I read from a few forum threads regarding improved throttle response by removing the resonator or some kind of cold air intake. I decided to disconnect the hose from the air filter box at the bottom where it connects to the snorkel and resonator in the fender. I relocated the bottom of the hose to the space between the headlights and the radiator with a zip tie. I've noticed that the Prius has a bit more pep than before. From stop and go to highway speeds, it just seems more responsive and less choked down. Even my wife noticed the extra zip in the car. Best of all, the mod was free and MPG has slightly improved. Just wanted to share with other people who have recently purchased used Gen 2 Prius'.
The extra performance you are getting is from the 76 hp engine? Look out Shelby........ But the extra MPG is a plus
Just trying to maximize the 76 hp! Having always driven modified supercharged and turbo cars, any little gain in the Prius is a plus.
Hi numba41. It seemed like I tried everything to design / improve the air intake. See the link to my post about designing a CAI. Cold air Intake? - Not a Joke or Noob question | Page 15 | PriusChat Member Justdidit removed everything (intake tube and airbox) he made a custom assembly that put the MAF next to the throttle body and connected it directly to a K&N cone filter. I really wanted something that would draw cold air in from behind the passenger front tire. I tried everything to get a 3 inch PVC tube to snake down behind the pass. headlight assembly and down directly in front of the pass. tire. I got it to kind of work, but I had a hard time mounting the tubes to the body of the car, so it kept flopping around in the engine bay and making a lot of noise. What I decided to do is use the stock pieces, but modify the resonator so that it would become the main source of air flow. I cut holes in the bottom and side of the resonator (because there are separate chambers inside the resonator). From my other post I heard many people say that "oh it'll draw water up into the engine and you'll get hydro-locked" I've had this set up on my car for almost 2 years now without any issues. Remember that any water droplets that gets sucked up into the air intake system, will have to travel up through the tube, then enter the airbox where the air flows up into the airbox, then across the top of the airbox, through the carbon filter, then down into the air filter and then finally makes it's way into the throttle body. I've tested my setup by placing a FRAM paper filter in the airbox and then driving 80 miles through a rain storm. If any water was to be sucked up in the system the paper filter would be wet after driving through the rain. When I checked the filter the paper was dry and showed no signs of moisture or water contamination. For the resonator to be completely blocked by water, you'd have to be in almost 2 feet of standing water. If your Prius is in 2 feet of water, you have bigger issues to worry about than water being drawn into the air intake system. You need to find a life raft! -- Please note that the Prius is not designed to be a submersible vehicle; it is not a boat. See the attached pictures of the resonator modifications:
Why not just remove the resonator? The hole where the resonator connects to the snorkel will draw the cold air from inside the fender and sits higher than the resonator? I agree with you though - the chance of hydrolock is very slim unless you drive through a flood.
I tried it with the resonator removed, but wanted to get the air intake point as low to the road surface as possible. The resonator adds another 8 or so inches, which is why I cut the openings at the bottom.
this is what I did it attaches to the air filter box. the cone filter just barely fits under the headlight.
Yup, this is what I ended up with: This combined with my new full custom exhaust, my MPG went up over 10% as long as i kept my foot out of it. Additionally the hybrid battery charges up faster. Definitely feels quicker, but no dyno proof of course.
where didja get the 2" maf housing made? and if you don't mind, was it expensive? I'd sure like to ditch my airbox.
None really seperately but I can try to get some now combined. This is all from the Cold air Intake? - Not a Joke or Noob question | PriusChat thread. PC User "2007blueprius" fabbed up his own PC User "yangjiesheng" bought his from kstech.biz for $105 but I can't seem to find the link for it on their site. I had a local fabricator make a couple of for me but would only do a min 3 at a time.
yeah, I remember that thread. lotta good pix and discussions. so does that mean you have 2 of em left over?
I have one on my car now in a short-ram intake, one I had welded on to some 2" tubing that I am delaying, but making the full behind the fender cold-air intake, so technically I do have one CNC aluminum MAF housing assembly that I am not using. It would need to be welded onto 2" tubing to be functional tho.
oh well... I can't weld aluminum... I've seen 2.5" on ebay but not 2.25" which I'd be tempted to try.
