Mugen CAI - preliminary results
11-02-2001, 05:20 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Lisbon
Posts: 1,921
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mugen CAI - preliminary results
Before I installed the Mugen CAI I made some runs with my AP-22 that I could repeat after installation.
I finally got around to repeat the runs, and here are the results...
But first, I have to make a disclaimer. There are a lot of different parameters that may change the power output of an engine. I made an effort of recording temperature and tank level, but can't really tell if the gasoline is the same, or if the relative humidity did not change dramatically, or if the car just got faster after clocking a few hundred miles.
The method that inspires the most confidence is back to back testing. It does not look too difficult to swap intakes, so when I have some free time in my hands I'll make a few additional runs.
With that off my chest (sigh of relief), here it is:
Conditions:
My performance mods:
Mugen exhaust manifold, Mugen silencer, Toda flywheel, and several weight savings measures (my car weighs in at 1200kgs).
Temperature was within 2C, tank had some 20kgs more during the Mugen runs and my bones tell me humidity was higher as well. Everything else the same.
4 runs in both directions in the same flat piece of road. I measured speed, time and distance, in a 50 to 130km/h WOT 3rd gear acceleration.
I also have data for 60 to 170km/h WOT 4th gear runs, but I haven't yet had the time to repeat them with the Mugen CAI.
Data from all runs was averaged.
Max HP at the wheels as measured by the AP-22 was 192.5HP at 8.2krpm and 208HP at 8.8krpm with the Mugen. Take these numbers with a grain of salt before comparing with Dyno numbers (for instance, the 4th gear measurements I did with the stock airbox resulted in a max power of 209HP. This difference is to be expected. I expect to get over 220HP with the Mugen CAI in these conditions).
But as a picture is worth a thousand words, here are some meaningful graphics:
First, in gear acceleration timings:
I like the way the trends match up. This to me confirms the data that I got is valid. The trend can be explained by the torque curve and aero effects. The Mugen CAI is most effective at both ends of the rpm range. I expected good results at the top end (ram air effects, confirmed by the increase in the max power rpm point), but was surprised with the improvements at the low end.
How does it all translate to real world conditions? Nothing better than measuring how far ahead one car is after some WOT in gear action, right?
For the plot below the timer started at 50km/h, and you can see the gains in meters after 7 to 9 seconds of acceleration. The S2000 Mugen CAI equipped gains slowly and at 9 seconds, after covering over 200 meters, it is about 4 meters ahead (one car length).
This is an expensive piece of kit, but compared to most other Mugen mods it seems to offer the most bang for the buck. This is in line with what the Mugen engineers claimed in Japan.
Now, let's just hope that when I test back to back I'll still get the same results.
I finally got around to repeat the runs, and here are the results...
But first, I have to make a disclaimer. There are a lot of different parameters that may change the power output of an engine. I made an effort of recording temperature and tank level, but can't really tell if the gasoline is the same, or if the relative humidity did not change dramatically, or if the car just got faster after clocking a few hundred miles.
The method that inspires the most confidence is back to back testing. It does not look too difficult to swap intakes, so when I have some free time in my hands I'll make a few additional runs.
With that off my chest (sigh of relief), here it is:
Conditions:
My performance mods:
Mugen exhaust manifold, Mugen silencer, Toda flywheel, and several weight savings measures (my car weighs in at 1200kgs).
Temperature was within 2C, tank had some 20kgs more during the Mugen runs and my bones tell me humidity was higher as well. Everything else the same.
4 runs in both directions in the same flat piece of road. I measured speed, time and distance, in a 50 to 130km/h WOT 3rd gear acceleration.
I also have data for 60 to 170km/h WOT 4th gear runs, but I haven't yet had the time to repeat them with the Mugen CAI.
Data from all runs was averaged.
Max HP at the wheels as measured by the AP-22 was 192.5HP at 8.2krpm and 208HP at 8.8krpm with the Mugen. Take these numbers with a grain of salt before comparing with Dyno numbers (for instance, the 4th gear measurements I did with the stock airbox resulted in a max power of 209HP. This difference is to be expected. I expect to get over 220HP with the Mugen CAI in these conditions).
But as a picture is worth a thousand words, here are some meaningful graphics:
First, in gear acceleration timings:
I like the way the trends match up. This to me confirms the data that I got is valid. The trend can be explained by the torque curve and aero effects. The Mugen CAI is most effective at both ends of the rpm range. I expected good results at the top end (ram air effects, confirmed by the increase in the max power rpm point), but was surprised with the improvements at the low end.
How does it all translate to real world conditions? Nothing better than measuring how far ahead one car is after some WOT in gear action, right?
For the plot below the timer started at 50km/h, and you can see the gains in meters after 7 to 9 seconds of acceleration. The S2000 Mugen CAI equipped gains slowly and at 9 seconds, after covering over 200 meters, it is about 4 meters ahead (one car length).
This is an expensive piece of kit, but compared to most other Mugen mods it seems to offer the most bang for the buck. This is in line with what the Mugen engineers claimed in Japan.
Now, let's just hope that when I test back to back I'll still get the same results.
11-02-2001, 05:47 PM
#2
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Tampa
Posts: 651
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You should get some sort of heat shield for the Mugen intake and see if that makes some sort of difference, since you have past results to work back on. I have a custom made heat shield (As seen in the under the hood section) and felt a difference.
Just a thought....
Just a thought....
11-02-2001, 06:34 PM
#4
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Tampa
Posts: 651
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yea, Red Blur is my cousin. We still need to talk to the Mechanic about making more of those units, and we will keep you up to date. Awesome evaluation on the Mugen CAI. I am just waiting for a good cold day to dyno the car for paper results, but I knew even if the numbers don't show, I still believe it made a big difference.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post