DIY air intake?

[Shanghai Dan]

Enjoy the fumes PVC puts off when heated. I'd understand a filter right off the turbo before this. Please don't.

Most of the molded CAI units are made from ABS.

ABS melts at 105 deg C. PVC melts at 212 deg C. Perhaps your CAI is made from nylon? In that case - it melts about the same point as PVC (216 deg C). Polycarbonate? That melts at 155 deg C.

PVC is a decent choice. It's not the most resistant to oils and liquid esters, and it tends to shatter rather than rip (like ABS) when it fails, but it's a decent material.

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[LeonBorden]

Most of the molded CAI units are made from ABS.

ABS melts at 105 deg C. PVC melts at 212 deg C. Perhaps your CAI is made from nylon? In that case - it melts about the same point as PVC (216 deg C). Polycarbonate? That melts at 155 deg C.

PVC is a decent choice. It's not the most resistant to oils and liquid esters, and it tends to shatter rather than rip (like ABS) when it fails, but it's a decent material.

Who said anything about melting? PVC, or poly vinyl chloride, releases Chlorine when heated. This is why you use CPVC piping for hot water piping in homes.

 

[Shanghai Dan]

Who said anything about melting? PVC, or poly vinyl chloride, releases Chlorine when heated. This is why you use CPVC piping for hot water piping in homes.

And at what temperature does it give off that chlorine? At what temperature do you liberate the chlorine from the carbon atoms?

 

[LeonBorden]

And at what temperature does it give off that chlorine? At what temperature do you liberate the chlorine from the carbon atoms?

A twenty second Google search shows three sources ranging from 158 to 172 degrees as PVCs outgassing temperature. I'm not sure if you're trying to deny a commonly known fact, that PVC is dangerous when heated, or just being facetious. I've also personally had a ABS-ish intake on a turbo melt and deform on a turbo elbow after four hot laps of about a minute each... So no, personally I wouldn't use ABS either.

 

[Shanghai Dan]

A twenty second Google search shows three sources ranging from 158 to 172 degrees as PVCs outgassing temperature. I'm not sure if you're trying to deny a commonly known fact, that PVC is dangerous when heated, or just being facetious. I've also personally had a ABS-ish intake on a turbo melt and deform on a turbo elbow after four hot laps of about a minute each... So no, personally I wouldn't use ABS either.

Outgassing is not chlorine, and outgassing happens well above ABS's typical melt point. All those ABS CAIs would be a pile of goo before you get outgassing from PVC.

Chemistry-wise, to free the chlorine-carbon bond you must burn the material - well above the melt temperature. What you smell are additives outgassing - again, at temperatures well above the stability of ABS (meaning - it's not a problem for this application). The vinyl chloride monomer's bond of Cl to C is significantly enhanced by the polymerization and doesn't come apart short of burning the material.

If ABS is safe for CAI duty from a temperature standpoint, then what would make you think that PVC wouldn't be?

FWIW, I've been doing plastics molding (injection, press, compression injection, etc) for the better part of 25 years and have done just about every material you can think of, including PVC, ABS, PC, nylons, and blends thereof. When a claim is made about the thermal stability of PVC relative to other materials - that needs to be corrected.

 

[Stang4u2nv]

Outgassing is not chlorine, and outgassing happens well above ABS's typical melt point. All those ABS CAIs would be a pile of goo before you get outgassing from PVC.

Chemistry-wise, to free the chlorine-carbon bond you must burn the material - well above the melt temperature. What you smell are additives outgassing - again, at temperatures well above the stability of ABS (meaning - it's not a problem for this application). The vinyl chloride monomer's bond of Cl to C is significantly enhanced by the polymerization and doesn't come apart short of burning the material.

If ABS is safe for CAI duty from a temperature standpoint, then what would make you think that PVC wouldn't be?

FWIW, I've been doing plastics molding (injection, press, compression injection, etc) for the better part of 25 years and have done just about every material you can think of, including PVC, ABS, PC, nylons, and blends thereof. When a claim is made about the thermal stability of PVC relative to other materials - that needs to be corrected.

Hmmmmm so anyone else care chime in? Thank you sir apparently, "we" in florida are idiots because god forbid we waste our lrecious greenbacks on pvc. Some of you guys need to lay off the oh look what i bought horse and start thinking outside the box. If you are not mechanically inclined and your wife can use a screw driver better than you, then yes by all means buy a that golden egg and spend 300bucks on a jlt. Me? No thanks. In fact i could build the intake and scrap it and buy that used mmr and still be on budget. I am now tinkering on installing a nice front mount that wont make my bank account scream in pain. Thank you.

 

[LeonBorden]

You're implying that somebody who prefers to do things the right way is not mechanically inclined? I've built the cages for both of my competition cars, have fabricated full suspension arms, and will be doing the same for the mustang. That doesn't mean I'd use a PVC intake. If you were fabricating one up, rather than rigging it, I think you'd be met with a little less resistance.

 

[Herr_Poopschitz]

I think it's a matter of form over function. I can understand and appreciate that to an extent.

My issue is the same as many others...why buy a brand new Mustang and put something so...well, for lack of a better term, 'ghetto'...on it?

Why not keep the $3000 Fox/Camaro/240 whatever for the super cheap parts. PVC as a CAI is FAR from thinking outside the box. Take pride in the ride.

You want cheap DIY parts? FABRICATE them. Your local welding supply and metal surplus stores should be where you go...NOT the plumbing section of a hardware store.... You'll gain a skill, be proud of your work, and people won't criticize what you've done to a brand new beautiful car.

Also, the use of PVC is hardly a factor when judging whether someone is mechanically inclined.

See if you have a semi/tractor-trailer repair shop around...they usually have large diameter tubing and silicone couplers for not much money.

 

[doulos4jc]

Stang4u2nv I don't care if you make your CAI out of inconel or paper mache, if it works and your happy with it more power to you!

 

[obk787]

I have nothing bad to say about you trying to think outside the box but is the saving really worth for an intake that will probably not look appealing, that may or may not work, that may or may not damage internals and of course the time it takes you to make it. There are so many intake options made of materials better than PVC and lighter with a nice big K&N cone filter for less than $200 that actually mount to existing locations on our car. In my opinion I rather work more overtime at work rather than spending leisure time customizing a part for my car that is not going to outperform something that is already out there for a reasonable price. My 2 cents

 

[Stang4u2nv]

You are right it might not outperform a more expensive designed part but then again it might. After looking at some of the intakes by air raid and jlt, i'm considering just removing the factory box and use the stock pipe and extend that pipe into the fender with a nice cone filter. Just doing it to remove the paper filter and using colder air from the fender instead of the engine bay. That mod wouldnt cost much and the benefits while not over the top should help breathe better. Then use that money from the intake towards my unleashed tune along with the intercooler upgrade.

 

[EcoSwag1990]

This will save maybe a little over $100 over getting an mmr intake. Might as well just drive less and eat cheaper for a couple weeks

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