what is this part? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

djomlas · 01-07-2007, 01:56 PM

is this just a baffle thats there to keep the noise down? can this just be taken off and caped off? im talking about the highlighted part thats coming off of the tube

kenkamm · 01-07-2007, 02:39 PM

I haven't looked at the shop manual, but that looks like an intake resonator. Usually added to make the intake sound the way they want and/or remove an annoying resonance. Removal of such a device might make for more/better or sometimes worse sound. I don't think you'd gain or lose any significant power, though, unless it's designed to be part of the intake runner's tuning.

Someone here can correct me if I'm wrong.

djomlas · 01-07-2007, 02:55 PM

when i had my last car for a short period of time (WRX), it had one of those baffles as well.
it was pretty much the whole wheelwell, i removed it and the sound of stock BOV went up, as did the overall sound when the gas pedal was down.
so i hope thats what it is.

has anyone taken this off befor and is there much of a difference?

MNBoxster · 01-07-2007, 03:13 PM

Hi,

Porscher calls it a Silencer. And, while part of the Noise Abatement equipment, it also serves as sort of a PRV (pressure relief valve) to even out the Intake Pressure as the Throttle Body is opened and closed. It is best to leave it be, you need it...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

Allen K. Littlefield · 01-07-2007, 05:49 PM

According to Paul Frere's book, "Porsche Boxster Story" the entire development history, on page 52, he shows a diagram of the intake system. #4 on the diagram is referred to as a silencer. In the text he states that , " just before the throttle valve there is a Helmholtz resonator to produce a pleasant, 'sporty' intake sound. this is a great little book and I recommend it to all interested. I have seen it advertised on ebay and some of the advertisers carry it. Whatever the case, since there is a resonator valve within the intake manifold that helps in low end torque I am not sure how the removal of this silencer would help or hinder. It may matter not one whit so I imagine you could remove it, cap it off and run the car and see what happens. Report back your findings please.

986geezer

ohioboxster · 01-07-2007, 06:19 PM

Im sure its just a silencer. You dont need it , take a look at aftermarket cold air intakes its omitted.

djomlas · 01-07-2007, 06:37 PM

well the way i see it is like this: that is just one more huge place for air to build up, and because it is right on the engine there is heat, so more and more warm air enters the engine, and well warmer air is not good.

i saw this on ppbb, i sent the message to guy who posted it to find out more info.
he referred to it as pedro sport intake??

djomlas · 01-07-2007, 07:43 PM

here is the thread on how to make one i guess
http://www.ppbb.com/boards/ppbbphp/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=ARCHIVES&Number=1121155&Forum=ARCHIVES&Words=sport%20intake&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Old=allposts&Main=1121155&Search=true#Post1121155

ohioboxster · 01-07-2007, 07:48 PM

Looks easy enough, I would do it but I already dont have that piece on my car.

MNBoxster · 01-07-2007, 08:15 PM

Hi,

djomlas, your reasoning isn't backed up by anything except supposition. There is no known benefit to removing this piece, not even an improvement in sound, in fact, I suspect the opposite will be true.

Thermodynamics/aerodynamics is pretty complex science. I'm sure a lot of thought went into maximizing the airflow, with this piece attached, into the Throttle Body by the Porsche engineers.

And if heat management is your thing, the thermodynamic and insulating qualities of the ABS used in the Silencer is much better than placing a raw aluminum tube in the engine bay, you'll pick up maybe 10 times more heat doing that. And, realize that the air doen't so much flow through this piece as much as it flows past it, so it's not contributing significantly to any charge heat anyway, if at all.

Swapping this part, or removing that one, is sort of willy-nilly engineering at best. But, it's your car and so if you want to, go ahead, it's not irreversible. Just be sure you cap it off air tight, because it's post MAF sensor and you'll get bad AF/Timing Maps if you don't, possibly even some codes. Maybe not immediately, but possibly in time if a leak develops.

Also realize, when doing these sort of mods, you complicate the diagnostics tremendously if something ever does go wrong, because the standard tests/diagnostics will not fully apply anymore.

Just don't count on seeing any real, measurable, vs Placebic, benefit. In any event, it certainly won't amount to much, not like the 2nd Coming of the 4-stroke engine or anything, probably not worth the effort in the end...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

Y2BOX · 01-07-2007, 11:08 PM

Is this a new game in the forum!! "Guess the part", im so excited...what do we win?

djomlas · 01-07-2007, 11:13 PM

well i was just wondering what it was, i will not be taking it off.
even the guy that did it said there was no difference, so whats the point of doing soemthing if its not gonna improve.
but i do agree, i trust porsche parts/engineers more than lowes can and a rubber L-shaped tube