4.5” van intake

Meatloaf326

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Hey all, here’s my intake I just put in. It’s my first go so I know it can be improved, so I’m curious everyones thoughts. I know it’s not the best filter location but I was happy how naturally it fit here without moving anything. Everything fit perfect with 5” reducing elbow to 4.5”, then ran 4.5” all the way to the filter. I’ve seen similar with 4” but wanted to let her breathe with the 4.5”
 

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Nero

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That's a funny looking turbo
 

FrozenMerc

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Looks good, but you are likely losing power with that setup due to the hot air the engine is sucking in from right behind the radiator.

It is all about Air Density. For example, a stock 6.9 (421 ci) running at 2500 rpm and operating at 85% volumetric efficiency consumes 258 cfm of 75 deg. F air. The air will have a density of 0.074 lbs/cu-ft at that temperature, at sea level (you guys in Colorado are just screwed), and 21% of the air is made up of oxygen, the magic chemical we like to mix with fuel to make noise in an IDI. Doing the math gives you 4.022 lbs of oxygen to mix with the fuel each minute. That amount of oxygen is directly proportional to the amount of power that can be produced.

Lets say that your intake increases the volumetric efficiency of your engine by 10% to 95%, but you are now drawing in 200 deg air from behind that radiator rather than 75 deg ambient air. Doing the same math as above, but knowing that 200 deg air has a density of 0.060 lbs/cu-ft, you end up with only 3.639 lbs of oxygen to burn with the fuel each minute. That would equate to a 10% loss of power, or 15 to 18 hp in a NA 6.9.

I would look at extending that tubing and filter out to a wheel well or other location that has air at or near ambient temps. I know, easier said than done with a van.

If you don't take my word for it, check out many of Gale Bank's videos on the topic of air density and diesel performance.

https://official.bankspower.com/density/
 
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Meatloaf326

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@FrozenMerc good info. I have extra tube and would like to extend it but I’ll have to move the driver side battery first. I was hoping the open air here would be better than the heat trapped inside the dog house right on top… but I didn’t think about being right behind the radiator. Still feels better than stock until I can dial it in.
 

hacked89

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It’s not 200 degrees where you have it, you probably won’t be able to humanly notice a difference in the loss but yeah colder is better if you can
 

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