AMS Performance Intake Flow Test

Background:

The AMS Performance intake for the Mk7 GTI is obtained to use in a flow test to evaluate the flow rate versus other aftermarket intakes.

Test Process:

The AMS intake is attached to a flow bench using three different configurations. These configurations consist of a stock-size turbo inlet elbow (MST V1) and simulated stock turbo compressor inlet, a hybrid-size turbo inlet elbow (DBV2) and simulated hybrid turbo compressor inlet, and a third using a 3″ elbow to a 3″ bench adapter.

Tests with the stock and hybrid inlet elbows are conducted with the bench operating at 28″ of H2O and the 3″ elbow test is conducted at a test pressure of 13″ of H2O.

AMS Intake Airflow Test
AMS Intake Airflow Test

Before testing the AMS intake, the flow bench calibration is checked using a calibration plate.

PTS Calibration Plate
PTS Calibration Plate

A variation of the flow test is made using a larger Vibrant air filter with a bellmouth adapter.

AMS and Vibrant Air Filter Comparison
AMS and Vibrant Air Filter Comparison

This setup is too large to fit inside the AMS filter enclosure and was done only to see what change would result with a test of only the air inlet pipe, shown below.

AMS Inlet Pipe with Vibrant Filter Test
AMS Inlet Pipe with Vibrant Filter Test

With the larger air filter and the housing removed the AMS intake flows within the margin of measurement error of the highest flowing intake that has been tested using the hybrid inlet elbow and hybrid turbo adapter.

AMS - Vibrant Filter - No Housing Flow Test
AMS – Vibrant Filter – No Housing Flow Test

Note: With most of the AMS “intake” removed for this test the takeaway is that the AMS inlet pipe isn’t a significant source of restriction to the intake system.

Test Results:

The AMS intake using an MST V1 stock-size inlet elbow and stock turbo adapter flows 388 CFM @ 28″ of H2O.

This is shown on the chart below with other intakes that have been tested with the stock-turbo adapter.

AMS Intake - Stock Inlet Elbow Flow Test
AMS Intake – Stock Inlet Elbow Flow Test

When attached to the DBV2 hybrid-size turbo inlet elbow and a hybrid turbo adapter the AMS intake flows 488 CFM @ 28″ of H2O.

This is shown on the next chart.

AMS Intake - Hybrid Inlet Elbow Flow Test
AMS Intake – Hybrid Inlet Elbow Flow Test

Using a 3″ elbow and 3″ adapter the AMS intake flows 460 CFM @ 13″ of H2O.

This is shown below with other intakes tested in this way.

AMS Intake - 3" Elbow Flow Test
AMS Intake – 3″ Elbow Flow Test

Note: This test is made at 13″ of H2O instead of the 28″ that the stock and hybrid tests are made at.


An important consideration when comparing the different intakes is the significant effect that the inlet elbow has compared to the smaller effect the intake has.

To illustrate this the following chart shows the top 5 flowing intakes connected with the stock inlet elbow and the top 5 flowing intakes connected with the hybrid elbow.

While the difference between intakes is smaller, there is a large difference associated with the change in the type of inlet elbow.

Turbo Inlet Elbow Effect on Airflow
Turbo Inlet Elbow Effect on Airflow

Conclusions:

The AMS intake for the Mk7 was flow-tested using three configurations.

When equipped with a stock-size turbo inlet elbow the AMS intakes flowed 388 CFM @ 28″ of H2O.

When equipped with a hybrid-sized elbow the AMS intake flowed 488 CFM @ 28″ of H2O.

Using a 3″ elbow the AMS intake flowed 460 CFM @ 13″ of H2O.

All of these measurements are comparable with other aftermarket intakes and it was shown that the effects of the inlet elbow selection when using a stock or hybrid elbow contribute significantly more to the flow rate through the intake than the intake itself.

References:

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