Hi, after driving my new Stilo for a week I'm starting to feel the urge to play with it lol. I'm wondering if an induction kit is worth putting on? Its a 1.4 3dr- I had a pipercross on my MG ZR 1.4, and I can honestly say I didn't feel any difference to performance, but it sounded good.

If I buy one which one would you recommend? Could do with something to give it a bit more umph...
Thanks guys (and gals!) x

The reason induction kits are installed on a car is to get more clean cool air into the engine.

More air means more fuel can be burnt.

The more fuel you can burn the more power the engine will produce.

BUT!

More air means more fuel means more exhaust gases.

Just changing the induction wont do anything., maybe add a flat spot or two, plus make it sound like my moms waste disposal unit.

For modifications to have the correct effect they have to be balanced with other modifications.

If your new induction kit is putting more air into the engine you'll need a new exhaust so all that extra air and burnt fuel can get out easily.

Then you'll need a remap to iron out the flat spots and to enable the engine to use its new induction and exhaust efficiently.


In answer to your question:

Yes they are, but only if they're correctly installed and balanced with other modifications.

Which one would I recomend:

Any as long as it didn't suck up the hot air under the bonnet.

there is also one more option, a great alternative i've found to an induction kit is a high flow pannel filter. it basically replaces the factory paper one with a filter thats made of the same stuff as your everyday performance cone filter. all the top makes like K&N and pipercross make them - i have a K&N fitted to my stilo.

The advantages of these kind of filters are that they still use the same oil based material that the cone filters, which means that they filter the air alot better and allow a better flow of air though it too. and at a thrid of the price (typically about £35) there alot cheaper than the kits. they may not look as good hidden away in your standard airbox but once its fitted, you more or less forget about them.

i've had kits before in the past and IMO, they just don't seem worth the money on there own and in some cases they've actually made it run worse at low revs? - like shady says, you kind of need all the other bits too like tunned exhaust and stuff to make a real difference?

If your car is remapped then installing one of the high flow filters gadge is on about is a very good idea. Remapped cars do tend to be slightly heavier breathers, a good quality aftermarket filter helps.

iirc the 1.4 is similar to the 1.2 in that the airbox lies on top of the engine which can't be good for keeping the incoming air cool. What you could do instead of getting an induction kit is buy an airbox from the 1.6 (I think 1.6 up to 2.4 are the same though) which is situated under the battery box then fit it with a high flow air filter. I'd imagine you'd keep a better low end with an "OEM" box over an induction kit but also have a decent improvement overall with the free flow filter.

I'm going to go to auto silicone hoses and get a bunch of silicone hoses and their carbon airbox and air feed to build my own induction kit. I have a decat 4-2-1 manifold so exhaust gases are not restricted really - I think I could get a bit more air in with an induction kit and also a larger throttle body - hopefully! But a remap is a good option to keep it running smooth, even if it is £200+ for a little gain, it keeps your motor running at it's best

I agree the 1.2 Airbox is right at the front of the engine, but then isn't that a good thing? The air inlet is right behind the grill. Surely you won't get better than that?

StiloBoy said:

I agree the 1.2 Airbox is right at the front of the engine, but then isn't that a good thing? The air inlet is right behind the grill. Surely you won't get better than that?

Click to expand...

I wouldn't think so, heat rises and once the engine is up to temperature the airbox gets really warm - it is just a big hollow box with a filter at the front of it, I'd reckon it would fill with hot air pretty quickly.

It would be a better setup to have the filter relocated to a cooler area of the engine bay and to still have and air inlet fed to it from the front grill to make the intake charge cooler, adding more air and more fuel yada yada yada...

But it's not what the manufacturer set the car up to be like so in the end it would need a remap to make it run properly and is that worth it on a 1.2 or 1.4?

MarkThompson4 said:

But it's not what the manufacturer set the car up to be like so in the end it would need a remap to make it run properly and is that worth it on a 1.2 or 1.4?

Click to expand...

I don't think there would be a huge difference in air temp or flow so it would be within the scope of the original MAP, it should be able to deal with the small fluctuation in temp and flow and adjust the air/fuel mix according.

I fitted a k&n panel filter to the jtd not really notice much performance difference but cud here the turbo whistle a little more.

On another note you know where the air comes in is kinda pointed downwards in the grill so the airflow is restricted at the grill. How many people have opened this up and have you had any problems? I was thinking of doin it but was concerned if i was driving fast in heavy rain it could possibly enter the air intake? any thoughts?

