How to Upgrade an Air Intake
Air filters and intake systems are designed to allow a high amount of airflow to your engine for cooling and firing as well as cleaning the debris and dirt from the air, which helps protect the engine. Aftermarket air intake and filter systems can help improve performance characteristics such as horsepower and torque while also raising the potential for increased fuel savings. The installation procedure for an aftermarket air filter and intake system may vary from model to model. However, many of the basic installation components are the same.
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Instructions
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Raise your car on a set of car ramps and put chop blocks behind the rear wheels. Put your emergency brake on as a precaution against the car rolling backward while you are underneath.
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Use a wrench to disconnect the negative battery cable. Even if your vehicle is turned off, the cooling fans connected to the radiator can turn on, potentially causing serious damage to any body parts caught in their way.
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Remove the clamps that connect the intake tube to the throttle body. Most clamps for vehicle throttle bodies are either adjusted with a screwdriver or by pinching in two clamp pins on the clamp itself. Remove the intake tube by pulling and wriggling it off from the throttle body.
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Use a socket wrench and screwdriver to disconnect the current air intake and filter system from the throttle body. Some sensors, hoses or other components may rely on the intake parts for support. Use zip ties to connect these sensors and hoses to other engine components that will not heat up when the engine is running. Use a screwdriver to disconnect the factory air filter box from the fender well.
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Inspect the components for the aftermarket air intake and filter kit. Make sure that all gaskets, seals and seams are tight. Any defects or cracks in the air filter should be resolved by returning the intake kit to the manufacturer. The intake kit should also come pre-oiled.
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Install the air intake tube according to the manufacturer's instructions. Some air intakes connect underneath the vehicle to the muffler assembly and then feed to the top of the engine compartment. As you attach the pipe to the throttle body, make sure the pipe connector fits both the intake pipe and the throttle body. Attach the air intake pipe to the aftermarket air filter component.
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Install and attach air intake vacuum tubes from your throttle body to the new intake system. If you have excess vacuum tubes, plug them with cork. Plug extra holes on your intake system with grommets.
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Reinstall the Mass Air Flow sensor (MAF) to the new intake tube connecting to the throttle body. If your aftermarket air intake does not have an access port for your MAF or other sensors specific to your vehicle's air intake, then you may need to find a more suitable aftermarket intake system.
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