Additoinal CDA ducting comments/concerns. [long]
10-13-2001, 05:40 AM
#1
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Additoinal CDA ducting comments/concerns. [long]
Yesterday, I pulled off the LF wheel and inner fender liner to look at the intake air flow situation. I have to say, I'm not impressed at all with the design. The 225 TT has no where to get cool air !. The stock plastic "snorkle" looking thing just sticks into the inner fender. This is where my new intake duct is too. I was able to trim my duct to increase (a lot) the opening. The problem is and duct is constrained (smashed) by a). The inner fender liner b). The rear of the Xeon light assemmbly c). the innercooler housing & d). the odd (non round) shape of the OE intake fender opening. Don't get any ideas to cut it round, as it wouldn't really help.
In other words, there is NO PLACE to route a duct further up, down or sideways! To make things worse, the 225 TT gets it's intake air from (basically) anywhere it can find it. There are small seams and air gaps, but no real source of cool outside air of any kind. One of the largest openings is a one and a half inch round hole in the side of the fender well/intercooler housing. A quick look in there, shows the upper intercooler and hose...That's not cool air by any stretch!.
I now understand why my car has such hesitation once it sits (e.g., at a traffic light). We've all been there. The temp guage goes up one tick, the intercoolers are heat soaked as air is not moving across them and to make matters worse, the hot air coming off the intercooler is now all the engine gets to use. We step on the gas and ugh... nothing....
My CDA duct is much larger and does takes advantage of "more" air. It's just not any cooler air.
I believe I read when the Front mount intercooler (FMIC) is insalled you remove the OE coolers. This would be the opportunity to use that vacant space to get true cool air into the engine. Until then, it just has to find air anywhere it can. I have taken more (non digital) pictures of the situation inside the fender well. I'll get them onto diskette soon.
If someone has a different observation and solution, I'd love to hear it.
In other words, there is NO PLACE to route a duct further up, down or sideways! To make things worse, the 225 TT gets it's intake air from (basically) anywhere it can find it. There are small seams and air gaps, but no real source of cool outside air of any kind. One of the largest openings is a one and a half inch round hole in the side of the fender well/intercooler housing. A quick look in there, shows the upper intercooler and hose...That's not cool air by any stretch!.
I now understand why my car has such hesitation once it sits (e.g., at a traffic light). We've all been there. The temp guage goes up one tick, the intercoolers are heat soaked as air is not moving across them and to make matters worse, the hot air coming off the intercooler is now all the engine gets to use. We step on the gas and ugh... nothing....
My CDA duct is much larger and does takes advantage of "more" air. It's just not any cooler air.
I believe I read when the Front mount intercooler (FMIC) is insalled you remove the OE coolers. This would be the opportunity to use that vacant space to get true cool air into the engine. Until then, it just has to find air anywhere it can. I have taken more (non digital) pictures of the situation inside the fender well. I'll get them onto diskette soon.
If someone has a different observation and solution, I'd love to hear it.
10-13-2001, 06:16 AM
#2
I too was in your situation...and I gotta tell ya, it doesn't get ant better...
The way that I got around this problem was not the most desirable but it got the job done.
I went to the auto parts store and bought some heater hose in a smaller diameter than what comes with the CDA box. The CDA box intake is just too big to be routed through the fender liner, Xenon assembly etc.
The smaller diameter hose along with a slight trim around the Xenon assembly has allowed me to run the tubing all the way up to the lower driver's side intake grill.
On the intake side, I just ran the tubing that came with the CDA to the fender and then attached the smaller diameter tubing to that. Look at the pic and you will see what I mean
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/11019/cdaintake.jpg">
I went to the auto parts store and bought some heater hose in a smaller diameter than what comes with the CDA box. The CDA box intake is just too big to be routed through the fender liner, Xenon assembly etc.
The smaller diameter hose along with a slight trim around the Xenon assembly has allowed me to run the tubing all the way up to the lower driver's side intake grill.
On the intake side, I just ran the tubing that came with the CDA to the fender and then attached the smaller diameter tubing to that. Look at the pic and you will see what I mean
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/11019/cdaintake.jpg">
10-13-2001, 07:03 AM
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Not sure what the inner fender on a 180 looks like. I can tell you
there is no place to run ANY ducting of ANY size down to anyplace on a 225 TT..
I ned to get these pictures developed.
I ned to get these pictures developed.
10-13-2001, 07:22 AM
#7
I never ran the CDA or P-Flo without the cold air intake so I cant say ......
What I can tell you is this....
When I had the Neuspeed P-Flo which is basically an open element filter with a aluminum heat shield I had the cold air duct run up to the front grill.
If I would go for a hard ride and get the motor hot and then get on the highway, I could pull over quickly and pop the hood and feel the heat shield and it would be cold while everything else was hot. IMHO there is definitely colder air getting to the CDA box then if it were not connected to anything.
When I had the Neuspeed P-Flo which is basically an open element filter with a aluminum heat shield I had the cold air duct run up to the front grill.
If I would go for a hard ride and get the motor hot and then get on the highway, I could pull over quickly and pop the hood and feel the heat shield and it would be cold while everything else was hot. IMHO there is definitely colder air getting to the CDA box then if it were not connected to anything.
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10-13-2001, 08:05 AM
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It probably looks worst than it is as APR and MTM both have upgrades which use the stock airbox w/..
a slip in K&N filter. These upgrades are upwards of 300 HP+. The MTM is already out in Germany and is considered extremely reliable. The twin sequential intercoolers are also used in HPA's conversion of a twin turbo VR6. The power restrictions based on what the big names in Audi tuning are changing appear to be turbos, exhaust manifolds/downpipes, and software. I also have my doubts whether the MAF can compensate for extra air (chipped or not) via OBD II protocols as people are reporting extra rich conditions which rob power. Bottom line is if it aint broke, don't fix it and if it seems broke; offer some scientific proof. Just $.02.