Is there any point in doing the PD160 mod?

I suspect not.

I further suspect that any benefit in increased airflow is practically all down to (well 99% at least) the obligatory free-flowing panel filter that accompanies the PD160 mod.

As the two mods are always done together, thus masking either's contribution to any performance boost, it would be interesting to hear from someone who has replaced only the air filter, or did the PD160 mod but kept the original filter in.

I also suspect that to achieve the PD160 and performance filter effect, one need only fit the performance filter and then drill a wee hole in the airbox.

Briskodian dave a certainly does not seem to rate the PD160 mod, and he's a man who should know what he's talking about:

http://briskoda.net/fabia-i/my-fabia...2/#post1411935

"Thanks for the comments

I did look at the PD 160 intake but the cost for what is effectively a cheap plastic pipe is silly in my opinion. As a job I design and build engines and also design and build intake systems/camshaft design etc... as well as being an ECU technician and a qualified EFI tech so I spend most of my time either building an engine, fitting engines or mapping ecu's. We have the equipment to measure flow and restriction in an intake system as well as datalogging intake temps, boost timings and pressures etc... with 1 simple modification (no hacking of the airbox as someone sugggested) the airbox pressure ahs been tuned and has not had any negative effect on intake temps. It also cost the grand total of £0 However, for most people the PD 160 intake is a quick, simple and effective yet expensive solution to the problem.

dave a did this:

http://briskoda.net/fabia-i/my-fabia...2/#post1412107

"To alter the pressures on the airbox to find an optimum value we use a very simple method. A hole is drilled into the underside of the airbox and a rubber tube (o/d of about 24mm) is then bonded into place. We then place a copper tube (od of about 20mm) with 1 end closed off and holes drilled up the length of the tube into the rubber tube and measure the pressure seen in the airbox under varying loads with the copper tube pulled out to different lengths to expose more holes. (very simple manual bypass valve system) The airbox pressure under varying loads and airspeeds (measured in cfm and confirmed by g/s by AFM readings) will change, what will be optimum at 1800 rpm may not be ideal at 4000 rpm so you need to find a happy medium. Some more modern vehicles get around this by having varying length intakes or intake systems that have valves to reduce or increase intake runner/airbox pressures at varying revs/loads.

Once you find the optimum point you can measure the extra volume of air or amount of pressure you need to relieve and convert this into a size value, easiest way to build this into the box is to drill a hole to the correct size. Another method is to cut a square from the airbox and build in a sliding cover that can be opened or closed to give the desired apeture."

So, I asked:

http://briskoda.net/fabia-i/my-fabia...2/#post1414511

"Cool!

So, would I be correct in thinking that to recreate the extra volume of air available to the filter, one need not do the PD160 mod (new pipe and horn), but simply should drill a hole of a specific diameter into the airbox?

Further, what would be the net effect on engine performance if one were to remove the pipe and horn altogether, leaving only the filter in place, hypothetically speaking?"

And dave a replied:

http://briskoda.net/fabia-i/my-fabia...2/#post1414685

"you are thinking right, the PD160 is a simple and effective mod but for the cost it can be done a lot cheaper. Its worth keeping the original pipe in place as a cold air feed."

I then asked, but got no reply, to :(:

http://briskoda.net/fabia-i/my-fabia...2/#post1414831

"OK, so where do I drill and what diameter for that PD160 effect?"

So, buy a pipe and horn, or drill a hole?

dave a?

Anyone?

The PD160 replacement used to be very cheap and stock parts from VAG, and dead-easy to install. It makes a difference especially when mapped.

If you do the same in an alternative way it helps too.

The green filter vs paper makes less difference. You can just replace the paper filter with every service instead of the 40k that is 'officially recommended' and that works fine too.

With regards drilling a hole or something into the airbox, please remember that although that will get the air in etc, this air unless fed from somewhere outside the engine bay will be warm air, and that warm/hot air needs to be cooled - so you may well be negating the positive effect of more air volume going in..

With regards drilling a hole or something into the airbox, please remember that although that will get the air in etc, this air unless fed from somewhere outside the engine bay will be warm air, and that warm/hot air needs to be cooled - so you may well be negating the positive effect of more air volume going in..

Fair enough.

So how about keeping OEM filter (replacing it every 10,000 miles), drilling said hole in the airbox and then connecting it to the outside world (and cool air) via some likely inexpensive rubber tubing?

Edited 1 November, 200817 yr by Mr Wobblytickle

Best way to do it would be to connect up the lower part of the airbox with an opening in the wheel arch.

The PD160 replacement used to be very cheap and stock parts from VAG, and dead-easy to install. It makes a difference especially when mapped.

Nail. Head. Hit.

The PD160 pipe used to be quite cheap, looks OE fit, and made a small difference.

It's nowhere near as cheap now.

I'm running a pd160 intake on a standard engine (no remap) and stock filter and there was no performance increase, but it doesn't smoke as much as it used to. I got mine at a decent discount off current UK prices and I'm not unhappy with it. I doubt I'll get a remap now as the car is approaching 70,000 miles, but that's where the real benefit comes.

It looks OEM which was the main reason for me choosing it over other methods. I've never liked drilling airboxes (IMHO it looks terrible) and the BMC was just too expensive.

I got mine for £35 2 days before VAG put the price up...

have been wondering about this myself since shoving the green cotton filter in, cant say i noticed any major difference.

if i can just make a hole to fit some random piece of tubing i can steal off someone though must be worth a try for free.

It's definitely the most OE way of improving induction. Full custom induction kits are many and various and expensive.

FWIW, I recently discovered the value of a clean filter as I cleaned my Pipercross for the first time, result: No smoke and free revving.

Wish I'd done it before we went on holiday

It is now hard to justify the expense I guess, however if you go for a high-flow filter or change the paper one every 10k (max) instead of every 40k (which is insane IMHO) it will keep good performance.

The paper filter isnt that bad but the 40k change interval is way too long unless you drive in pristine clean air (which in the UK is unlikely LOL)

i wouldnt say its a waste of money but they have gone up in price, i bought one for 40 quid and sold it a while back for the same price not realising they had gone up, the pd 160 is a lot bigger than the standard one and the car seems to smoke less as well

It is now hard to justify the expense I guess, however if you go for a high-flow filter or change the paper one every 10k (max) instead of every 40k (which is insane IMHO) it will keep good performance.

The paper filter isnt that bad but the 40k change interval is way too long unless you drive in pristine clean air (which in the UK is unlikely LOL)

Changed my paper filter today for the princely sum of £7.50 from a local motor factors.

Well, it had been in the car for 12,000 miles.

A surprising amount of 'stoor' and feathers came forth from it when ceremoniously whacked on the ground a few times.

You should hear my baby purr now.

And there's considerably less of the black smoke that wasn't even there in the first place.

I think I'll hold off with any drilling/tubing frenzy for now, but I'll be interested to hear how any brave young maverick gets on with it.

Lol - I just want somethin else to make purple on Lissy. I could just spray the air box and sod the hole in it tho

it was already on mine when i brought it. I agree that the benafit might be minimal on a standard setup, but as Tesco Say, "Every little helps".