CAI Don't Actually Increase Power

[VdubOne]

The common misconception is that adding a cold air intake will give you more horsepower. The only thing a CAI gives you is a less impeded intake airflow, and a easier to clean filter element. I added a spectre race cone filter (it has no actual filtration against smaller particles, just big particles) and dynoed it, gained 0 hp, but 3 ft-lbs torque. Then ported out my throttle body and gained 11 hp and 8 ft-lbs torque. Removed my CAI and left the throttle body ported, didn't lose any power when i went back to the stock air box. Another great way to get more power from intake is by porting (not polishing) the intake manifold and port matching the head. This can give you some serious power.
My 2001 VW New Beetle 2.0GLS 4spd AUTO:
Spectre CAI Filter
Throttle Body Porting
Intake Manifold Porting
Shaved Head
High Flow Exhaust Manifold
High Flow Cat Converter
Straight Back Exhaust to Stock Muffler (2.75 inch resonated pipe)
ECU Upgrade
1400 cc Fuel Injectors
High Flow Fuel Pump

Was getting ready for a turbo, then ran out of money. Pushing about 210 horsepower now, dynoed summer 2010. Runs a 13 second quarter at the track. Stock muffler was left so when police checked it, it looked stock. Runs great and I get about 20mpg city!

[marvins_dad]

Was your CAI in the same place as your stock air box or did you take it down to the front grill like a ram air?

Just curious.
Wonder if mine is more efficient that way. It does sound better and I feel it gets cooler air that way.

[DZLBUG]

Originally Posted by marvins_dad

Was your CAI in the same place as your stock air box or did you take it down to the front grill like a ram air?

Just curious.
Wonder if mine is more efficient that way. It does sound better and I feel it gets cooler air that way.

Ahem...
"Cold-air intakes" and "high-flow air filter" FAQ - TDIClub Forums

Seriously, a stock intake and airbox flows more air than a stock or moderately-modded NB would ever need...and you will never see any measurable increase in power ever.

Your water intake does not give you any cooler air or more airflow than what the stock intake would when it pulls air from above the fender liner.

[Too Cold NB1.8T]

Originally Posted by VdubOne

The common misconception is that adding a cold air intake will give you more horsepower. The only thing a CAI gives you is a less impeded intake airflow, and a easier to clean filter element. I added a spectre race cone filter (it has no actual filtration against smaller particles, just big particles) and dynoed it, gained 0 hp, but 3 ft-lbs torque. Then ported out my throttle body and gained 11 hp and 8 ft-lbs torque. Removed my CAI and left the throttle body ported, didn't lose any power when i went back to the stock air box. Another great way to get more power from intake is by porting (not polishing) the intake manifold and port matching the head. This can give you some serious power.
My 2001 VW New Beetle 2.0GLS 4spd AUTO:
Spectre CAI Filter
Throttle Body Porting
Intake Manifold Porting
Shaved Head
High Flow Exhaust Manifold
High Flow Cat Converter
Straight Back Exhaust to Stock Muffler (2.75 inch resonated pipe)
ECU Upgrade
1400 cc Fuel Injectors
High Flow Fuel Pump

Was getting ready for a turbo, then ran out of money. Pushing about 210 horsepower now, dynoed summer 2010. Runs a 13 second quarter at the track. Stock muffler was left so when police checked it, it looked stock. Runs great and I get about 20mpg city!

Much like any other modifications, the end results depend greatly on the particular drivetrain setup.

Horsepower and torque are two of the possible gains that can usually be revealed with a dyno test, however, all performance gains/losses cannot be measured on a dyno, much like how tranny gearing differences do not add power but can make a significant difference in where the power is placed, thereby greatly changing a vehicles performance attributes.

This is an age old subject cluttered with a multitude of opinions, all you can do is go with what seems to work with your setup.

FYI: This kind of modification will typically yield the lowest (if any) improvement to an N/A engine, better result are normally obtained on a FI engine.

[Motown Philly]

VdubOne, did you also "Port" your Exhaust Manifold? I'm about to swap my turbo and exhaust manifold, and have been asking myself this for sometime. "if it's worth it to port/polish the exhaust mani?"

Thanks,
Phil

[SMG]

LOL! WTF is all of this about? Your stock 2.0 doesn't need any more fuel or air than it already is getting from the factory parts. A 2.0 is a waste of time to mod unless you go forced induction, which will destroy your automatic transmission.

There is no "serious" power to be had from a 2.0 without dropping big bucks on it. Almost every single item on your list is a complete waste of money and time. A guy on VWVortex did a very involved NA build of his 2.0L ABA and it only made 135whp or so, which is fairly impressive in my opinion but for the amount of money he had invested he could have gone turbo.

I don't believe you got 11hp from porting your throttle body at all. I think that's BS unless you have the dyno charts to prove it. I read up on this and all ported throttle bodies seemed to do on the MK4 2.0L is make them run like crap. You're only going to gain power is you identify a major bottleneck (restriction) of the engine and modify accordingly. The throttle body on the MK4 2.0 is the same size as on the 1.8T, and those cars have been pushed well past 350whp with the stock throttle body.

[VdubOne]

Originally Posted by Motown Philly

VdubOne, did you also "Port" your Exhaust Manifold? I'm about to swap my turbo and exhaust manifold, and have been asking myself this for sometime. "if it's worth it to port/polish the exhaust mani?"

