I have read a number of posts about the Sprintex CAI mod for the TL's. Does anyone have pictures of what they do to the stock snorkel?

I'm keen to keep as much of the warranty as possible, hence the subtle mod, but there must be something I can do about the poor fuel ecomomy.

If your TL isn't sports or VRX spec - then you should be able to see an improvement in fuel economy by replacing the muffler with a 'straight thru' design. I'd be very surprised if replacing the rear muffler would void the warranty of anything other than the muffler.

As far as the sprintex CAI is concerned - it's essentially a piece of flexible piping joined into the underside of the factory 'snorkel' and extending to behind the lower front bumper (I would assume). Such a setup would be effective in increasing the volume of air which 'could' be drawn thru the stock snorkel, but there is debate about whether it would be effective in anything other than a forced induction application (2 airflows converging at a right angle is likely to cause significant turbulence - not helping flow). While the mod itself is hard to spot to the untrained eye - it definetly wouldn't go unnoticed by a mitsubishi service person, and if it came down to a warranty situation - no doubt mitsubishi would treat such a mod the same as any intake modification. My hunch is any intake modification risks voiding your engine warranty - except a K&N panel filter (if you believe K&N).

It's in another Thread, but I'm posting a pic of my Sprintex CAI for you anyway. I think the reason it's mounted 'forward' is to give the two air-flows a bit of space to merge properly. Seems to work extremely well with the Supercharger. :thumbsup:

http://www.copp.com.au/cai1.jpg

VR-X II

Stealth CAI:

1. Remove the factory snorkel and replace it with the usual CAI piping + K&N panel.

2. Watch fuel conspumtion decrease and the people rejoice in the streets.

3. When taking it back for service, remove CAI and replace the snorker and genuine paper filter.

4. Watch in amazement as they slug you for another paper filter, even though the one in there has never been used.

Stealth CAI:

1. Remove the factory snorkel and replace it with the usual CAI piping + K&N panel.

2. Watch fuel conspumtion decrease and the people rejoice in the streets.

3. When taking it back for service, remove CAI and replace the snorker and genuine paper filter.

4. Watch in amazement as they slug you for another paper filter, even though the one in there has never been used.


why did your fuel consumption decrease. I installed a CAI on my TL with a 110mm pipe, hardflex, from a plumming supplier, and ducted it behind the light and infront of the grille. I noticed a BIG fuel rage gain, i get beter fuel economy when i drive it nice. And not so good when i flog it. It seams strange that a CAI would decrease your fuel economy.

More air = More fuel = More power = less accelerator

So basically you do not need to puch the accelerator as hard as beore to go anywhere.

I works for me anyway.

It's in another Thread, but I'm posting a pic of my Sprintex CAI for you anyway. I think the reason it's mounted 'forward' is to give the two air-flows a bit of space to merge properly. Seems to work extremely well with the Supercharger. :thumbsup:
VR-X II

From what I can see, the reason they ducted the extra piping 'forwar' is simply because it was convenient. They simply removed the little resonator that normally sits under the snorkel and ducted the new piping in in it's place. :P

Thanks for the replies. I have a TL VRX AWD, so, from what I've read in the posts, it appears that the exhaust system should be, in general terms, ok. The economy is suffering driving around the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne. The traffic is often at a crawl. But things don't improve too much out on the open road, I think that the best it's got was 12l/100km.

I like the yellow VRX, the brightest colour I could find was Fusion.

It's in another Thread, but I'm posting a pic of my Sprintex CAI for you anyway. I think the reason it's mounted 'forward' is to give the two air-flows a bit of space to merge properly. Seems to work extremely well with the Supercharger. :thumbsup:

http://www.copp.com.au/cai1.jpg

VR-X II



any reason the resonators are still on?

why did your fuel consumption decrease. I installed a CAI on my TL with a 110mm pipe, hardflex, from a plumming supplier, and ducted it behind the light and infront of the grille. I noticed a BIG fuel rage gain, i get beter fuel economy when i drive it nice. And not so good when i flog it. It seams strange that a CAI would decrease your fuel economy.

More air = More fuel = More power = less accelerator

So basically you do not need to puch the accelerator as hard as beore to go anywhere.

I works for me anyway.

