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Removal of airbox snorkle-BIG MPG! UPDATE 4.0!

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Old 03-29-2007 | 07:45 PM
  #121  
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Ah, gotcha. Thanks for the response. I guess I'll just stay status quo, since its been some time now since I did the mod.
Old 03-29-2007 | 09:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Itgb
And I couldn't beleive my '06 had that secondary charcoal/carbon? filter in the upper intake. That thing has to go.
Be aware that by removing that carbon filter, your engine is no longer CARB legal...
Being in San Diego, you might want to consider replacing it. It didn't seem terribly restrictive to me.
Old 03-29-2007 | 11:10 PM
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Originally Posted by burstaneurysm
Originally Posted by Itgb
And I couldn't beleive my '06 had that secondary charcoal/carbon? filter in the upper intake. That thing has to go.
Be aware that by removing that carbon filter, your engine is no longer CARB legal...
Being in San Diego, you might want to consider replacing it. It didn't seem terribly restrictive to me.
I know it won't be CARB legal, but I still have at least 2yrs before my first smog check. I'd like to just source an '04-'05 upper intake w/o the secondary filter just for ease of replacing. It looked like I would have to destroy it to take it out.

And for the ECU reset, I will give that a try and see if the conditions improve.
Old 03-29-2007 | 11:24 PM
  #124  
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I'd like to just source an '04-'05 upper intake w/o the secondary filter just for ease of replacing. It looked like I would have to destroy it to take it out.
I took the charcoal filter out the other night after reading your comment. Once you get the upper intake where you can see the filter, just drill into the plastic rivets that are holding it up. I think there was 1 at each corner, and 1 along the edge in the middle. The filter will just pop out in tact then. You should be able to put it back in, if necessary, and either hot glue it on the same spots, or drill into the plastic posts and put small screws into place. I definitely wouldn't waste money on another factory intake.
Old 03-30-2007 | 10:37 PM
  #125  
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OK, another partial update: I put my stock tires and wheels on the other day to see how much I could improve things, MPG-wise. Unfortunately, in my rush I didn't check the tire pressures (they'd been sitting for a few months), so I drove about 137 miles of the new tank with all four tires at 24-25 psi!
Regardless, things are looking pretty good so far: at 1/2 tank, I had covered about 260 miles, and I'm at about 350 now, with a little less than 3/8 tank left. I might just have another record going here!
Old 03-31-2007 | 01:52 AM
  #126  
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Not bad on four flat tires...

Tom
Old 03-31-2007 | 03:31 AM
  #127  
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I did this mod last weekend and I just got my best mpg ever, however it was only an increase of 2mpg (31mpg to 33mpg). Still, it is an improvement. I didn't change my driving style in any way. We'll see how this tank does.
Old 03-31-2007 | 03:55 AM
  #128  
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I don't know how you all get great gas mileage. I will soon buy a K&N drop-in filter and give it a shot. I am lucky to get a total of 29 mpg. My xB is completely stock and I drive it like an old man. I get on it every once in a while when I cut someone off or something. I use 89 octane and my tire pressures are around 32 psi.

I drive 75% city and 25% highway. I usually fill up at 1/4 tank with about 9 gallons and usually get 280 miles. If I stretch it to 1/8 of a tank, I only get 300 miles.

As a good halfway point, how many miles do most of you get at 1/2 tank? I get roughly 180-200.

Am I the only one with poor gas mileage?
Old 03-31-2007 | 04:06 AM
  #129  
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Check your tire pressure gauge and make sure you have 32 in the tires - you can add a little more if you like. Get some regular in there - the higher octane doesn't help. The more you brake the lower your mileage will get - try coasting before you have to stop when you know you are going to stop that is. I get about 250 miles at half a tank which is about 6 gallons. Looks like from full to 3/4 is only 1.6 gallons and man that drops fast! Make sure you really fill the tank - I get 80-90 miles when the needle gets down to the FULL mark.
Old 03-31-2007 | 04:12 AM
  #130  
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Originally Posted by Fran82
I'd like to just source an '04-'05 upper intake w/o the secondary filter just for ease of replacing. It looked like I would have to destroy it to take it out.
I took the charcoal filter out the other night after reading your comment. Once you get the upper intake where you can see the filter, just drill into the plastic rivets that are holding it up. I think there was 1 at each corner, and 1 along the edge in the middle. The filter will just pop out in tact then. You should be able to put it back in, if necessary, and either hot glue it on the same spots, or drill into the plastic posts and put small screws into place. I definitely wouldn't waste money on another factory intake.
I guess I could drill it out, but I was hoping to pick one up from someone who switched to a CAI and just wants to get it out of the garage for cheap. We'll see what comes up. If I get impatient, I'll just do what you did.

mlight13: I regularly hit 180 miles at half a tank. I usually drive until about 30miles after the warning light comes on and I'm at about 310-315 miles and fill up with about 10.0-10.5gal. Gives me about 30-31.5mpg. My daily drive is 75% highway / 25% city.
Old 03-31-2007 | 06:50 AM
  #131  
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Originally Posted by Tomas
Not bad on four flat tires...

Tom
Thanks for the vote of confidence, smart guy!

Man oh man. I think I actually said "DOH!" when I realized what I'd done!

Anyway, I'm at almost 430 now, with somewhere around 1/8 of a tank left...
Old 04-02-2007 | 04:10 AM
  #132  
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i don't know how you do it, but i am getting roughly 33mpg living in san francisco, with hills and stop and go city traffic,.. it's much better than my 26mpg i was gtting before the mod...

