Definitions

[PTSleeper]

I tried searching for this stuff but got tired of looking. I've heard these terms over and over, but I don't know what they are or what they do. Some info please.

Upcharge pipe
Intake Pipe
Downpipe

I know these are mods, but how do they work?

[SuGamer]

The upcharge pipe is the pipe that comes up from the intercooler to the intake. The stock one is a rubber hose with a sensor plugged in. You'll see it on the left side of the battery. If you change it to a hard pipe, you eliminate the restricting silencer within the pipe and eliminate the ballooning effect of the rubber hose during high boost pressures. The intake pipe is the hose going from the air filter box to the turbo charger. It also has a silencer within. If you change it to a hard type, the air restriction is eliminated. In other words, more air will enter the turbo, especially if you have a performance filter like a K&N filter. The downpipe is the exhaust pipe that goes from the exhaust manifold to the rest of the exhaust. A performance downpipe has a high flowing catalytic converter, and is larger than stock, giving it the ability to let more exhaust out. All three mods are about breathing. Breathing in and out. More air coming in mean a better fuel mixture and more power. More exhaust going out means less restriction, cooler running exhaust, less back pressure and more power.[8)]

[Mean Green]

PTSleeper, see you live in Hillsboro. My wife and I live in Silverton. She works in Wilsonville and I work in Tualatin. We could hook up sometime and I could help you out with any questions you may have. I have a VAK uppercharge pipe, intake pipe (turbo up pipe) and some other mods you may be interested in.

[SuGamer]

I just love the friendly people on these forums!

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[GR8FLPT]

I didn't know that the up pipe has a silencer in it too...??? I thought it was only in the air box & down pipe "neck" or "elbow". [:I]

[Mean Green]

quote:Originally posted by GR8FLPT

I didn't know that the up pipe has a silencer in it too...??? I thought it was only in the air box & down pipe "neck" or "elbow". [:I]

The turbo up pipe has a silencer that narrows down to 1 1/2" and restricts air flow. The uppercharge pipe has no silencer.

[Cal Cruzer]

quote:
The uppercharge pipe has no silencer.

True, but I noticed that the plastic piece that the intake air temp sensor mounts in does neck down pretty narrow. I would imagine that getting that out would free up the flow quite a bit like getting the choke out of the airbox pipe does.

[crazyjoe]

quote:Originally posted by SuGamer

The upcharge pipe is the pipe that comes up from the intercooler to the intake. The stock one is a rubber hose with a sensor plugged in. You'll see it on the left side of the battery. If you change it to a hard pipe, you eliminate the restricting silencer within the pipe and eliminate the ballooning effect of the rubber hose during high boost pressures. The intake pipe is the hose going from the air filter box to the turbo charger. It also has a silencer within. If you change it to a hard type, the air restriction is eliminated. In other words, more air will enter the turbo, especially if you have a performance filter like a K&N filter. The downpipe is the exhaust pipe that goes from the exhaust manifold to the rest of the exhaust. A performance downpipe has a high flowing catalytic converter, and is larger than stock, giving it the ability to let more exhaust out. All three mods are about breathing. Breathing in and out. More air coming in mean a better fuel mixture and more power. More exhaust going out means less restriction, cooler running exhaust, less back pressure and more power.[8)]

Just wanted to make a couple corrections...

There is no pipe that goes from the intercooler to the intake. There IS a pipe that goes from the turbo to the intercooler, which is what you are calling the uppercharge pipe.

Ordering a downpipe will not necessarily get you a new, high-flow catalytic converter. Those are sold seperately (or as part of a package) and are not part of the downpipe. Most places that sell the DP should also sell yout a hig-flow catalytic converter to go with it. Letting more exhaust out does NOT necessarily make it cooler. In fact, I would speculate that it doesn't affect exhaust temperature at all.

[Cal Cruzer]

quote:

Just wanted to make a couple corrections...

There is no pipe that goes from the intercooler to the intake. There IS a pipe that goes from the turbo to the intercooler, which is what you are calling the uppercharge pipe.

I think he meant IC to throttlebody when he said "intake". That is the upper charge pipe. The lower goes from the turbo to the IC.

[SuGamer]

quote:Originally posted by Cal Cruzer

I think he meant IC to throttlebody when he said "intake". That is the upper charge pipe. The lower goes from the turbo to the IC.

Thanks Cal. Yeah I meant the throttle body, not directly to the intake. I was thinking about the Maxxfab downpipes when I stated the Cat part. You can get those with the cat already as part of it.