HOMEMADE $7 Turbo Filter

[Gruff511]

First off My purpose and experience with this method of filter has been beneficial as Ive recorded increased spool time and have seen an average of 25+ Increase HP Making a Metal screen inlet filter for turbo. For those of you out there looking to NOT run an air filter on your turbo then this type of filter would provide a similar advantage of a filter.
The metal mesh allows No restriction on the turbo inlet as well as giving the turbo some protection against small rocks or any debris getting sucked in.
Here are some pics of the basic steps in what needs to be done.

I say $7 filter because all I needed to buy was this metal screen material and I had a couple buddies that wanted to do this as well so they threw down a couple dollars also, so in end I only spent a few dollars.
You get A LOT of material to do quite a few if you needed to. At least you will have extra material if you mess up or replace it.

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You first need to cut sections large enough to overlap over the pipe(or turbo inlet) and stack the layers of screen on one another so the holes in the screen mesh together and you have even Finer holes then originally.
And I just used a hose clamp to hold the screen on tight.

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And now all thats left is to cut off the excess screening, I used a dremel to cut the metal screen clean around the clamp.

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Now everything is finished that the end product can be installed on the vehicle. And in this pic you can see clearly through the mesh and its fine enough that no rocks or anything small cant fit through it.

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Hope everyone can get some use from this Article if trying to do this on your own. A lot of people may disagree with this method as some people have reported their car not running properly without an air filter. SO before you attempt this be sure you know your engine will still run as normal without an inlet filter. i.e-if your motor has a MAF sensor before the turbo then you cant remove it to run no filter on the turbo, the screen would need to be placed before the MAF sensor on the inlet pipe.

If anyone has any opinions or ideas on how to improve on this then feel free to comment.

 

[bryanwheat]

You definitely do not want to run just that on the street. That doesn't filter well enough to keep particles out of your engine.

 

[Gruff511]

Yes "Particles" can still go through such as dirt and stuff but no rocks or anything because the way the pipe faces in the engine bay wont suck up anything. It also sits high up in the engine bay Plus its not down low to the ground or facing downwards.

 

[bryanwheat]

You are still going to suck stuff up into it that can damage the fins on the turbo and the engine. You want well filtered air, not a bunch of dust, sand and dirt being sucked into the engine. I know that you are proud of your house screen hose clamped on to the end of a pipe, but it is a horrible idea for a street driven car. The only place that this is halfway acceptable is at the track in a controlled environment.

 

[Calan]

...it is a horrible idea for a street driven car.

About all that needs to be said.

 

[Gruff511]

Since I havent had a filter on my turbo for over a year now I thought it was time for something. So this is what will do. Theres tons of guys not using any type of filter on the turbo But of course you have to take into consideration you can suck something up.
I didnt do this as a replacement for a normal filter, I did this to keep the power gains and just not let anything BIG go into the turbo.

 

[Calan]

...I did this to keep the power gains and just not let anything BIG go into the turbo.

Unfortunately, it's the little things that are going to kill your motor.

Good luck.

 

[bryanwheat]

Unfortunately, it's the little things that are going to kill your motor.

Good luck.

Exactly, we run air filters on engines for a reason. When driving down the road there are all kinds of things that you will drive thru that can be pulled thru the intake of the engine and damage the engine.

I didnt do this as a replacement for a normal filter, I did this to keep the power gains and just not let anything BIG go into the turbo.

There are A LOT of people making a lot more horsepower than your car will ever make that run an air filter. There is no advantage to not running a decent filter.

Theres tons of guys not using any type of filter on the turbo .

For every one person that doesn't run a filter there are 1,000 that do. There are some guys that buy a boost controller and turn it up all the way and see what happens, should we all do this?

F Ive recorded increased spool time and have seen an average of 25+ Increase HP!

I call bullshit on this. Lets see some dyno sheets to verify this.

 

[rlacasse1]

With a little more money and a little more effort you probably could have figured out how to adapt a large K&N filter to your intake. At least then you would have some filtration.

 

[HIGHPSI4]

Large air filters allow more air flow than the intake pipe can flow. The filter element will restrict air flow but the large surface area of the filter overcomes this issue. In other words, a K&N filter will flow more air than your screen mesh.

 

[wancsta]

I've done similar on 4"+ inlets that don't allow for much room in a pinch. Except when we do we used 2-3 layers of a/c foam filter sandwiched inbetween the screens. It would be another $3 at hd racing and a lot safer. Then you could do a $10 thread.

