Open pod on Automatic car

[yewly1990]

Having question, which alot people said that open pod was`t suitable on automatic transmission.
I have few numbers of friends installed open pod on their automatic myvi, vios, persona, accord, civic and 350z also having good result on performance increase.
Another weird answer from a friend with 350z roadster is better fuel consume after installing a long ram open pod + CAI with heat shield cover.

I`m currently going to do a short ram intake with heat shield cover for my 1.5l automatic almera.
Asked most of the place which they said this is a stupid idea, I not gonna get any improvement from this installation.

Another few answer get from other people said that, It should be better on mid and high rpms, but will be suffer with low end. And it is very subjectively, depends on car models, and also depends on driver styles. And also, with my current installation I need to change a new muffler and piggyback unit to get better performance gain from my Open pod.

Currently I had install Electronic Throttle Controller, Ignition Booster, Exhaust Sport Cat, Mid box with new new piping size, Voltage Stabilizer, and also Brisk Iridium spark plug.

Went to a performance shop in sunway, which he said that, installing a turbo to current engine is impossible, change another engine for my car was also nearly impossible, due to small space in engine bay, I can only do basics on my ride.

I was considering on doing enclosed open pod with cai which like KNN apollo those kind, but no space to fit in apollo and also the cold air hose, had tried few brand.
End up now I going to install a Short ram open pod intake with heat shield, together with a piggyback unit.

I wanted to know whats the comment and recommended from all people.

My ride is an automatic 1.5L Almera.

 

[BLaCkHoWLiNG]

Just go for drop in filter

 

[Veloc]

Bro, I respect your passion. Seeing you spending so much and changing so many things to make your car more fun to drive, I can conclude that you really enjoy driving. Especially spirited ones. Sorry to break it to you, but you got the wrong car as a base to begin with. If you got a vios, it would be easier to increase performance and easier. But do not fret, your car cannot be a skyline but there are still ways to make your car better to drive.

First of all, try to shop for a K&N drop in filter. Those that fit directly into your air box instead of open pod once. Drop ins are good for auto cars. I still do not understand that logic behind why open pod are not good for auto cars, but that is what many have tested and testified. In some things, we don't need to pay to learn. We can learn from others. I do see that you are very interested in open pod. I think there is a possibility of using open pod (not entirely sure), but you will have to go with Long Ram pipe instead of short ram. This is tested and verified by some of my friends. I know a guy who used K&N 6" with long ram on his auto Blacktop 20V. Response is beautiful. The ram pipe needs to be long enough as it acts as a collector and accelerator for the air mass entering your engine. A pipe that is too short can only benefit very high rpm operation because at lower revs, there wouldn't be enough air to fill the pipe thus causing pressure and velocity drop. You need the air to rush and push into your engine, not lag and stay at the pipe.

Second, you can change your muffler into a good brand S-flow muffler such as Tanabe Medalion G-Power or FGK. Do not think of going straight slow. I learned things the expensive way. And also keep the stop piping size. If your Almera piping is 1.75" (for example. I do not know what is the size), find a muffler that has and inlet of 1.75 - 1.8". You can also change your midbox to a "spiral" type bullet but not too big diameter. Try to stick to the diameter size as close as possible. Changing to straight flow will cause poor response, poor fc and a drop in torque throughout your powerband.

Thermal wrap your extractor at least. You can wrap your whole exhaust if you got enough money. Change to good plug cables such as NGK or BSI if they have for your car. Change to iridium spark plug (you can go 1-2 number lower on the heat range due to our climate).

Use good motor oil and oil filter such as Motul oil and K&N oil filter. Expensive at first but it has a super long service life. 10000 km service interval but if you drive gently, 12000 km is no problem.

Install emange and tune it good.

Lastly, if you read the recent article by our Godlike mythbuster, use V-Safe Energy.

 

[Supra_Fanatics]

Bro, I respect your passion. Seeing you spending so much and changing so many things to make your car more fun to drive, I can conclude that you really enjoy driving. Especially spirited ones. Sorry to break it to you, but you got the wrong car as a base to begin with. If you got a vios, it would be easier to increase performance and easier. But do not fret, your car cannot be a skyline but there are still ways to make your car better to drive.

