4 replies to this topic

[Syed Malaysia]

Hi

The mainstream cooper air filter housing, near the intake air sensor (or whatever sensor that is) there is a big 3 inch hole pointing downwards. I know there is supposed to be a flexible hose or something connnected to it.

My cooper does not have anything connected at the moment, just a round big hole. Should I get a flexible hose and connect it? If so, connect it to where?

Or can i just blank off the hole with a plate and silicon seal it so that all the air is sucked through the small opening (near the mini cooper emblem) at the tip of the filter housing instead?

Cheers

Syed
Malaysia

[Bungle]

i'm not too sure what your asking

i think your asking about the warm air intake valve

when its cold instead of the air coming in from the front of the air box a valve opens and air is sucked in from above the exhaust manifold

there should be a little box over the right hand side exhaust manifold out let right next to the head and a flexy house from here to the air box

[Syed Malaysia]

i'm not too sure what your asking

i think your asking about the warm air intake valve

when its cold instead of the air coming in from the front of the air box a valve opens and air is sucked in from above the exhaust manifold

there should be a little box over the right hand side exhaust manifold out let right next to the head and a flexy house from here to the air box

Yes thats what i meant, warm air intake. I have a cooper maniflow 3-branch exhaust manifold (im not using the standard LCB) and there isnt any "box"? So what should i do? After all, even on the coldest nights here in Malaysia, temp never go below 22 degrees C so I dont really need the warm air...

Cheers

Syed

[Bungle]

in your climate i would blank it off

have you thought about replacing the air box as it must be the most restrictive one ever

[THE ANORAK]

the hole your talking about is the warm air inlet, if you look inside this area you will see a trap door that sits over this hole and allows air to flow in through the main "trunk" of the box, which is the cool air inlet.

this trap door is operated by a thermostatic valve in the filter box itself.

when the car is first started the air in the air box is cold so the thermostatic valve lifts the trap door which blocks off the trunk and draws in warm air through the round hole. where is this warm air coming from ??? the exhaust manifold of course

on the standard set up there is a flexible hose attached to this which leads to a metal shroud that fits over the exhaust manifold. if your exhaust has been changed its unlikely that this shroud will still be there.

so whats the best thing to do ???

if you want the system to work as close to the way it should, just leave it alone. as long as the trap door is still connected to the manifold (this provides the vacuum required to lift the trap) it should work as intended and warm air will still be drawn in from the "hot spot" in the engine bay (which is just over the manifold)

block it up and your car may run rough when its cold (the car not the weather, i know its not cold where you are :wink: )

when people fit a cone filter the car manages fine without this valve as long as you block the vacuum outlet in the manifold, so its not the end of the world. it just helps to keep things running smooth.

i have exactly the same system (although in a slightly different design) on my vauxhall Astra :mmm: