More harm than good?

[UnWoRtHy]

A few months after buying my Talon, I bought a replacement intake. Solid tube with the cone filter, not knowing that not only would the airflow be increased, but so would the chances of crud getting into my engine. I realized this not long ago, and it's got me a little worried. Few months back, my mechanic had to remove my air cleaner assembly to do some work, and he noticed that my intake manifold was pretty dirty. We cleaned it out with carb cleaner, but that's really got me concerned now.

Now for a bunch of questions: Could that crap in the intake manifold be stuff that the air filter isn't filtering out? If it is, what are the chances that I'm damaging my engine? Can you guys recommend a company who makes a good system that filters the air well for a reasonable price?

And in a semi-related question: The intake that I bought has a 90-degree bracket that bolts to the valve cover. At the elbow of the bracket, the weld is broken. Should I weld it? Or just buy a new one? Also...My battery bracket is digging into the tube and gouging the hell out of the metal. Any way to prevent that?

Sorry for the mess of questions. Hope someone can help me out.

 

[top_end95]

Originally posted by UnWoRtHy
Now for a bunch of questions: Could that crap in the intake manifold be stuff that the air filter isn't filtering out?

Yes. It could also be coming from the EGR (correct me if I am wrong).

If it is, what are the chances that I'm damaging my engine?

If you neglect it long enough, the chances are pretty high. Just check on it from time to time and clean if need be.

Can you guys recommend a company who makes a good system that filters the air well for a reasonable price?

K&N. If you're willing to spend the extra bucks, I would recommend the Apexi filter. There is a link somewhere on this board that has a proven test on name brand filters, Apexi was the best and in second was K&N I believe.

And in a semi-related question: The intake that I bought has a 90-degree bracket that bolts to the valve cover. At the elbow of the bracket, the weld is broken. Should I weld it? Or just buy a new one?

Which ever is cheaper for you.

Also...My battery bracket is digging into the tube and gouging the hell out of the metal. Any way to prevent that?

Try to move it as faraway as possible and make it stay, If that doesn't work, re-locate it to the trunk.

I would recommend heat wrap, but it will probably end up rubbing through it also.

 

[KachurRacing]

Also...My battery bracket is digging into the tube and gouging the hell out of the metal. Any way to prevent that?

You don't need to go through relocation unless you plan on modding the hell out of your car. Take the battery cover off and expose the post closet to the intake to the point that you can fit some hose around it. Go to an autoparts store and pick up some small (in diameter) but firm heater hose or coolant hose and drop that down the post. Re-assemble the battery and you should be all good.

 

[soulreclipse]

Originally posted by UnWoRtHy
My battery bracket is digging into the tube and gouging the hell out of the metal. Any way to prevent that?

just find a bicycle tire and cut a piece of it off and wedge it in between the battery and the intake...sounds ghetto but it works

 

[TalonR]

yeah top end could be right.....probably is.....My EGR just got replaced...old one was shot...but anyways my intake was dirty as all h*ll....It was a carbon build up.......I dont think that the filter would allow that much crud in, my piping is still all clean

 

[jdm93dsm]

did u clean your intake after u replace the EGR? the EGR can create a huge buildup, i just cleaned my intake at 160k miles and they build up is terrible. i doubt its your filter.

 

[Doug99RS]

Top End has been right on the stuff above.

I would add that the gunk in the intake is small particles that get by the air filter (any air filter not just the performance onces), oil build-up from crank case ventilation as well as the above mentioned EGR gases.

I recomend using Mopar combustion chamber once or twice a year to break up all of that gunk inside the throttle body, intake runners, intake ports and combustion chamber. That stuff really is good and if you follow the instructions you won't have any problems.
Doug