First of all, try to shop for a K&N drop in filter. Those that fit directly into your air box instead of open pod once. Drop ins are good for auto cars. I still do not understand that logic behind why open pod are not good for auto cars, but that is what many have tested and testified. In some things, we don't need to pay to learn. We can learn from others. I do see that you are very interested in open pod. I think there is a possibility of using open pod (not entirely sure), but you will have to go with Long Ram pipe instead of short ram. This is tested and verified by some of my friends. I know a guy who used K&N 6" with long ram on his auto Blacktop 20V. Response is beautiful. The ram pipe needs to be long enough as it acts as a collector and accelerator for the air mass entering your engine. A pipe that is too short can only benefit very high rpm operation because at lower revs, there wouldn't be enough air to fill the pipe thus causing pressure and velocity drop. You need the air to rush and push into your engine, not lag and stay at the pipe.

Second, you can change your muffler into a good brand S-flow muffler such as Tanabe Medalion G-Power or FGK. Do not think of going straight slow. I learned things the expensive way. And also keep the stop piping size. If your Almera piping is 1.75" (for example. I do not know what is the size), find a muffler that has and inlet of 1.75 - 1.8". You can also change your midbox to a "spiral" type bullet but not too big diameter. Try to stick to the diameter size as close as possible. Changing to straight flow will cause poor response, poor fc and a drop in torque throughout your powerband.

Thermal wrap your extractor at least. You can wrap your whole exhaust if you got enough money. Change to good plug cables such as NGK or BSI if they have for your car. Change to iridium spark plug (you can go 1-2 number lower on the heat range due to our climate).

Use good motor oil and oil filter such as Motul oil and K&N oil filter. Expensive at first but it has a super long service life. 10000 km service interval but if you drive gently, 12000 km is no problem.

Install emange and tune it good.

Lastly, if you read the recent article by our Godlike mythbuster, use V-Safe Energy.

Btw, how much to wrap extractor? I do heard a lot said that open pod is not suitable for Auto Cars as well and low end power will suffer for sure.

 

[yewly1990]

Bro, I respect your passion. Seeing you spending so much and changing so many things to make your car more fun to drive, I can conclude that you really enjoy driving. Especially spirited ones. Sorry to break it to you, but you got the wrong car as a base to begin with. If you got a vios, it would be easier to increase performance and easier. But do not fret, your car cannot be a skyline but there are still ways to make your car better to drive.

First of all, try to shop for a K&N drop in filter. Those that fit directly into your air box instead of open pod once. Drop ins are good for auto cars. I still do not understand that logic behind why open pod are not good for auto cars, but that is what many have tested and testified. In some things, we don't need to pay to learn. We can learn from others. I do see that you are very interested in open pod. I think there is a possibility of using open pod (not entirely sure), but you will have to go with Long Ram pipe instead of short ram. This is tested and verified by some of my friends. I know a guy who used K&N 6" with long ram on his auto Blacktop 20V. Response is beautiful. The ram pipe needs to be long enough as it acts as a collector and accelerator for the air mass entering your engine. A pipe that is too short can only benefit very high rpm operation because at lower revs, there wouldn't be enough air to fill the pipe thus causing pressure and velocity drop. You need the air to rush and push into your engine, not lag and stay at the pipe.

Second, you can change your muffler into a good brand S-flow muffler such as Tanabe Medalion G-Power or FGK. Do not think of going straight slow. I learned things the expensive way. And also keep the stop piping size. If your Almera piping is 1.75" (for example. I do not know what is the size), find a muffler that has and inlet of 1.75 - 1.8". You can also change your midbox to a "spiral" type bullet but not too big diameter. Try to stick to the diameter size as close as possible. Changing to straight flow will cause poor response, poor fc and a drop in torque throughout your powerband.

Thermal wrap your extractor at least. You can wrap your whole exhaust if you got enough money. Change to good plug cables such as NGK or BSI if they have for your car. Change to iridium spark plug (you can go 1-2 number lower on the heat range due to our climate).

Use good motor oil and oil filter such as Motul oil and K&N oil filter. Expensive at first but it has a super long service life. 10000 km service interval but if you drive gently, 12000 km is no problem.

Install emange and tune it good.

Lastly, if you read the recent article by our Godlike mythbuster, use V-Safe Energy.

For the short and long ram method, I was facing a problem, If I do long ram intake, It would be near the radiator fans and the engine areas, which will soak a lot of heat airs, which will made more fuel to producing power ( what I heard from the installer ). If I do short ram, it is just next to the throttle body, and a quite big distance from the heat air areas, and also a nice place for me to custom a heat shield which can cover many places. The installer said they will usually recommended people to do long ram air intake.

