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Hi all
Quick question regarding the chrome open style air cleaners such as those from Speco that you see to suit Holden reds. Does replacing the standard air cleaner with one of these actually increase engine air flow or is it just a cosmetic improvement?
Thanks for any opinions or experiences with these
Rick
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The only evidence I can give you is from what I have seen on dynos. Firstly my LX hatchback 202, mild engine with 390cfm Holley 4BBL on it, I used a standard Holden 6cyl air cleaner with the base cut out and the base of a 4BBL air cleaner welded in. I wanted it to look stock. When I dynoed it they pulled it off and put a chrome 4BBL air cleaner on it, said it was a big restriction. Secondly a lot of dyno places used to turn V8 air cleaner tops upside down to increase air flow.
Other evidence is the HDT style air cleaners had bigger intakes on them.
Nothing beats a decent cold air intake though in most cases. |
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The VH Commodore blue 173/2.85L had the wide-mouth inlet (HDT style) on the 6 cylinder air-cleaner (with cold air ducting) to improve performance - that tells you Holden Engineers thought the original must have been a restriction.
What puzzled me though, is why they never fitted it to the blue/black 3.3L?
Surely the 2 barrel varajet on the 173 didn't need as much airflow as the same carby on a 202?
The only downside to an open element air cleaner is reduced performance when it's hot - especially in low-speed (traffic) scenarios. It's a very noticeable drop in performance in my VL V8.
This is where ducting outside air to the filter is very beneficial. |
Cheers,
Mick
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What I seen some do with the red Holden V8 stock air filter was put a spacer under the air filer so that the lid ended up about 10mm proud, so the air could get in all around and not just through the snorkel.
I seen one dude with a HG Brougham at a show and I could see the lid was proud and he said that he used a fan belt under the air filter and he claimed better fuel economy and power.
The snorkel is only there to make less noise.
I think that the old V8 air cleaner only flower 450cfm if I remember correctly.
I don't see the stock red 202 air cleaner being a problem with a stock engine or even the blue 6 filer being a problem as to power, but sure the snorkel would help getting fresh cooler air for sure.
I never seen a problem with the open air filer on my 308 HQ-Z type as to any heat soak, but I did come across this with my VS ute 5.0L Sequential and they had a snorkel that went over the radiator and even the VY SS was some what as well in traffic.
The shortest root to straight the intake manifold is the best any day and I have seen that longer type tubes reduce instant throttle response.
A mate had put a direct straight to the throttle body air cleaner on his VZ SS and he claimed that it then had more low down torque, but no I drove it and it was only that it only truly had much sharper throttle response.
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Originally Posted by: commodorenut  The VH Commodore blue 173/2.85L had the wide-mouth inlet (HDT style) on the 6 cylinder air-cleaner (with cold air ducting) to improve performance - that tells you Holden Engineers thought the original must have been a restriction.
What puzzled me though, is why they never fitted it to the blue/black 3.3L?
Surely the 2 barrel varajet on the 173 didn't need as much airflow as the same carby on a 202?
The only downside to an open element air cleaner is reduced performance when it's hot - especially in low-speed (traffic) scenarios. It's a very noticeable drop in performance in my VL V8.
This is where ducting outside air to the filter is very beneficial. I put one on my 3.3 black motor VK and there is definitely a difference especially when hot. I have 2 more complete air cleaners with wide-mouth inlet and snorkel I will flog them one day. Worth the effort.
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On cold nights I found that carby cars performed better, but I don't believe that with EFI that the difference is that great.
With my carby cars I thought boy this thing is really getting a wriggle on tonight, but could never say that with EFI cars.
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Originally Posted by: castellan On cold nights I found that carby cars performed better, but I don't believe that with EFI that the difference is that great.
With my carby cars I thought boy this thing is really getting a wriggle on tonight, but could never say that with EFI cars. Because cold air is denser so you get more bang for your buck, but fuel injected cars always compensate. You would really notice it on dirt bikes at altitude changes. My old XR400 used to pop and crackle at higher altitudes because of the thin air. My fuel injected Husaberg has no personality at all. Edited by user Saturday, 6 April 2019 12:31:05 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: wbute Originally Posted by: castellan On cold nights I found that carby cars performed better, but I don't believe that with EFI that the difference is that great.
With my carby cars I thought boy this thing is really getting a wriggle on tonight, but could never say that with EFI cars. Because cold air is denser so you get more bang for your buck, but fuel injected cars always compensate. You would really notice it on dirt bikes at altitude changes. My old XR400 used to pop and crackle at higher altitudes because of the thin air. My fuel injected Husaberg has no personality at all. I have the Last of the real Husaberg's 2008 model I bought that new in 2009 because I did not want EFI, as where I go I want to be able to fix it, but I go up to emu vale that's the highest peek in SEQ and I had to adjust the carby at that height. But a mate with all his EFI V8's he claims the cold nights does make them go better and I do not agree with him. I have always said that he is dreaming.
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My Hilux definitely goes a lot better when it is colder. It sucks air from the inner guard. BUT it may also be the fact the air running through the intercooler radiator makes the intake air colder, so the intake air is colder and the air exiting the supercharger into the engine is cooler. Some places that I drive everyday where I have to give it heaps of throttle to pull out into traffic gaps, if it is a cold winter morning it will leave rubber, if it is a hot day it won't. And you can feel the extra power, could be up to 10kW by seat of the pants. |
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