headlight removal for air intake

doober75 · 10-13-2008, 04:40 PM

I plan on taking my car down to the local strip on test and tune nite. now my question is i plan on removing my right headlight on my 91 tsi for the runs. i remember awhile back seeing something about actually shaving time off. does anyone have an opinion on this or more info?

chico904 · 10-13-2008, 04:48 PM

I would try it with and without to see. With an open element filter and the headlight removed, the car will have easier access to air, as well as possibly being cooler. In my opinion I do not see how it could hurt your time in any way, if not help it, so I would try it.

doober75 · 10-13-2008, 04:51 PM

guess thats the only way to really get some solid numbers. i wish i could find that post on my other board with more in depth reasoning behind it and the numbers he got.
is there anything i have to worry about A/F wise?

nlzn · 10-13-2008, 06:30 PM

I know a few people that do this.

There won't be a negative effect on the AFR's (at least not TOO much.) I would think the difference isn't too major (i.e. nothing the ecu can't compensate for or you adding a base +1% to your maps via your AFC if you have to)

doober75 · 10-13-2008, 07:24 PM

ok next time i go ill get some solid numbers with vs w/o to see the difference

Defiant · 10-14-2008, 11:31 AM

You won't affect the A/F by doing it. You probably won't have any net gain, either. The drag from the gaping hole will counter the cooler air benefit, if there's any to be had. You're better-off to just have an intake shielded from engine heat (but not by much).

jusmx141 · 10-14-2008, 12:26 PM

Monitor your intake air temps with the headlight in versus out. If there's not much difference, it's not worth removing....but if you see a significant change, by all means pull the light.

We began pulling the light on my buddy's '95 TSi AWD because he was having trouble with excessive intake air temps at the beginning of the pass due to extended idling while moving up in the lanes. With the headlight removed, the air filter is exposed and it shoves the cool air right into the filter as soon as you lauch.

kahl23 · 10-14-2008, 01:59 PM

Look at this thread, granted you have a 1g but the principle is the same.

headlight intake mod [Merged 8-7] light vent air

4g63tcrazy · 10-14-2008, 02:10 PM

Here is a pic of what I did with my headlight on my 1g. The headlight still works and is in there and I can easily remove it for when I go to the track. It actually gets a decent amount of air going through it.

joyfil2001 · 10-14-2008, 02:38 PM

I removed my headlight when I went to the track. I didn't record any differences nore did I feel any difference. But hey, it makes your car look mean.

blcknspo0ln · 10-15-2008, 11:14 AM

I've logged 75*F intake temperatures when it was 90*F out when going down the 1/4 with the headlight out. I originally just had your standard intake with cone filter at the time. I'm not sure if I had any net gain, but the lower intake temps were welcome.