Background:
After seeing a video discussing performance benefits of removing the snow guard / air baffle, I decided to test this idea to see if my GTI would show a difference.
Test Discussion:
The test is straightforward: go full throttle in third gear, starting around 2000 to 3000 RPM, and time how long it takes for the boost pressure to increase from 1 psi to 20 psi. This is repeated several times to account for variability and show how the trend varies with starting engine speed.
The snow guard is then added to the air box and the processes is repeated.
The baseline case without the snow guard was repeated to check for consistency, because I suspected that the heating of the intake components might be influencing the results.
Note: I initially discussed this test in the video below and am now adding a post to document the test on the website.
Test Results:
The baseline data without the snow guard /baffle is shown below.
Installing the air baffle corresponds to an increase in the boost onset time, as indicated by the orange symbols.
A recheck was performed without the baffle to determine if heating of the intake might be affecting the boost onset. As indicated by the blue symbols, the warmed intake without the baffle performed similarly to that with the baffle.
Conclusion:
A test was conducted to evaluate the effect of the air intake snow guard/air baffle on the onset of turbocharger boost pressure.
No significant difference was observed with the snow guard installed and when it is removed.