Whether it’s the so called Aston Martin racing ‘professional tuning outfit’ or the often clueless enthusiastic Aston Martin owner turned parts seller who is not grounded in engineering. GT4 styled airboxes is a easy win cash cow for them both when selling their un researched products to the uninformed buyer.

Bamford Rose QOTW #0147

In this video Mike explains that the standard factory air induction system fitted to the Aston Martin V8 Vantage causes no restrictions or losses, no decrease of inlet manifold pressure vs atmospheric pressure when the engine is operated at maximum power and engine speed.

Meaning that if the inlet manifold is already at atmospheric pressure at peak power speed when on the standard factory airbox system, and there is no air depression / pressure loss measured in the inlet manifold, there can be no improvement to that situation possible by changing the air system in any way to gain any further power by using aftermarket parts.

But that reality doesn’t stop retailers of such equipment claiming there are performance gains to be had by a GT4 inspired airfilter design, and selling those products to uninformed owners.

Mike proves that status in two ways:

Firstly by recording inlet manifold pressure during a power run, and revealing data which shows the inlet manifold is at atmospheric pressure on the standard airbox.
And secondly, by blanking off one entire airbox system, meaning all air is flowing through one airbox only with one standard air filter fitted.

In summary, if there is no pressure loss on the factory set up, there can be no improvement to power from so called low loss air filters.
But if anyone needed more data to arrive at an informed decision, Mike shows the V8 Vantage can actually accelerate at exactly the same rate with only one airbox fitted.

What the so called turners don’t understand is that for performance, one airbox can flow all the air needed to achieve the performance, and a second airbox and filter was designed not to offer more air flow (because the engine doesn’t need it), but to increase the service life of the one filter.
If flowing the maximum air through one filter, the service life is short, if flowing the same air through 2 filters the service life of the filter is increased.

Mike performed the test with only one airbox as a very simple visual representation that if the car accelerated exactly the same with only one airbox fitted, as it does with both airboxes fitted, then does replacing the airfilter on both sides with a GT4 style airfilter give any additional performance increase? The answer is clearly not because the engine can suck all the air it needs from only one airbox fitted with one standard filter.

Data from suppliers of such aftermarket parts which shows airflow or vehicle performance increases with GT4 styled air filters is either dubious or disingenuous and to suit their own ends - selling equipment which isn’t needed but looks the part because it’s race inspired.

Mike’s data did show very small pressure loss compared to atmospheric pressure. That small pressure loss was optimised by the factory N400 or AM power upgrade air induction flap. But when the car accelerates the same using one airbox, questions whilst the flap returned a minor pressure loss improvement, how did that actually translate to measured acceleration - extremely little as to be difficult to discern by the driver is the possible answer. But the additional induction roar is nice and gives the driver the perception the car is improved.


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