Replacing the OEM intake foam

[Infinitiguy19]

While changing the fuel filter from the top* I noticed that there is indeed foam around the OEM intake (Part which MAF sensors is attached to) and the connector pipe to OEM intake. The foam was mostly gone and I could shake the connecting pipe a bit which to me mean there is no more foam. And without the foam I can only surmise that air is being sucked from the engine bay which is only good in the winter ("Cold Air Intake").

Intake after 17 years (1993 Q45 in 2010):

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/M- ... directlink

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/yv ... directlink

OEM Intake connector tube after 17 years (1993 Q45 in 2010):

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/aA ... directlink
\
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/TX ... directlink

OEM intake box with new foam, Not OEM foam but better than nothing in this case:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/OH ... directlink

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/rh ... directlink

OEM intake connector tube (I did a better job on it some how):

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Yn ... directlink

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/OS ... directlink

*(Never noticed it any other way, unless taken to a factory trained G50 (1990-1996 Q45) Tech)

[Lokim]

Hey Paul, if you're interested in cleaning up the foam job (I'm anal about that kind of thing,) head down to your local hardware store ( I like Ace.) They sell adhesive-backed foam stripping in different widths and thicknesses for sealing doors and such. If you clean the plastic (or whatever it needs to stick to) well, it'll stay on just fine. I use it on all sorts of stuff.

[elwesso]

Yeah thats what I was thinking... Not sure why you'd bother with it, anything that has a foam connection is probably not worth messing with..

[Infinitiguy19]

:Cough: Radiator foam :Cough:

[oldmako]

I am aghast and flummoxed that you had the gall and lack of Qness to change your oil filter from the top! Have you gone mad? Surely your car is now on deaths door as a result of your malfeasance and reckless behavior! And no doubt that your MAF is now AFU. WTFO?

Can you not read man? How can you not stand upon the shoulders of those before you and blaspheme the brotherhood in such a duplicitous manner! CHILDREN MAY READ YOUR POST! Good Gawd man, carry thee to a YUGO dealer at once!

I may not be able to sleep tonight.

[Q45tech]

All we can do is suggest and point out scientific ignorance when we think we see it.

Anyway years ago I bought a $20 Radioshack remote thermometer [sensor on a 20' cable] with digital memory [separate Hi>Low]. Found it yesterday and replaced 9V battery - good to go.

Without accurate data repeated over time it is difficult to know when repairs or improvements are real.
Measure inside air filter box............the MAF screen will [should] protect from flying sensor disentergration.

Warning the LC display goes away a > 158F so I suspect this is also the upper limit. WHICH YOU WILL EXCEED in Southern Summers but mine recovers inside when ac blows cool air on unit.

[Infinitiguy19]

I agree with you both that changing the filter from the top is not the way to go. But what is a person to do when he is surrounded by incompetent mechanics and "Technicians"? One local shop that I took my car to have the power window fuse that kept blowing repaired wants $40 with my own oil and filter, If I use their own "Bulk oil" and "filter" its more. And oil change shops can't be trusted of course because of the people they hire. I even had bad luck at the local Infiniti dealer.

Hell Monroe Muffler in Danvers put synthetic oil with regular oil in my 1991 Q45. The guy at the desk thought I wanted synthetic and when he told me the price I said no. So the guy at the desk signaled the mechanic to stop putting that oil in and out the "Regular stuff" in. When I found out what they did was wrong I got the mechanic and the guy at the desk fired (I called all the stores to check that he had not been moved). I went back there thinking all is good and they couldn't take the time to put all the screws on the bottom engine cover. So the "Manager" tells me where I want to remove the screw from MY CAR. I do the very best I can to keep myself from punching him out or worse. So I say to the guy "ARE YOU f*** INSANE?" he then signals them "Mechanic" to put the car down from the lift and I get some zip ties and fix the cover and go home. I call up the corporate office and get that "new manager" and "mechanic" fired. And I never go back there again or trust ANY shop for that matter.

I am not complaining just stating why I am forced to do the oil change myself or put the Q in jeopardy at any local shop near me. Hell if I had a friend with a lift 100 miles away I would go there for any oil change rather than doing it myself.

And I am surprised because I thought I would regret posting about the intake foam but the worst I got was Oldmako's funny answer, So thats great.

[djwarner]

Did you know that back in 1692 Danvers was known as Salem Village - and yes - it was the actual site of the Salem Witch Trials.

