3.3T Intake comparisons

[Volfy]

That's good to know. I always wondered about that. Here in Houston, flash floods are a common occurrence. Going thru a good size one, oncoming traffic can kick up a good rooster tail and inundate the front of your car with a solid wall of sloppy water. The lower the car, the worse you get it. Pretty sure the stock inlet was designed for worst case scenarios like that.

 

[MichaelJohnson]

Correct. The VT snorkels attach to the rectangle.

I think you'll be fine man. Here's a picture of where the VT snorkels connect. I took these when I had the bumper cover off to install the BMS Intercooler. I removed the factory snorkels so mine is straight piped.

 

[Slip_Angle]

I think you'll be fine man. Here's a picture of where the VT snorkels connect. I took these when I had the bumper cover off to install the BMS Intercooler. I removed the factory snorkels so mine is straight piped.View attachment 46367View attachment 46368View attachment 46369View attachment 46370

Yep. I've had the factory snorkels removed for a couple years. I just installed the VT snorkels a month ago. All is good!

 

[MichaelJohnson]

Yep. I've had the factory snorkels removed for a couple years. I just installed the VT snorkels a month ago. All is good!

I just wanted to clarify that there shouldn't be any issue installing the AFE intake kit along with the VT snorkels.

My concerns with the VT snorkels have always been:
1) Water risk
2) Limiting the air to the radiator and oil cooler
My paranoia isn't really justifiable. Neither seems to be an issue but it has kept me from making the purchase. I should get over it

 

[Slip_Angle]

I just wanted to clarify that there shouldn't be any issue installing the AFE intake kit along with the VT snorkels.

My concerns with the VT snorkels have always been:
1) Water risk
2) Limiting the air to the radiator and oil cooler
My paranoia isn't really justifiable. Neither seems to be an issue but it has kept me from making the purchase. I should get over it

I hadn't considered your second point before but that certainly could be a concern now that you bring it up! I would think on the G70 specifically, it wouldn't be a problem because the active aero shroud needs to be removed and opens the radiator and cooler to more air flow. What do you think? (Does the 22/23 G70 have that shroud?)

I know we are in the intake comparison thread but head over here because I would love to hear people's thoughts on this new exhaust.

CMbuildz exhaust best sounding 3.3 tt

 

[MichaelJohnson]

I hadn't considered your second point before but that certainly could be a concern now that you bring it up! I would think on the G70 specifically, it wouldn't be a problem because the active aero shroud needs to be removed and opens the radiator and cooler to more air flow. What do you think? (Does the 22/23 G70 have that shroud?)

I know we are in the intake comparison thread but head over here because I would love to hear people's thoughts on this new exhaust.

CMbuildz exhaust best sounding 3.3 tt

Yes, there's a shroud under the factory snorkels. Honestly, I don't know what to think about the air flow part of it. It's likely one of those things that would need some testing. Also, I can only see it becoming an issue if someone is pushing the car hard for an extended period of time.

 

[Volfy]

Fwiw, I am keeping the factory snorkel in place, mainly because of the water ingress concern I mentioned previously for my locale. If you live in arid Arizona or SoCal, I highly doubt you need to be as concerned.

Any potential flow restriction issue can be taken care of with additional source of cool air, like I've done with my "air box". That's assuming the factory snorkel is restricting air flow. Unless the engine is modified to make much more HP/TQ than stock (mine is not), stock intake is likely perfectly capable of flowing enough air volume.

Besides, this is actually more of a concern for 2.0T, since the 3.3T has 2 snorkels (twice the air flow capacity) but less than double the volumetric flow rate at the same RPM... assuming both stock engines.

 

[Slip_Angle]

Fwiw, I am keeping the factory snorkel in place, mainly because of the water ingress concern I mentioned previously for my locale. If you live in arid Arizona or SoCal, I highly doubt you need to be as concerned.

Any potential flow restriction issue can be taken care of with additional source of cool air, like I've done with my "air box". That's assuming the factory snorkel is restricting air flow. Unless the engine is modified to make much more HP/TQ than stock (mine is not), stock intake is likely perfectly capable of flowing enough air volume.

Besides, this is actually more of a concern for 2.0T, since the 3.3T has 2 snorkels (twice the air flow capacity) but less than double the volumetric flow rate at the same RPM... assuming both stock engines.

I drove in the rain today on the highway and decided to have a look. Dry as a bone! I do think they may allow in more dust and debris though and will have to clean the boxes every so often.

The factory inlets are pretty restrictive. The rest of the intake is pretty good though.
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipPw5F8rqbE80WsWb62isU-RYc2cnK6rG_QjpMMi

 

[MichaelJohnson]

Fwiw, I am keeping the factory snorkel in place, mainly because of the water ingress concern I mentioned previously for my locale. If you live in arid Arizona or SoCal, I highly doubt you need to be as concerned.

Any potential flow restriction issue can be taken care of with additional source of cool air, like I've done with my "air box". That's assuming the factory snorkel is restricting air flow. Unless the engine is modified to make much more HP/TQ than stock (mine is not), stock intake is likely perfectly capable of flowing enough air volume.

