COLD AIR INDUCTION

 

Heat is the biggest killer of performance, and by not recycling the hot air inside the engine bay you reduce the restriction placed upon the engine. Cold air induction is a term used to describe the 'drawing in' of cold air from outside the engine bay. An airfilter is limited only by it's airflow. Some manufacturers like Unifilter and K&N claim a 10% increase in horsepower. However that's tested on a 600hp drag car! We're lucky to find a 5% increase just from dropping a filter in our normal road cars. However recent testing from a local magazine in my area showed a 5-6% increase in horsepower just from cold air induction and the standard paper filter. We'll be happy to hear that adding a performance air filter in the equation should see closer to 10%! I've carried out this mod on my EXA and it's absolutely rocks!

Although you'd probably wouldn't notice it as much unless you're travelling over 60 km/h. Sitting at the lights I've noticed my temperature gauge go up to half, but when you're travelling at 100 km/h the temperature gauge drops to below a quarter and that's where the air filter really starts working. Try it! It shouldn't cost you more than a couple of pieces of stormwater pipe and an hour of your time.

 

 

HOW TO MAKE ONE


Based on the right hand drive CA18DE engine, the airbox is located on the passenger side of the vehicle. The airducts run into the passenger side guard and stop there.

Now firstly it's best if you can buy some 4/5inch in diameter PVC (stormwater) pipe, a single straight one and two 90 degree bends. Then remove your battery to allow easier access to the guard.

Theres a plastic cover attached to the guard, try to remove as many screws as you can. Then bend the the plastic so you can actually see where the original duct ends.

Now we've got to attach the 90degree bend pipe to where the original duct ends. Once that is done jack up the front passenger side of the car for easier access to the underbody. You should see a plastic guard roughly in the region behind the left side of the spoiler.

Now theres one or two screws you've got to remove. Get a flash light and shine it up there and you should see where you've fixed the 90degree bend. Attach the straight pipe to that bend and we're almost finished.

You can bend the mouth of the pipe to allow more airflow also, this is done by using a blow dryer. Make sure you tie the pipe down to whatever you can to stop it moving.

This is what my cold air induction pipe looks like. Note that there isn't as many 90 degree bends? That's because I've used a flexi-pipe which I bend to suit the shape. Also note that the mouth is slightly flared for more airflow.