Depending on whether the guys at the Monroe shop are descendents of the village elders or the witches, the trials may have been just a logical outcome.

[qship96]

Why not get some Rhino Ramps so you can at least do it properly from underneath yourself????

[Infinitiguy19]

Well when the filter is unscrewed a lot of oil comes out which would end up on my face and all over me instead of cardboard. Where as on a lift the oil from the filter would drain into the oil drain tank. So changing from the top is the only viable option. Plus with synthetic oil people change the oil twice a year or more right? So we have to undo the MAF sensor anyways to change the filter right? So whats a couple of times more a year anyways? And I am no HULK when it comes to working on this car, I am very gentle.

[Q451990]

Of course it's your car, so do what you want. I wouldn't avoid changing the oil from below just because oil will come out of the filter and run down... you just work from the side and clean everything up with a can of brake parts cleaner when it's over.

Heath

[Infinitiguy19]

Just were on the same page we are talking about changing the oil when its on ramps that are 17 inches high right?

The filter is pretty high up and I would have to bend my arm like a pretzel I assume to get to it.

[Lokim]

I am aghast and flummoxed that you had the gall and lack of Qness to change your oil filter from the top! Have you gone mad? Surely your car is now on deaths door as a result of your malfeasance and reckless behavior! And no doubt that your MAF is now AFU. WTFO?

Can you not read man? How can you not stand upon the shoulders of those before you and blaspheme the brotherhood in such a duplicitous manner! CHILDREN MAY READ YOUR POST! Good Gawd man, carry thee to a YUGO dealer at once!

I may not be able to sleep tonight.

I am a professional automotive tech, and I change mine from the top with no ill effects. I take the intake tube off and leave the MAF alone. Instead of taking the air box off, I remove the charcoal canister and use a $5 end-cap style oil filter wrench from Schmuck's (a.k.a. O'reilly's) with a ratchet and viola! Keep up the good work, Paul, and nuts to the rest of ya!

[Q451990]

I am a professional automotive tech, and I change mine from the top with no ill effects. I take the intake tube off and leave the MAF alone. Instead of taking the air box off, I remove the charcoal canister and use a $5 end-cap style oil filter wrench from Schmuck's (a.k.a. O'reilly's) with a ratchet and viola! Keep up the good work, Paul, and nuts to the rest of ya!

I'm going to have to raise the bs flag back at you... Why on earth would you go through all of that instead if using the lift at your shop? How do you top side changers clean up the inevitable oil spill when you take the filter off?

[Lokim]

I don't have a shop. I run a one-man mobile auto repair business up here in Seattle.

http://www.bigmikesmobileauto.com

Everything I do is on ramps or jack stands. The winter rains here make my line of work SUCK...

I am well equipped, however, and can do just about anything with the exception of Northstar Caddy engine swaps and Toyota van engine swaps.

As for the cleanup, i reach down w/ a rag and wipe what I can reach, and empty half a can of Brakleen on the rest and it drips off the splash guard.

SO THERE!

[Infinitiguy19]

Well I have to say I was hoping this topic wouldn't go much into how I found out about the foam but rather how to replace it and what effect it has. I was honestly debating whether to post this up fearing what I would hear from the NICO members for a week or so.

And Lokim I think the maddest I have seen Heath is through that head bashing brick wall emotion icon.

[Lokim]

We often get angry at what we don't fully understand...

[Lokim]

As far as the effect of the foam, I'm sure its primary function is to route the bulk of the air in from where the engineers wanted it to enter the system. Reduces vacuum and whistling, warm air inflow from the engine comp, etc.

[qship96]

Well when the filter is unscrewed a lot of oil comes out which would end up on my face and all over me instead of cardboard. Where as on a lift the oil from the filter would drain into the oil drain tank. So changing from the top is the only viable option. Plus with synthetic oil people change the oil twice a year or more right? So we have to undo the MAF sensor anyways to change the filter right? So whats a couple of times more a year anyways? And I am no HULK when it comes to working on this car, I am very gentle.

I can count the number of times my MAF has been moved........in 253,000 miles, that number would be 9.......one for each time the air filter has been changed. Not once in the 50+ oil/filter changes performed has the MAF ever been touched.......because oil filter is removed from beneath car after shield is removed and all drips cleaned with brake parts cleaner and complete underside inspection bumper to bumper is performed { always find at least 1 component wearing and needing attention during next service....currently it is the sway bar end link bushing that is worn} plus car needs to be lifted to rotate tires anyways