Removed air intake before filter and ....

[Double E]

the butt dyno tells me there was a gain. It's also a little louder. I'm cool with that... ('04M)

So the parts I took off are the one piece engine cover. I think I'm gonna paint it all silver or all black, but for now, I've removed it for an upcoming engine cleaning. (Car came from TX & it is very dusty.)

Then I got to looking at how this thing really breathes and noticed that air has to crawl under the hood a ways and looks to be restricted until it enters the curved "feed" tube to the air filter. I took everything off before the air filter and that's how it stands for now.

I'd love to plan a discreet intake that gets more fast air moving into the filter but haven't started planning that just yet. I was surprised though at the butt dyno response ...as I would have thought that the way I have air entering now would have been slowed down from having to use air from behind the radiator.

Is anyone using a non-stock intake setup and do you mind posting details?

I think exhaust upgrades are next!

[saeedakobiakov]

put it back together it works like ram air. cold air gets there from the front of the car.you dont want hot air from under the hood of the car.

[auditech10]

Well, like they say... "perception is reality"If it feels faster and thats the feel you want, then leave it be.Cheers

[nmgoodthing]

Drive around for about a 1/2 hour and your going to be sucking up hot air. Infiniti spent coutnless hours and money on R/D on what was the best way to get air into the VK45DE. A drop in K&N filter would probably register the same on the dyno. Minimal gains.

[szh]

And, in the long run, the microscopic oil particles from the K&N will mess up your MAF and cause engine misbehavior.

I agree with you ... some of these "gains" in performance and horsepower are so imperceptible that it simply is not worth the effort, folks!

Z