My currently Situation is upgrade some slightly performance, Does`t matter which is Drop in or Open pod, I using Works drop in rite now, and quite sick with the oil, I planning to tried open pod, if it does`t not gain more power than drop in, I will change it back to stock air box.

And another problem is, i went to works engineering in sunway, and another few shops in there, they told me my stock air box, had a pipe lead to the engine area heat produce area, and very near to the radiator fans, it keep soak a lot of heat airs. Maybe I should post a few photo.
That is one of the reason that makes me wanna change the intake part.

---------- Post added at 05:24 PM ---------- 6 hour anti-bump limit - Previous post was at 05:18 PM ----------

Btw, how much to wrap extractor? I do heard a lot said that open pod is not suitable for Auto Cars as well and low end power will suffer for sure.

As I said, depends on driving style, Open pod power start from 2.5 rpms above, means after installed a open pod, u will need to step harder for power gain heard from the installer, but mid and high end got better acceleration. Both performance and fuel consume also depends on the place we install the open pod, and they said need to install piggyback to get the best performance from open pod.

 

[Veloc]

Btw, how much to wrap extractor? I do heard a lot said that open pod is not suitable for Auto Cars as well and low end power will suffer for sure.

Depends on what brand of wrap. I got a 10 m wrap for RM 60. Some selling for RM 80. Some 5 m wrap already cost RM 50. I bought mine but haven't wrap. And don't forget the clip. They never give enough. Have to buy more. I think I will buy some pipe clips from the hardware shop. Cheaper and tougher.

---------- Post added at 06:34 PM ---------- 6 hour anti-bump limit - Previous post was at 06:32 PM ----------

For the short and long ram method, I was facing a problem, If I do long ram intake, It would be near the radiator fans and the engine areas, which will soak a lot of heat airs, which will made more fuel to producing power ( what I heard from the installer ). If I do short ram, it is just next to the throttle body, and a quite big distance from the heat air areas, and also a nice place for me to custom a heat shield which can cover many places. The installer said they will usually recommended people to do long ram air intake.

My currently Situation is upgrade some slightly performance, Does`t matter which is Drop in or Open pod, I using Works drop in rite now, and quite sick with the oil, I planning to tried open pod, if it does`t not gain more power than drop in, I will change it back to stock air box.

And another problem is, i went to works engineering in sunway, and another few shops in there, they told me my stock air box, had a pipe lead to the engine area heat produce area, and very near to the radiator fans, it keep soak a lot of heat airs. Maybe I should post a few photo.
That is one of the reason that makes me wanna change the intake part.

Bro, in that case, means long and short ram also not suitable for your case. Use drop in is best. Engine bay heat can reduce if your thermal wrap your exhaust, but still cannot use open pod because too close to the radiator. Maybe try K&N drop in? I believe there is a reason for it being priced higher. Simota ones have some reputation of letting more dust through from my reading in some forums. Not good for engine in the long run.

 

[yewly1990]

Depends on what brand of wrap. I got a 10 m wrap for RM 60. Some selling for RM 80. Some 5 m wrap already cost RM 50. I bought mine but haven't wrap. And don't forget the clip. They never give enough. Have to buy more. I think I will buy some pipe clips from the hardware shop. Cheaper and tougher.

---------- Post added at 06:34 PM ---------- 6 hour anti-bump limit - Previous post was at 06:32 PM ----------



Bro, in that case, means long and short ram also not suitable for your case. Use drop in is best. Engine bay heat can reduce if your thermal wrap your exhaust, but still cannot use open pod because too close to the radiator. Maybe try K&N drop in? I believe there is a reason for it being priced higher. Simota ones have some reputation of letting more dust through from my reading in some forums. Not good for engine in the long run.

Thats why I planning to custom made a heat shield to block it, should be work, Not sure yet, maybe I will try both short and long ram.

 

[6UE5t]

Hmm I think just too much of a hassle and cost for just a miniscule power gain if any! I'd just settle for the drop-in filter if I were you, and don't expect much either.

 

[yewly1990]

Depends on what brand of wrap. I got a 10 m wrap for RM 60. Some selling for RM 80. Some 5 m wrap already cost RM 50. I bought mine but haven't wrap. And don't forget the clip. They never give enough. Have to buy more. I think I will buy some pipe clips from the hardware shop. Cheaper and tougher.