I did take off the snorkel and also added a k&n filter as well... .. 7mpg is much better .. that's almost 25% increase and my driving hasn't changed either... props!
Old 04-02-2007 | 04:15 AM
  #133  
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I did this mod over the weekend too. I am not sure if it did anything horsepower wise but it definitely gave it more of growl at higher RPM's (4,000-5,500). The more growl, I think, can only come from more air entering the engine and giving it a little more power. Even if it is a least a very small increase in power, it is doing something. Can't hurt. I wonder if it is taking away from the lower RPM range though. Hmmm....
Old 04-02-2007 | 04:16 AM
  #134  
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I did this mod also, and noticed a slight change in engine feel. I'll see how the MPG looks after this week of work, which will use up a tank or two of gas.
Old 04-02-2007 | 05:02 AM
  #135  
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Originally Posted by BoxOffice
Anyway, I'm at almost 430 now, with somewhere around 1/8 of a tank left...
You go boy!!! You know whats wierd...my last 2 tankfuls with the k&n drop in filter, my mileage is actually down a bit. I might just pick up a new OEM filter tomorrow...anyone looking for a 2 week old k&n filter on the cheap?
Old 04-02-2007 | 02:57 PM
  #136  
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Originally Posted by HeathenBrewing
Ok...seemed easy enough, so I gave it a shot.

Simply undue the 10mm bolt near the battery and give a slight squeeze and twist where the snorkle enters the airbox. Run the snorkle down towards the skid plate and it comes right out w/o having to remove/undue any other components. Took all of 5 minutes to do.

As i looked around the engine bay, I really could not imagine even a remote chance of the intake "hole" sucking up any rocks or debris....take a look around after you remove it, you will see what I mean.

I did an additional safety mod for a grand total of $2.33 as I had a slight concern of the large diameter intake. I dont know how necessary it is, but it is easy enough to remove, so no big loss of time or money.

Go to Home Depot and pick up the following in the plumbing section:

- 14* 3inch round grate (black) *40* "A"
- 2" black coupler

Play around with the pieces a bit and find a pair that fits VERY snug together. I went home and used a rubber mallet to mate the two pieces together. Note that one end has a flat nipple. Leave this end exposed (as in dont try to bang it into the grate, although I dont think you would be able to anyway). No need for pipe dope or anything as once together, they are NOT coming apart. This will leave about 1-1.5" exposed of the coupling. I wrapped some electrical tape around the exposed end EXACTLY twice. Try not to stretch it out too much. Insert into airbox opening where the snorkle once was. It is a snug fit, but can be removed/inserted by hand.

This moved the intake inlet about 2.5" away from the engine and provides some protection against sucking in any debris. I dont think it would compromise airflow very much, if at all.

On my way to work this morning I noticed more passing "pull" from the box at freeway speeds. No noticeable increase in noise, although when passing at speed, it did increase in the smallest amount. No CEL's, no noises.

Seems to be a worth mod as of now, but unless this increases my MPG's, I will go back to stock.
After going thru my first full tank, I have noticed a 2 MPG increase. Nothing too exciting, but when gas hits $4/gal, it will be more appealing.
Old 04-02-2007 | 07:35 PM
  #137  
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Originally Posted by ICE4ROG
Originally Posted by BoxOffice
Anyway, I'm at almost 430 now, with somewhere around 1/8 of a tank left...
You go boy!!! You know whats wierd...my last 2 tankfuls with the k&n drop in filter, my mileage is actually down a bit. I might just pick up a new OEM filter tomorrow...anyone looking for a 2 week old k&n filter on the cheap?
Check out "Tomas's" post on the previous page about the ECU. That could be the problem...
Old 04-02-2007 | 08:12 PM
  #138  
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Well, I finally finished my last tank Saturday morning. I was headed up to the mountains, so I had to fill it a little before I wanted to, since there wouldn't be any gas stations within the distance I'd probably be running out of gas!
As I mentioned earlier, this was my first tank with the stock tires and wheels back on (looking for less rolling resistance), although I did drive the first 137 miles of the tank with the tires at 24 to 25 psi.
They're now set at just 32 psi front/30 psi rear, since I still wanted to be comfortable on my lonnnng commute.
Regardless, I ended up covering a whopping 468 miles, at an amazing 43.64 mpg!
I'm guessing I could have gone another 20 miles easy, so I'm beginning to believe that a 500 mile tank is a real possibility...
Old 04-02-2007 | 08:49 PM
  #139  
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Originally Posted by BoxOffice
Well, I finally finished my last tank Saturday morning. I was headed up to the mountains, so I had to fill it a little before I wanted to, since there wouldn't be any gas stations within the distance I'd probably be running out of gas!
As I mentioned earlier, this was my first tank with the stock tires and wheels back on (looking for less rolling resistance), although I did drive the first 137 miles of the tank with the tires at 24 to 25 psi.
They're now set at just 32 psi front/30 psi rear, since I still wanted to be comfortable on my lonnnng commute.
Regardless, I ended up covering a whopping 468 miles, at an amazing 43.64 mpg!
I'm guessing I could have gone another 20 miles easy, so I'm beginning to believe that a 500 mile tank is a real possibility...
Good job Box! Get that 500 miles and you'll be the president of that club, I think my 454 miles is about as good as Im gonna get, but you know Ill keep plugging away...
Old 04-02-2007 | 08:54 PM
  #140  
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Boy, I dunno - that was really working at it. I'm taking a couple of tanks "off" to relax!!!



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