Thanks,
Phil

I found an old exhaust manifold from a junkyard and yes ported it out quite a bit

[VdubOne]

Originally Posted by SMG

LOL! WTF is all of this about? Your stock 2.0 doesn't need any more fuel or air than it already is getting from the factory parts. A 2.0 is a waste of time to mod unless you go forced induction, which will destroy your automatic transmission.

There is no "serious" power to be had from a 2.0 without dropping big bucks on it. Almost every single item on your list is a complete waste of money and time. A guy on VWVortex did a very involved NA build of his 2.0L ABA and it only made 135whp or so, which is fairly impressive in my opinion but for the amount of money he had invested he could have gone turbo.

I don't believe you got 11hp from porting your throttle body at all. I think that's BS unless you have the dyno charts to prove it. I read up on this and all ported throttle bodies seemed to do on the MK4 2.0L is make them run like crap. You're only going to gain power is you identify a major bottleneck (restriction) of the engine and modify accordingly. The throttle body on the MK4 2.0 is the same size as on the 1.8T, and those cars have been pushed well past 350whp with the stock throttle body.

Yea but you know what is funny, I am probably the only person in a 2.0L AEG running a 13.597 second quarter mile (Summer 2010). I just wanted to be the first to modify the 2.0L engine, I have 142hp at the wheels (Dyno: yet again, Summer 2010). And I do have the dyno charts, AND, Don't try to tell me that I don't know what I am doing, because I do. I also replaced my pistons, totally worth it (no longer burning oil). AND I get about 24 miles per gallon, pretty damn good in my opinion. AND to say about your big bucks, I make a LOT of money each year, and I have 11k dumped in mods here

[VdubOne]

Also guys, Porting and Polishing actually hurts performance, because people think by porting, then polishing, you will have a smoother flow, when really you want a rough mixture flow of air or exhaust in either manifold. I put this car out on craigslist last week for 13k as a race car, got someone interested already. Thinking of buying a 1.9tdi

[VdubOne]

And I keep forgetting to comment, I have a limited slip differential installed, totally worth the 700 bucks i dished out for that one

[AbuNigel]

Originally Posted by VdubOne

Yea but you know what is funny, I am probably the only person in a 2.0L AEG running a 13.597 second quarter mile (Summer 2010). I just wanted to be the first to modify the 2.0L engine, I have 142hp at the wheels (Dyno: yet again, Summer 2010). And I do have the dyno charts, AND, Don't try to tell me that I don't know what I am doing, because I do. I also replaced my pistons, totally worth it (no longer burning oil). AND I get about 24 miles per gallon, pretty damn good in my opinion. AND to say about your big bucks, I make a LOT of money each year, and I have 11k dumped in mods here

ok...sooo let's see the dyno charts...you said you have them..

[SMG]

Looking very forward to this.

[Opelmania]

Originally Posted by VdubOne

Yea but you know what is funny, I am probably the only person in a 2.0L AEG running a 13.597 second quarter mile (Summer 2010). I just wanted to be the first to modify the 2.0L engine, I have 142hp at the wheels (Dyno: yet again, Summer 2010). And I do have the dyno charts, AND, Don't try to tell me that I don't know what I am doing, because I do. I also replaced my pistons, totally worth it (no longer burning oil). AND I get about 24 miles per gallon, pretty damn good in my opinion. AND to say about your big bucks, I make a LOT of money each year, and I have 11k dumped in mods here

So between the price of the car and the mods you have a 13.5 second $20K NB? For 20K, there is a lot out there that will put way more HP to the wheels and run a lot faster than that. A2000 BMW M5 comes to mind with money left to make it faster. I too am looking forward to this.

[NewBeetleMechanic]

Let me get this straight, your pushing an additional 30 whp with your installed parts? The only 2.0 Beetle I have ever seen get under the 14 mark was a fellow drag racer with a 100 shot of NoS, He pulled a 13.5 on the first run, the second run spit the #2 rod out of the block at the 600 ft. mark.

It also stripped the pinion drive gear completely off when the engine blew.

Where did you find the proper spider gear globe for the diff, cause I gotta know, the stock globe will not take a 95hp increase. I personally know it will turn into a goopy mess.

[Opelmania]

Waiting on dyno sheets and drag slips.

[Too Cold NB1.8T]

Originally Posted by VdubOne

Also guys, Porting and Polishing actually hurts performance, because people think by porting, then polishing, you will have a smoother flow, when really you want a rough mixture flow of air or exhaust in either manifold.

This is not entirely correct, it is true that some rough texture in the intake paths can help with fuel atomization and improved A/F mixture depending on the engine setup, but, when it comes the exhaust side, an engine can definitely benefit from a smoother, flowing internal surface (port & polish or extrude hone...).

Originally Posted by VdubOne

My 2001 VW New Beetle 2.0GLS 4spd AUTO:
ECU Upgrade
1400 cc Fuel Injectors

Wait a minute, 1400cc injectors on a 2.0L NA engine, WHAT!!... You must have big block size pistons, cams with some crazy lift and duration, a custom head with some serious combustion cambers and a killer software tuner to make this work, not to mention, all of this in front of a VW automatic transmission.

Hmmm, I've gotta be missing something here...

[SMG]

He's a moron. That's the only thing you missed. His car was apparently "stolen" and he never provided any pictures or proof.