---------- Post added at 06:34 PM ---------- 6 hour anti-bump limit - Previous post was at 06:32 PM ----------



Bro, in that case, means long and short ram also not suitable for your case. Use drop in is best. Engine bay heat can reduce if your thermal wrap your exhaust, but still cannot use open pod because too close to the radiator. Maybe try K&N drop in? I believe there is a reason for it being priced higher. Simota ones have some reputation of letting more dust through from my reading in some forums. Not good for engine in the long run.

This is the engine bay picture, Red line is where the open pod will be, blue was the place I planned to do heat shield

 

[yewly1990]

Hmm I think just too much of a hassle and cost for just a miniscule power gain if any! I'd just settle for the drop-in filter if I were you, and don't expect much either.

Done with drop in, feel nothing game, it just same like the stock paper filter

 

[6UE5t]

Done with drop in, feel nothing game, it just same like the stock paper filter

Open pod also will not gain much if any. But you can try check out Speedworks facebook, they make many K&N open pod kits with heat shields.

 

[marsha1l_v6]

bro.. mind sharing the issue you had withbworks drop in..using it now..tq

 

[yewly1990]

bro.. mind sharing the issue you had withbworks drop in..using it now..tq

Does`t feels like got better fuel consume and better torque and hp as they said, about the dust problem I does`t clearly know about it yet, almost sames like stock paper air filter, and the mineral oil that need to wash it every 5,000km was very anoyying.

 

[Veloc]

I salute your passion bro.. Looks like a tight engine bay. Anyways, good luck in trying and do update us on the results.

 

[6UE5t]

Does`t feels like got better fuel consume and better torque and hp as they said, about the dust problem I does`t clearly know about it yet, almost sames like stock paper air filter, and the mineral oil that need to wash it every 5,000km was very anoyying.

Hahaha, I haven't wash or oil mine for more than 10K km already! Who says have to do that every 5K km?

 

[yewly1990]

Hahaha, I haven't wash or oil mine for more than 10K km already! Who says have to do that every 5K km?

I not sure, but they said should be every 5k km, the was away the dust and so on.

---------- Post added at 07:22 PM ---------- 6 hour anti-bump limit - Previous post was at 07:22 PM ----------

I salute your passion bro.. Looks like a tight engine bay. Anyways, good luck in trying and do update us on the results.

I will

 

[Veloc]

K&N recommend cleaning and re-oiling after 50000 miles. MILES. And they recommend to at least give it a check every 30000 miles.

 

[marsha1l_v6]

with what kind/type of oil?

 

[yewly1990]

with what kind/type of oil?

its the cleaning kit by simota or knn

 

[Izso]

K&N has their own proprietary oil. Use back the same.

I probably should do a mythbuster article on this but Mightcarmods have done it already. And they did the test between stock, drop in, open pod (no brand) and open pod with CAI. The one that delivered the best results was stock. It was all done on a R34 Skyline mind you.

I have my reservations on this but it does settle some debates. I've personally been messing around with open pods, varied length piping, and all. Right now I'm using drop in and that says a lot. I did all this on my 3-speed auto too.

Standard length piping and open pod with no heatshield - lost a lot of low end to mid torque. High was fantastic. But realistically how often do you get to use that range of power band?

Short piping with open pod with heat shield and CAI - lost low end torque, mid and high was reasonably good.

Super long piping all the way into the bumper, shielded piping, open pod and CAI - lost low end but mid to high was pretty good. But had issues with water being sucked up. Removed CAI and problem solved. Biggest problem was filter got dirty super duper fast and to remove it I had to remove my bumper. Bloody nuisance.

Drop in + CAI - Can't really tell the difference until you put in a stock OEM filter, then you'll realize just how good the drop-in is. CAI picks up a lot of stones, dust and dirt.

Completely filterless and straight CAI into intake manifold - low end sucked big time mid to high was bloody loud. Intake noise is unbelievably loud with performance only at the much higher revs.

Conclusion - I'm a lazy ass. So drop in without CAI is what I chose to use. I have a air passage way to the filter but not a direct flow with a CAI. Water and dirt is too much for me to be concerned about since my car is relatively low.

And you don't need a piggyback to utilize a drop in or whatever la. Most modern cars have adaptive ECUs so give it a day or two and it'll adapt. Basic formula is :

Fuel + air = power

More fuel + more air = more power.

If fuel is standard + more air = running lean. ECU will pump in more fuel eventually and compensate. Piggybacks can only optimize these settings to a certain extent since most stock ECUs are programmed to be conservative in the first place.