Besides, this is actually more of a concern for 2.0T, since the 3.3T has 2 snorkels (twice the air flow capacity) but less than double the volumetric flow rate at the same RPM... assuming both stock engines.

I definitely understand the concern about the rain. I live in Cleveland, Tennessee and we get quite a bit of rain here too.

The intake location without the factory snorkels on my 3.3t are very concealed. It would be extremely difficult for water to make it to them. I can get you some detailed pictures of the factory snorkel location on the 3.3t if you'd like to see it. I don't see how the stock snorkel location would not be restrictive.

Is the factory intake on the 2.0t restrictive in your opinion? I haven't ever seen the engine compartment on one of those.

@Slip_Angle Thanks for the picture and info on the VT snorkels. I'm amazed that no water makes it into the air box.

 

[Volfy]

Is the factory intake on the 2.0t restrictive in your opinion?

I have not done a flow bench test on the any of the intake systems, so I don't have any empirical evidence. What I can do is a bit of numerical analysis. A naturally aspirated 2.0L at 6000RPM will draw roughly 210 SCFM of intake air. Turbo charged 2.0L with, say 15 psi of boost will double that to 420 SCFM. A 3.3L turbo with same 15 psi boost will draw around 700 SCFM.

Now... use this online calc to approximate the flow capacity of whatever the factory inlet "snorkel": Calculator: Air Flow Rate through an Orifice | TLV - A Steam Specialist Company (North America)

Not sure what exactly the cross sectional area of the factory inlet is, so I just put in 3 inch diameter pipe. Pressure differential is, of course difficult to measure, but just for giggles, I put in 1 psi. The result: 705 SCFM for one 3" inlet.

You can play with the numbers, if you like. Bear in mind, 0.5 psi is the typical supply pressure of household natural gas line. Your typical automobile turbo charge will create suction far in excess of that. It wouldn't pump the stock 15psi outlet boost if it couldn't. Anyway you slice-n-dice the input values, I just cannot see the resultant SCFM drop bad enough to impede air flow, or create enough pressure drop to starve the turbo charger of inlet air, at stock tune and boost pressure.

Like I said previously, if you start going nuts with the boost pressure, maybe. Even then, it's a fairly sizable IF.

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[MichaelJohnson]

I just thought I'd let everyone know that the AFE kit is on sale right now for $444.80
That's $140 less than I paid.

Takeda Momentum Cold Air Intake System w/ Pro 5R Filters

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Five Layer Performance Air...

afepower.com

 

[Slip_Angle]

I just thought I'd let everyone know that the AFE kit is on sale right now for $444.80
That's $140 less than I paid.

Takeda Momentum Cold Air Intake System w/ Pro 5R Filters

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Five Layer Performance Air...

afepower.com

So tempting... If I knew the AFE was a decent upgrade over a stock intake with the VTs, I would do it.

Thoughts?

 

[MichaelJohnson]

So tempting... If I knew the AFE was a decent upgrade over a stock intake with the VTs, I would do it.

Thoughts?

I wish I had some data for you but I don't. I haven't run it without the plugs yet. Hopefully I'll get a chance to do that next week.

 

[Slip_Angle]

I wish I had some data for you but I don't. I haven't run it without the plugs yet. Hopefully I'll get a chance to do that next week.

Any updates on these? How do you like them? Any drawbacks?

 

[MichaelJohnson]

Any updates on these? How do you like them? Any drawbacks?

Love them and I have no regrets! The only drawback would be that I had to slightly modify the passenger's side intake to make it fit properly. Others have had no issues with fitment.

I've been driving without the rubber plugs for awhile now. There's much more noise under WOT but no difference during normal acceleration. I really like them.

 

[thatjawncrazy]

So, kind of just for fun, I put Airaid 700-455 filters on my AEM intakes. They are massive. 6" base to 4.625" top. 4" inner diameter.

They required widening the hole in the filter boxes to at least 4", and the top of the left one slightly rubs on the "fender joining pinch weld", i don't know what to call it. And the hose clamp on the right, slightly rubs on the A/C line. But over 18,000 miles i've had no issues and the noise is way louder.

 

[Devilsfan118x]

No. ECUs are smart and you don’t need to do any resetting for something simple like intake/exhaust

Grabbing an old post to confirm - have folks had any issues running lean after installing just intakes without a tune?

Obviously don't want to completely void warranty by tuning it.

 

[MichaelJohnson]

Grabbing an old post to confirm - have folks had any issues running lean after installing just intakes without a tune?

Obviously don't want to completely void warranty by tuning it.

I haven't heard of any. I have the JB4 and have had no issues.

If you are concerned about the warranty I wouldn't modify anything.

 

[Devilsfan118x]

I haven't heard of any. I have the JB4 and have had no issues.

If you are concerned about the warranty I wouldn't modify anything.

A fair statement for sure, but I've gotta weigh the responsible side with the side of me that wants to hear those damn turbos spool.

 

[MichaelJohnson]

A fair statement for sure, but I've gotta weight the responsible side with the side of me that wants to hear those damn turbos spool.

Throw caution to the wind. You'll be glad you did.