It makes sense. I found a slight difference in power before and after installing my AEM CAI, but it was in no way a rigorous test--the before and after runs were done on different days, and while the ambient temperatures were the same and so was time of day, I have no idea if pressure and humidity were the same. Most likely they were not!

 

I am starting to 'dig' this!

 

My 08 arrived with an Alta installed and I have to say that it is one dismal piece of engineering IMHO. I've yanked it out and I'm going to hut down a stock air box to put in there so at least the cold air from the grill has half a chance of being injested in the engine.



If anyone wants to trade even for a stock set up, I'm all ears.

 

You prompted me to go look at alta's site. I found this:



That sure looks like a hot air intake to me. How can one even call it a cold air intake when it's drawing from under hood air? That factory hood scoop is for looks. (See also why I got the AEM: does something potentially useful with it.)

Better to put in a high flow air filter instead of that Alta design. Which, if memory serves, is what the JCW kit does.

 

Thanks

 

I don't believe air passes through the hood scoop, even if it did it's highly restricted (blocked) by unopened holes.

 

If you remove the black honeycomb (its only held on the scoop by 4 screws) you have a "functional" hood scoop. I did this with my Notch scoop and added an air diverter so air flows straight down to the turbo to keep engine temps down. I don't want my new valve cover to melt!

 

Watch that scoop can get hot after you stop and shut the car off from the turbo heat.

 

Cutting open the hood scoop will also pressurize to the downstream side of the radiator, reducing airflow through it. If water cooling was marginal, that might be enough to push it over the edge.

 

No cutting require, just unscrew it from the back. Also, I have not had the scoop grille installed on mine since I've owned it. No problems at all with cooling systems. Summers can get over 100* Fahrenheit ambient here. Let alone the engine temps, plus on a hot road. Along with that I've had a larger FMIC installed for a summer as well, which blocks some flow to the radiator. No problems to be had. I'm pretty sure removing the scoop grille will be ok for most. YMMV of course.

 

Grizid , did you put the heat shield ( hood mounted ) on also ?