[Mk2] [Turbo] Stock Air box Vs. Aftermarket

[mattcambs]

Just thought I'd revive an old debate

Is the stock airbox on a tubby really that restrictive? The plastic housing will certainly provide better heat shielding than any aftermarket intake (except ARC - which I had on my last tubby), but is the design itself intrinsically restrictive? Has it been tuned for improved low end torque whereas aftermarket intakes just improve high rpm flow a bit?

The reason I ask is that on my next car I'm tempted to have a stock air box for a couple of reasons:
-I actually want a quieter engine ( ) and IMO the stock AB still gives a nice subtle "sucking" noise.
-Insurance might be cheaper [not a serious reason]
-I'm not that convinced that an aftermarket intake is that worthwhile for torque/power improvements - breathing mods post turbo giving much bigger gains

Thoughts?

Matt

[peterc]

see from my post certainly makes a lot of noise .dont really feel any other diff but have not really opened her up yet.but like i said strange wooshing sucking noises havnt decided if im for or against yet.

[Martin F]

i can see your point and in all fairness would like to agree but on thought alone i'd vote for a standalone filter...even though it may be sucking in hotter air it's easier on the turbo

there have been many millions spent on testing to get the best design etc so at the end of the day it's up to the individual if they would like to but the product or not...i know, i'm not much help

[slunk]

Personally I'd prefer my turbo to be sucking in cold air from the side intake rather than hot, sooty air from the engine bay. Also, the standard scoops may be subtle but I imagine they do create a bit of air pressure at high speeds, thus creating the 'ram air' effect which will theoretically aid spool.

In my opinion, intake noise from a turbo is rubbish compared to an NA although it'd be nice if my recirc-bov wasn't completely silenced by the airbox

After upgrading to a turbo downpipe and apexi panel filter I really can't see myself making any further gains from an aftermarket induction kit.

[mattcambs]

there have been many millions spent on testing to get the best design etc so at the end of the day it's up to the individual if they would like to but the product or not...i know, i'm not much help

I guarantee it would only have been Toyota that spent millions (maybe thousands) on developing the best intake solution

Interesting comments, guys. I suppose panel filter choice might make a small difference, but the ram-air and heatshielding effects are probably the main contributors.......

[dai21t]

What about an ARC filter + box?

[spannerman]

Apparently the standard airbox is only restrictive once you get into the big power leagues 350+ horse power.

Even then an aftermarket one is only gonna effect the topend flow, say 6000 upwards.


I've had an Apexi air filter on my Tubby and it appeared to make zero difference apart from loads of noise which anoyed me. It lasted 2 days before it got replaced by standard air box and sold on.

IMO aftermarket air filters are a waste of time but each to their own.

Spannerman

[mattcambs]

What about an ARC filter + box?

I had one of these on my last tubby. Very well built and no doubt very unrestrictive on high power cars.

Apparently the standard airbox is only restrictive once you get into the big power leagues 350+ horse power.

Even then an aftermarket one is only gonna effect the topend flow, say 6000 upwards.


I've had an Apexi air filter on my Tubby and it appeared to make zero difference apart from loads of noise which anoyed me. It lasted 2 days before it got replaced by standard air box and sold on.

IMO aftermarket air filters are a waste of time but each to their own.

Spannerman

I think I'm with you on this. Anyone got any actual dyno proof/other experience to justify aftermarket intakes on performance grounds?

[tommy-c]

there have been many millions spent on testing to get the best design etc so at the end of the day it's up to the individual if they would like to but the product or not...i know, i'm not much help

I guarantee it would only have been Toyota that spent millions (maybe thousands) on developing the best intake solution .......

Exactly, in comparison to Toyota -, apexi, blitz, hks etc are very very very very very small and dont exactly have the same sort of budget as in terms of R&D. Ok i can see the point that an 'induction' kit would let the engine breath better but in terms of its performance, its not really going to have much effect imo.

Best of both worlds seems that an aftermarket panel filter would be best, but this is just a matter of opinion.

Just a lil off topic but i remember vizard did a lot of work on the pinto engines and out of all the filters that were available, the standard system gave the best performance.

[ci_newman]

What about an ARC filter + box?

I had one of these on my last tubby. Very well built and no doubt very unrestrictive on high power cars.

