Closed air intake system vs open air intake

[Kaliking]

I pretty much have my mod path figured out, but I am stuck on one modification. I've researched the site and the internet and I just haven't found a definitive answer. Is the closed air intake system vastly superior over the open air system with heat shields? The cost difference is pretty significant, for instance we are approaching $2,000 for the intake and inlet on some of these closed air intake systems. I have been burned in the past, my EVO IX had a K&N drop in air filter, I swapped it out for a more expensive intake and actually lost power.

[5PotNewb]

Unless you're stage 2+ you won't see much in gains with aftermarket housing. 4" pipe and bend mated to stock would work too.

[o1turbo30v]

Correct, intakes are a complete waste of money on the stock turbo. Maybe a $400 turbo inlet if you go Stage 2/E85.

[Ross_T_Boss]

Intakes are a great investment in optimising the output of the stock turbo, that point has been proven. Using the stock turbo inlet and Integrated Engineering intake I measured back-to-back a 12% decrease in wastegate duty required to make target boost. That gave me zero power advantage as the turbo was still under the maximum at stage 1, so at that level not great value as per above posts, unless you are having issues meeting demand (say at high altitude).

I have never had opportunity to measure a turbo inlet and 4" rear pipe in comparison, it is not as good as a full intake but I honestly can't say whether that gets you 50% or 80% of the theoretical "gain". Open intakes, jury out, I personally wouldn't go that route but I have seen some really good times with them so must be effective and bang/buck no doubt.

At stage 2 - even with IE intake and forge inlet - the turbo still runs at 95-98% duty to meet request.

[timmyzr1]

Well, i can say that open intake with sheilds like my 4'' CTS is fraction of the price and sound WICKED!! Mated to a 3'' uni turbo inlet Stage 2 E85intake.jpg

[legacypgmr]

Correct, intakes are a complete waste of money on the stock turbo. Maybe a $400 turbo inlet if you go Stage 2/E85.

Intakes are a great investment in optimising the output of the stock turbo, that point has been proven.

What's a newbie to do ?!?!?! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[S3DUDE]

The thing about the air filters is that no matter if the filter has a closed housing of if the air filter is an open element the air is going to heat up when it goes through the compressor, then it will eventually cool off while it goes through the intercooler and into the engine. I think that the most valuable unit of measurement to take into consideration would be to see the Air Intake temperature. A lot has to do with how hard the turbo is going to work, I think that ross-T-boss gave us a great example too.

From my own experience I have seen great results on various platforms on open filter elements. I read an article from burger motorsports where it basically says the same thing that I am saying about the open filter elements. If the market was more of making sense and less bling bling we could have affordable ABS plastics instead of carbon fiber or even old school aluminum intakes like it use to be a few years ago. Now with the ridiculous and obscene prices a lot of people just considers other alternatives.

[flynnr]

Well, i can say that open intake with sheilds like my 4'' CTS is fraction of the price and sound WICKED!! Mated to a 3'' uni turbo inlet Stage 2 E85intake.jpg

Did the CTS come with that shield?

[allerum]

It does, I plan on getting the 4 soon I currently have the 3. But I Think it also has a top part on their website not sure though until I get mine.

[Carty]

What's a newbie to do ?!?!?! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

If you aren't trying to break records and are concerned with budget, go open air. You'll get the fun noises, you'll get a moderate performance bump and you'll feel good about it. The only time you wont is when you open the hood. Unless you are hunting for 8's or are serious about track days, the only reason to go fully closed is because you really like the look.

Yes - the closed air system works better, but we are talking about a few horsepower in a 400+hp machine.

[a4 4snow]

Like others have said you really need stage 2 to really see a difference between the open top and closed top. That said I know 034 X34 shows the pressure difference and it minor between the two but there is a decent gain over stock. I just installed their full system not expecting any gains over stock as I don't have my tune installed yet, and only power potential adder is a mid pipe. My butt dyno says there is a slight increase, and boost comes quicker. Not telling my lady what I had done the first thing she said when we went for a ride was "did you make this faster". So maybe there is a few extra ponys, but the biggest difference is sound and I also have seen better MPG.
A4CF234D-0714-4039-AD57-EB5FB5738307.jpg

[OE2]

Also, most 'closed' systems do have cut outs or vents to allow more air into the filter element than just the snorkel. You really do need to feed these cars when it comes to 4in inlets 4in rear pipes. I will say the inlet and rear pipe even to the stock airbox made a noticeable difference in performance once i put it on.

[sleeperwagon]

its personal. not until I just went Stage 2 did I really care. on my 4th intake...so I liked the turbo spool sound with the cts then it reminded me of a GTI I had. went IE, loved the look, decided I wanted all APR 4 inch stage 2 just to be clean. didn't like the open cone again but loved the big ass apr cone. So went custom with an enclosed APR intake. I had to try and test them myself to get it right. if I started over I would spend the $ on the IE intake if it goes on sale.IMG_20200524_213050_994.jpeg20200524_204443.jpeg

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