I do not claim to be an expert on aerodynamics. Nor do I claim that the scoops have any kind of performance boosting properties (sorry if I gave that impression). These particular scoops were actually developed by Winkler (they don't look the same as the SA ones) when they started installing the TDI engines into the Vanagon. They found that the scoops gave them more air flow for the intercoolers. That is pretty much it. So for a normal Vanagon owner it would probably only be a cosmetic thing. Do I think it would actually hurt performance, I doubt that it would affect performance to a noticable degree one way or the other. The other thing I would like to say is that some folks have said that a scoop would only be effective if the air was channeled directly from the scoop down a tube and into the intake. Well, having the advantage of owning a set of VW of SA microfische, I would like to tell you that this is exactly how their scoops are set up. They have a molded piece of plastic on the inside of the scoop that channels the air into a snokel that goes directly to the intake. Does this aid in performance? I dunno, but it probably helps keep water out of the intake really well (you could do some serious wading with one of these beasts). So in conclusion, to scoop or not to scoop, it all depends on if you think they look cool or not.
Ken Wilford http://www.vanagain.com John 3:16 Office (856)-765-1583 Shop (856)-327-0027 Fax (856)-327-2242 |
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