Intake Pipes

Intake pipes carry air between the filter, the turbocharger, the intercooler and the throttle body. This category holds straight aluminium tube, air inlets and meshes, couplers and reducers, and charge pipes, turbo outlets and intake manifolds made for particular engines.

Every pipe costs some pressure. Losses grow with the square of air speed, so a larger bore flows more easily, while bends add losses of their own, especially tight or creased ones. On the boost side, extra diameter also adds volume the turbo must fill, so pipe size trades flow against response.

Charge pipes also carry boost pressure and heat while the engine moves on its mounts. Factory pipes are often plastic, and they can split or blow off when boost is raised. An aluminium pipe removes that weak point, provided every coupler is clamped properly.

How to choose:

• Diameter: from small sizes such as 14 or 28 mm to intake sizes such as 51, 57, 63, 70, 76, 89, 102 and 122 mm. Match the outside diameter to the coupler, filter neck or sensor housing.
• Length: straight tube in 50 cm and 1 m lengths, cut to suit.
• Material and finish: aluminium, much of it 6061 alloy, which welds well and can be heat-treated. Tube comes in silver or black.
• Couplers and reducers: join pipes of equal or different diameters, and a reducer avoids a sudden step in the bore.
• Inlets and meshes: aluminium air inlets in sizes such as 51, 63 and 76 mm. Inlet meshes, in sizes such as 51 and 89 mm, keep stones and debris out of an open intake. A composite scoop and a bonnet scoop plug are listed too.
• Engine-specific parts: charge pipes in sizes such as 57, 70 or 76 mm, turbo outlets and manifolds, each made for one engine family. Start from the engine code in the title.

Deburr cut ends, and bead them where a coupler must hold under boost. Tighten clamps evenly on clean, dry tube and pressure-test the charge side to find leaks before driving. Support long runs so they cannot rub, and route them away from exhaust heat. In some countries a modified intake needs approval for road use, so check what applies where the car is registered.