*scratches head*

Fuel consumption decrease....economy increase. Tomato...TomAto. Aren't they the same :)

For sure, the worse thing about breathing mods is is that they're a twin-edged sword. Under normal driving, sure, you use less fuel. But with more power on tap, the more u want to use that power to put a bigger smile on your face, and then the more fuel you use. At least, that's my problem :redface:

Ken - your AWD sure is thirsty! I have a TJ2 AWD (with the exec muffler fitted, not sports... yet) and I get 13.1 in the city (flogged senseless) but 8.4 on the highway...

AWD VRX should be less thirsty because of the muffler methinks too...

Cheers
Heath Young

Well 12l/100km was sort of the good news, without driving hard (just stuck in traffic) my TL VRX AWD gets 13.5l/100km and with a bit of stick I'm currently getting a bit over 14l/100km.

I've read rumours on the forum that some people have had trouble with the Magna cat converters being constricted. I'm wondering it this might be contributing to my problem. I should take it back to the dealer for them to sort out.

ken. no matter how subtle your mod might be. if there is a mod there the warranty wont cover it. Chances of a cai mod being cause of a fault in your car though is like 0.000001%. Anyhow easiest solution is to just fit a cai. if car breaks down or goes in for a service. remove the cai.

your cat wouldnt be a warranty issue. its how the car is made. if you want something that doesnt constrict you will have to change ityoursef.

any reason the resonators are still on?

Because there is little (if any) evidence that show gains from removing them is my guess.

http://www.copp.com.au/cai1.jpg

I wonder why they didn't put that tube in where the snorkle gets fatter just before it goes into the actual air box... one would think that would have been of more benefit than the current right angle? That said i'm no expert....

Well 12l/100km was sort of the good news, without driving hard (just stuck in traffic) my TL VRX AWD gets 13.5l/100km and with a bit of stick I'm currently getting a bit over 14l/100km.

I've read rumours on the forum that some people have had trouble with the Magna cat converters being constricted. I'm wondering it this might be contributing to my problem. I should take it back to the dealer for them to sort out.

Prior to putting the supercharger on my TW VRX AWD I was avg about 16l/100ks in city traffic but that was mainly due to heavy right foot, enjoying the new car. Now that I have the supercharger it is even worse, that said I have to use PULP too. I am avg about 18.5l/100ks at the moment, so me thinks that 14l would not be too bad if you are giving it a bit of stick.

That said I flogged my TJ FWD also and usually avg about 15l/100ks when driving that in the city

I probably should have been clearer about the "constriction" in the cat converter. I sure I read a post here somewhere that said there was a manufacturing issue which resulted in a flap of steel pressing being left in the cat, partially blocking the airflow.

Ken

From memory I think the restriction was due to the cat more or less collapsing in on itself or was defective from the start. I've read/been told that the stock cat isn't too bad, and the only difference between normal cats and hi flow cats is the tapering from the exahust to the cat. The precision cad drawing below exlpains this better:

Normal cat ===[CAT]===
Hiflow cat ===<CAT>===

Economy is not a strength for the AWD especially in the city. I can get 10-11 l/100kms on a highway trip with 4 people and luggage but in stop start (Sydney city) traffic anywhere between 14-18 is the norm for me. But AWD is a hell of a lot of fun in the snow (just got back). Have a CAI and straight through exhaust am waiting for extractors as they should make a difference to economy. Aftrer that will fit my unichip as this made quite a difference to eceonmy on my TE especially if you have a heavy foot(stops it running rich at the top end).
If I have a warranty issue realted to engine I would just take off my CAI.

Prior to putting the supercharger on my TW VRX AWD I was avg about 16l/100ks in city traffic but that was mainly due to heavy right foot, enjoying the new car. Now that I have the supercharger it is even worse, that said I have to use PULP too. I am avg about 18.5l/100ks at the moment, so me thinks that 14l would not be too bad if you are giving it a bit of stick.

That said I flogged my TJ FWD also and usually avg about 15l/100ks when driving that in the city
hey dogies, thrashing that vrx of yours didnt help you much last night. I think the score is Ralliart-1, your VRX-0. We'll have to find some tight bends one night for you to try and level the scores :cool:

If you guys are going out again would love to see Dogies VRX in action as I am looking at the sprintex option.