Apparently the standard airbox is only restrictive once you get into the big power leagues 350+ horse power.

Even then an aftermarket one is only gonna effect the topend flow, say 6000 upwards.


I've had an Apexi air filter on my Tubby and it appeared to make zero difference apart from loads of noise which anoyed me. It lasted 2 days before it got replaced by standard air box and sold on.

IMO aftermarket air filters are a waste of time but each to their own.

Spannerman

I think I'm with you on this. Anyone got any actual dyno proof/other experience to justify aftermarket intakes on performance grounds?

Although it's not quite the same - I did a couple of RR runs on my old N/A engine (with and without a K&N induction kit fitted) - the power output was exactly the same with or without it!

[Mikey P MR2]

I think some people are slightly missing the point although Toyota may have spent “millions” developing the standard part they had a very different goal to the aftermarket companies. Toyota had to satisfy the average customer who would have probably not wanted loud induction noise, I think there are performance gains to having an aftermarket filter (maybe only small).
I have not had a back to back dyno test done but would guess it has made some difference to my tubby having the apexi filter fitted.

[mattcambs]

I've heard it before (might have been Patrick at Rogue) that for high power cars you sacrifice cold-air intakes for higher flow, non heat-shielded cone filters. The intake charge is heated up by the turbo anyway, so the higher flow filter offsets the lower pre-turbo intake temps from the stock air box.

My tubby had an ARC intake and a CAT in place and compared to another tubby that had a stock intake, but downpipe fitted (both at standard boost), the downpipe car was obviously quicker.

[lostsouljah]

The factory airbox on the MR2 is set up as a cold air intake. I didn't feel any difference with the Biltz SUS that I have on there now. Maybe a little less response. If you're not going over mild modifications just stay with the factory airbox. Those chambers on the box and pipe keep noise levels down and store unused air so you have crisp throttle response. Of course the ARC Induction box does the same and has a velocity stack but do you want to spend that extra money?

[mattcambs]

The factory airbox on the MR2 is set up as a cold air intake. I didn't feel any difference with the Biltz SUS that I have on there now. Maybe a little less response. If you're not going over mild modifications just stay with the factory airbox. Those chambers on the box and pipe keep noise levels down and store unused air so you have crisp throttle response. Of course the ARC Induction box does the same and has a velocity stack but do you want to spend that extra money?

What's a velocity stack?

[jayowomk1]

Interesting and perfect timing I have my car booked in for a service and I am trying to decide whether is should remove the standard box to help the after market fitted cone filter breath easier, as it is cramped in with the standard box still there. With reading this post I am now thinking of putting it back to the standard intake system especially if it quickens throttle response and will stay cooler.

Is at a major job to remove the standard box and will it devalue the car in any way ?

And

Is it as easy as just taking of the cone filter and reconnecting the standard box up ?

Which way would you lot go for ? The car does struggle to breath after a long journey and when its really hot.

[lostsouljah]

The factory airbox on the MR2 is set up as a cold air intake. I didn't feel any difference with the Biltz SUS that I have on there now. Maybe a little less response. If you're not going over mild modifications just stay with the factory airbox. Those chambers on the box and pipe keep noise levels down and store unused air so you have crisp throttle response. Of course the ARC Induction box does the same and has a velocity stack but do you want to spend that extra money?

What's a velocity stack?

This is will allow smoother and even flow through the intake duct.

[lostsouljah]

Interesting and perfect timing I have my car booked in for a service and I am trying to decide whether is should remove the standard box to help the after market fitted cone filter breath easier, as it is cramped in with the standard box still there. With reading this post I am now thinking of putting it back to the standard intake system especially if it quickens throttle response and will stay cooler.

Is at a major job to remove the standard box and will it devalue the car in any way ?

And

Is it as easy as just taking of the cone filter and reconnecting the standard box up ?

Which way would you lot go for ? The car does struggle to breath after a long journey and when its really hot.

You kind of lost me. So you have the stock airbox but instead of a drop-in filter you have a cone filter? Removing the box is not difficult at all. Only problem with the airbox is that it take up a lot of space. Keeping everything stock and using Toyota Genuine parts will help hold the value of the car.

I say if you don't have lare HP goals just go get yourself a K&N drop-in filter or the TRD drop-in.