Someone on here has actually done just that, cut away the plastic so air flow is less restricted. There's photo's too but I can't find the thread to supply you with a link ..

Shadeyman said:

I don't think there would be a huge difference in air temp or flow so it would be within the scope of the original MAP, it should be able to deal with the small fluctuation in temp and flow and adjust the air/fuel mix according.

Click to expand...

Fair enough man...on another note, I'm wanting to fit a larger throttle body or bore mine out a few mm, so would the increase in airflow cause an increase in manifold pressure? Or rather enough to cause the original MAP to start throwing up dash lights?

ramborobert said:

I fitted a k&n panel filter to the jtd not really notice much performance difference but cud here the turbo whistle a little more.

On another note you know where the air comes in is kinda pointed downwards in the grill so the airflow is restricted at the grill. How many people have opened this up and have you had any problems? I was thinking of doin it but was concerned if i was driving fast in heavy rain it could possibly enter the air intake? any thoughts?

Click to expand...

Before I got my Stilo,
I remember a chap on the MR2 roadster forum did a rolling road benchmark test with a K&N versus standard filter on his 140bhp roadster.

His result was no difference in performance, just a bit more noise.

It was not until producing over 190bhp was there enough flow going through the filter to create a restriction, at this point it was worth replacing the filter.

Hi, thanks for the replies..not been on for a few days been a bit under the weather . I think I will leave the induction kit for the time being and concentrate more on the look of the car, at the end of the day it is only a 1.4 and I don't rag it around so there will be no point except for the noise and I can live without that!

Gonna focus on scratch removal, debadging and lowering and getting a nice new front grill..that should keep me happy for a bit lol.

Mike S said:

Before I got my Stilo,
I remember a chap on the MR2 roadster forum did a rolling road benchmark test with a K&N versus standard filter on his 140bhp roadster.

His result was no difference in performance, just a bit more noise.

It was not until producing over 190bhp was there enough flow going through the filter to create a restriction, at this point it was worth replacing the filter.

Click to expand...

that sounds about right, its still worth having i'ld say just from a servicing point of veiw as alot of the stilos do have the filter box under the battery and can be a pig to change, at least with one of these you'll never have to touch them agian (well for another 50,000 miles anyway?) plus they filter the air better - get rid of the finer particles? which has only got to be a good thing

He could remove his airbox altogether and just shove a sock over the pipe? The air still gets filtered AND you get that meaty induction roar! >.<

Seriously...isn't it true that if you upgrade to a free-er flowing filter that it's best to go for one that requires some sort of oil soaking treatment? Not restrictive on airflow but very good at filtering out finer particles?

yeah thats right, the oil soaked material is alot finer than the paper counterpart and so lets more air though and the oil helps "grab" very small dirt particles which a paper one may well let though.... obviousley more of a benfit if your planning a trip across the saraha desert rather than here in damp blighty but i belive in using the best products to care for your engine which is why i advise anyone who can afford it to buy one, thats really the only reason i did? so i did'nt have to keep scratching around on my back every year replacing the paper one?

Are you not supposed to wash it and replace the oil every year though?

gadgemyster said:

yeah thats right, the oil soaked material is alot finer than the paper counterpart and so lets more air though and the oil helps "grab" very small dirt particles which a paper one may well let though.... obviousley more of a benfit if your planning a trip across the saraha desert rather than here in damp blighty but i belive in using the best products to care for your engine which is why i advise anyone who can afford it to buy one, thats really the only reason i did? so i did'nt have to keep scratching around on my back every year replacing the paper one?

Click to expand...

Yeah, nothing against the oem filter, just if there's something better out there available then I'll go for it

I'm going to be ordering a bmc panel filter for mine soon, just for the time being till I get the bits for my wee custom job I opened up my airbox yesterday to find my filter wasn't in it! :O must of took it out a while back I've completely forgotton where it's went :/ hence my sock idea lmao

ramborobert said:

Are you not supposed to wash it and replace the oil every year though?

Click to expand...

No not every year, every 50,000 miles ( or it might be 100,000 Kms?) and if u get a K&N it has a million mile warranty?

MarkThompson4 said:

I'm going to be ordering a bmc panel filter for mine soon, just for the time being till I get the bits for my wee custom job I opened up my airbox yesterday to find my filter wasn't in it! :O must of took it out a while back I've completely forgotton where it's went :/ hence my sock idea lmao

Click to expand...

You'll have to buy an Asda family pack to fill that air box MT