034 Motorsport X34 Intake Flow Test

034 Carbon Fiber Intake Flow Test

Background:

An aftermarket intake option for the Mk7 GTI is the 034 Motorsport Carbon Fiber X34 Intake.

034 Motorsport X34 Carbon Fiber MQB Cold Air Intake
034 Motorsport X34 Carbon Fiber MQB Cold Air Intake

034 claims that the intake is “the ultimate induction solution for your Audi or Volkswagen.” Curious to learn how the “ultimate induction system” compares with other intake options the intake was flow tested using a flow bench.

034 Motorsport Mk7 Carbon Fiber Intake
034 Motorsport Mk7 Carbon Fiber Intake

Test Procedure:

First the flow bench calibration is checked and then the 034 Carbon Fiber intake has a generic style turbo inlet elbow connected to it. Then the intake system is attached to the flow bench using an adapter that simulates the entry to the IS20/IS38 turbocharger.

034 Motorsport X34 Intake Flow Test
034 Motorsport X34 Intake Flow Test

The flow bench is operated at a test depression of 28″ of H2O and the airflow through the intake at that pressure drop is recorded.

Test Results:

At the test depression the 034 Motorsport X34 Carbon Fiber Intake flows 380 CFM. This result is shown in the chart along with other intakes available for the Mk7 GTI.

034 Motorsport Intake and other Mk7 GTI Intakes - Flow Test Summary
034 Motorsport Intake and other Mk7 GTI Intakes – Flow Test Summary

Test Variations:

A few variations to the intake configuration were tested to determine the affect on airflow measurement.

The first variation was the addition of a modified GTI inlet duct to the stock lower half of the airbox. The modification to the duct is opening the front driver side and blocking the rear passenger opening to the engine compartment.

The addition of the duct has previously been tested and was shown to make no difference to the airflow through the stock airbox.

034 Motorsport X34 Intake Flow Test - With Intake Duct
034 Motorsport X34 Intake Flow Test – With Intake Duct

Airflow through the intake was 380 CFM, no change from the setup without the modified duct.

The second variation was the removal of the lower half of the airbox.

034 Motorsport X34 Intake Flow Test
034 Motorsport X34 Intake Flow Test

With the bottom half of the intake removed the airflow reading increased to 391 CFM.

These results are shown in the chart:

034 Motorsport MQB X34 Carbon Fiber Intake - Variations Results
034 Motorsport MQB X34 Carbon Fiber Intake – Variations Results

The last variation to be tested was the full 034 intake attached to the flow bench using a larger adapter that is closer in size to the inlet end of a turbo inlet elbow.

034 Motorsport X34 Intake Flow Test - No Turbo Inlet Elbow
034 Motorsport X34 Intake Flow Test – No Turbo Inlet Elbow

This configuration resulted in an airflow reading of 576 CFM. The 034 intake is compared in the next chart with other intakes that have been tested similarly:

034 Motorsport X34 Intake Flow Test Results - No TIP
034 Motorsport X34 Intake Flow Test Results – No TIP

Conclusions:

In a typical operating configuration the 034 Motorsport X34 intake flows well with a value of 380 CFM. This places it around the bottom of the top third of intakes that have been flow tested.

034 Motorsport X34 Intake Flow Ranking
034 Motorsport X34 Intake Flow Ranking

It is not clear what criteria 034 Motorsport was using when describing the X34 intake as the “ultimate induction system”, in terms of airflow it is a solid performing system but there are other options that allow for higher airflow.

5 thoughts on “034 Carbon Fiber Intake Flow Test”

  1. Nice work, do you think adding a velocity stack to the intake will make it perform better.

    1. Thanks, I doubt it would make much difference. I imagine 034 considered easy ways to get better airflow from the intake and designed the intake to take advantage of them.

  2. Jeff please make test with AMS and Unitronic full intake!! Thank so much for your work!! Help us a lot!!

    1. Thanks, if one is made available I can test it. I don’t plan to purchase either one of those and I have low success with borrowing products from vendors, though occasionally it does work out.

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