replacements because a cone was worse than a panel which ran on the forced air intakes and cool air feeds etc.
But then panels were pointless too, the only real selling point was it was re-usable...
I'm happy for people to spend money on mods in the hope they add power/efficiency. Just giving my 2p on the system we have in the 306 HDi out of the box.
Yes, if you plan to upgrade to 250bhp, then that back pipe might be a bit crap. I don't doubt that. But until you get over 200bhp I'd concentrate on doing the important stuff right and make sure you put the funds there, because there is nothing worse than aiming for 200bhp+ and skimping on the important fundamentals.
Pump/injectors/turbo are essential for reliable high power tuning.
It's just gutting to see people splashing out on cams and engine balancing and stuff early on because their aim is 200bhp, but then run out of money and end up with a buggered turbo or HP pump and end up abandoning the project before they even get going
Dave
