

| Subject: | Re: Air intake "scoops" |
| From: | Kent Christensen |
| Date: | Thu, 16 Dec 1999 19:17:59 -0700 |
re: You can force a lot of air into a cavity but it's just as important to remove it as quickly as it goes in, otherwise it becomes dormant (useless) More than useless, aero drag occurs, defeating the purpose. The analogy is the same as the aero drag on the body, i.e., the faster you go, more power is required to overcome drag. Accelerating air through the engine compartment creates more drag and there is just no way any performance component is enhanced. The only way to enhance performance with more airflow via "scoops" is to pressurize the engine intake as in supercharging, and that won't happen unless the connection is direct. Also, on an aircooled it's difficult to believe the fan is "cavitating" and not getting enough air. It's also hard to believe pressurizing air against the cooling fan is not going to be power robbing. It's not even free to just go to a lower altitude. And why is it needed, anyway? On wasserboxers, it's all irrelevant because cooling occurs at the front. On the oil cooler, the thermostat will just adjust to maintain the same temperature--cooler temp reduces performance anyway. These engines do not overheat given integrity of cooling system components. If you want your engine to run cooler (and it's water cooled) you'll achieve more much easier with just a cooler thermostat. On air cooled, choices may be limited to increasing oil sump capacity. In any event, what you'll achieve is reduced performance and increased fuel consumption. Said yet another way and another time, you do not want your engine to run cooler, you want it to run at design temperature. Discussion of "scoops" on Vanagons is pointless except as discussion of cosmetics and to learn it's net negative as regards performance. TANSTAAFL
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