TIL: A Modified Salad Bowl Can Increase Engine Power

The latest episode of Motor Trend's Engine involves a huge test of different air filter setups, with some interesting results...

While vital for stopping all kinds of nasty debris getting into your engine, an air filter is - like it or not - a restriction. You want the best breathing setup possible, so if you’ve a powerful, carb’d V8, what’s the best kind of filter to run? The latest episode of Engine Masters - which sees no less than 19 different combinations trialled - provides some answers.

The range of results is startling, with the worst performing filter robbing the 750hp big-block Chevrolet V8 of 145hp, while at the top of the chart, a ‘velocity stack’ with no filter at all actually added 5.7hp.

The conclusion? It’s all down to channelling air downwards into the carburetors. That’s why one type of filter actually performed better with the sides taped up, and why a salad bowl - yes, a salad bowl - with a hole cut in the bottom and a ‘filtered lid’ style element in the top came second, actually adding 3hp. Essentially, it’s acting like a velocity stack.

Watch the whole video through, and prepare to learn…

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Comments

Griffinz7

Genus

11/14/2017 - 12:16 |
6 | 0
GTRTURTLE 🔰 🐢(Oo \ S K Y L I N E / oO) (Koen

In reply to by Griffinz7

Very genus indeed

11/14/2017 - 12:22 |
10 | 0
DL🏁

Vegans approve

11/14/2017 - 12:19 |
98 | 0

Oh don’t bring vegans to ct… I tried… Big mistake

11/14/2017 - 12:44 |
28 | 2
Ewan23 (The Scottish guy)

Car guys are incredible lol.

11/14/2017 - 12:27 |
6 | 0
LukeyWolf

Neat

11/14/2017 - 12:29 |
0 | 0
Jefferson Tan(日産)

In reply to by LukeyWolf

*Meat

(Sorry)

11/14/2017 - 14:59 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

That’s a powerfull salad… I want it!

11/14/2017 - 12:39 |
0 | 0
Wreckless

“Heavy Breathing”

11/14/2017 - 12:59 |
4 | 0
Anonymous

Mom: Where are the salad bowls?
Me: I don’t know…
Mom: *checks in garage
Mom: Sees it in my engine
Mom: HEY!

11/14/2017 - 13:13 |
26 | 0
CS55

So they kinda made a poverty spec vegan version of this:

11/14/2017 - 13:41 |
14 | 0
BisCasper

“The latest episode of Motor Trends Engine involves”

11/14/2017 - 13:44 |
2 | 0
Jefferson Tan(日産)

Go green they said….

11/14/2017 - 14:59 |
2 | 0