 

[bmoha7321]

I care about my motor and turbo. All you need to do is drive down a gravel road once to fubar a motor and turbo.

 

[Kyle_T]

These only are cool on big turbos

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[donniekak]

That multilayered screen is more restrictive than a good filter.

 

[Gruff511]

Large air filters allow more air flow than the intake pipe can flow. The filter element will restrict air flow but the large surface area of the filter overcomes this issue. In other words, a K&N filter will flow more air than your screen mesh.

Ive thought of a Larger filter but I have no room for it to fit.

 

[Cornfed4G64]

put a filter on even a small one. No way I would ever run a non filtered set up things can break and shit is expensive.

Or foam between the screen like one other suggested.

On a side note were trying to help you not grenade stuff so you can keep on running

I also call BS on +25 hp with a screen over a air filter

 

[eclipsegsx1736]

Large air filters allow more air flow than the intake pipe can flow. The filter element will restrict air flow but the large surface area of the filter overcomes this issue. In other words, a K&N filter will flow more air than your screen mesh.

That multilayered screen is more restrictive than a good filter.

This. The surface flow area of your screen is only equal to the inlet of your turbo. A filter, with its zig-zag filter shape arrangement, has a HUGE surface area advantage, even though the filter itself is slightly more restrictive per-inch.

Also, a good straight round intake pipe, or a velocity stack, promotes smooth flow into the turbo, reducing turbulence and improving effeciency.

Not to mention, with a screen, you are pulling in that hot air that surrounds the turbo instead of drawing air from a source farther away from the engine bay heat.

Beau

 

[Gruff511]

Okay in the mean time I will be trying to re-route my intercooler pipes so I can route a filter somewhere.

 

[MHuddy1213]

the only thing i would do is if you have a front mount make a ducting system thatll lead from where the sidemount was up to where the intake sits itll help somewhat not dramtically will spool up time cause it not just air being sucked in its also being pushed into the intake like i said it will not be dramatic difference cause the turbo itself already sucks in a huge amount of air

 

[WES_393]

Something to think about is that the Forced Performance 9" filter supposedly can flow 1725cfm and support 2000hp. Whether this is accurate or how other high performance filters stack up, I don't know. But if most high performance cone filters flow anywhere near that, it should be nearly no restriction at all. And like mentioned earlier, your just drawing in hot air which gets even hotter from being compressed. With an intake pipe cleverly routed and a high performance filter, I am willing to bet you'll see gains in horsepower over a screen mesh setup.

 

[MHuddy1213]

^^^ +1 also another thing that you could do to help is to box out the intake cone itself so it will only suck in colder air not the warm air from the motor

wes what do you think about boxing out the air filter with a ducting system going directly too it like i stated in the previous statement it would allow for colder air granted i do know it heats up going into the turbo but wont heat up as much as hot air would kinda common sence there and also spool up time would slighty increase from ducting system what do you think ? i may be willing to try this out

 

[LandoAWD]

Screen and a clamp is custom fab, now. Awesome

Prove the 25hp claim, or remove the statement. It's bunk.

 

[Gruff511]

Screen and a clamp is custom fab, now. Awesome

Prove the 25hp claim, or remove the statement. It's bunk.

Lol I didnt know where to put it. But the 25hp gains was done at the shop, I didnt say get an added 25max hp but after removing the filter and some tuning he was able to add more hp in the mid rpm range. Ive seen guys on the Honda forums posting dyno sheets of increased hp after removing the filter But I guess they just had sh*ty intake setups.

wes what do you think about boxing out the air filter with a ducting system going directly too it like i stated in the previous statement it would allow for colder air granted i do know it heats up going into the turbo but wont heat up as much as hot air would kinda common sence there and also spool up time would slighty increase from ducting system what do you think ? i may be willing to try this out

Now that Ive been thinking about it I figured how about a larger high flow filter in an enclosed box(say where my battery used to be) then have a ducting in the box to route downwards. Does that seem like a sufficient setup?

 

[LandoAWD]

I didnt say get an added 25max hp but after removing the filter and some tuning he was able to add more hp in the mid rpm range. .

Careful. This is why claims get exaggerated.

 

[Gruff511]

Sorry I didnt elaborate more on that part...

Okay so tell me if I got this correct..When the turbo is sucking in hot air in the engine bay the turbo has to work harder to compress the air? And when it sucks in cooler air it can compress it faster?