air intake pocket

Flying White Dutchman · 07-11-2008, 04:37 AM

When i removed my front bumper i noticed a little plastic box on the front passenger side behind the front bumper
its not the coolant storage thing you have in the US but its connected to the air intake?
anyone now what this is? and what i's for?

KayakerNC · 07-11-2008, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flying White Dutchman

When i removed my front bumper i noticed a little plastic box on the front passenger side behind the front bumper
its not the coolant storage thing you have in the US but its connected to the air intake?
anyone now what this is? and what i's for?

Now, that's what I call hidden storage!

narf · 07-11-2008, 10:07 AM

If it's what I think it is, it's an intake resonator. Many cars have them. Not 100% sure on the theory but here's what I remember:

Air intake is not smooth, it tends to be rapid pulses because of the action of the intake valves. The intake can be tuned to maximize certain frequencies of the pulses to help with air flow at certain speeds by adding air chambers of specific sizes, thereby improving power at specific RPMs. It's usually done to smooth out power curves at specific RPMs. It's the other side of adding a tuned exhaust.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong please. (they always do).

David Beale · 07-11-2008, 11:02 AM

The engine gulps air in pulses. The box is designed to provide one pulse without causing much of a vacuum. Yes, it's a resonance chamber. It dampens the pulses by the above mechanism so you don't hear them (much).
In the Prius the box also takes some of the air forced back out of the intake due to the "Atkinson cycle" (intake valves are held open during part of the compression cycle).

But the short answer is narf is correct, it's an intake resonator, there to smooth air flow to reduce noise and smooth out air flow.

Flying White Dutchman · 07-11-2008, 04:19 PM

a ok
nice toyota!!

a_gray_prius · 07-13-2008, 03:41 AM

Hey - my Prius has a CAI!

Bear68 · 07-13-2008, 09:54 AM

Most Toyotas have some form of resonator built into the intake tubing. It also has another nice effect, if you should accidently hit deep water (an unexpectedly deep puddle) the resulting splash into the air intake can allow water to be sucked into the engine. The resonator box allows for the greater volume of water to be pulled down by gravity and help reduce the chances of hydrolocking the engine. Small amounts of water can be handled, but a large gulp can enter the combustion chamber and cause massive failure.

Sheepdog · 07-13-2008, 05:17 PM

wow, those Jeffries tubes are getting smaller and smaller!

V8Cobrakid · 07-31-2008, 09:30 PM

so... what would happen if you were to add a snorkel... hehe... you can get as high as.. what?.. the plugs? the bottom of the fuse box?

David Beale · 08-01-2008, 11:25 AM

A snorkel would change the tuning of the intake system. I doubt that it's critical, so it probably wouldn't hurt. It would certainly help those who drive into "ponds" on the road.

07-11-2008, 04:37 AM	#1
Flying White Dutchman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,423 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 3	air intake pocket When i removed my front bumper i noticed a little plastic box on the front passenger side behind the front bumper its not the coolant storage thing you have in the US but its connected to the air intake? anyone now what this is? and what i's for? Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Flying White Dutchman; 07-11-2008 at 05:28 AM.

07-11-2008, 10:07 AM	#3
narf Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 525 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #6 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: air intake pocket If it's what I think it is, it's an intake resonator. Many cars have them. Not 100% sure on the theory but here's what I remember: Air intake is not smooth, it tends to be rapid pulses because of the action of the intake valves. The intake can be tuned to maximize certain frequencies of the pulses to help with air flow at certain speeds by adding air chambers of specific sizes, thereby improving power at specific RPMs. It's usually done to smooth out power curves at specific RPMs. It's the other side of adding a tuned exhaust. Someone correct me if I'm wrong please. (they always do). __________________

07-11-2008, 11:02 AM	#4
David Beale Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 1,556 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: air intake pocket The engine gulps air in pulses. The box is designed to provide one pulse without causing much of a vacuum. Yes, it's a resonance chamber. It dampens the pulses by the above mechanism so you don't hear them (much). In the Prius the box also takes some of the air forced back out of the intake due to the "Atkinson cycle" (intake valves are held open during part of the compression cycle). But the short answer is narf is correct, it's an intake resonator, there to smooth air flow to reduce noise and smooth out air flow. __________________ Edmonton Alberta "Pearl" is a 2007 Driftwood Pearl Prius.

07-11-2008, 04:19 PM	#5
Flying White Dutchman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,423 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 3	Re: air intake pocket a ok nice toyota!!

07-13-2008, 03:41 AM	#6
a_gray_prius Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 79 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #3 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: air intake pocket Hey - my Prius has a CAI!

07-13-2008, 09:54 AM	#7
Bear68 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: West Palm Beach, FLA Posts: 245 My Car: Package: Nominated 3 Times in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	Re: air intake pocket Most Toyotas have some form of resonator built into the intake tubing. It also has another nice effect, if you should accidently hit deep water (an unexpectedly deep puddle) the resulting splash into the air intake can allow water to be sucked into the engine. The resonator box allows for the greater volume of water to be pulled down by gravity and help reduce the chances of hydrolocking the engine. Small amounts of water can be handled, but a large gulp can enter the combustion chamber and cause massive failure.

07-13-2008, 05:17 PM	#8
Sheepdog C'Mere Sheepie! Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sanford FLorida Posts: 1,050 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	Re: air intake pocket wow, those Jeffries tubes are getting smaller and smaller!

07-31-2008, 09:30 PM	#9
V8Cobrakid some guy... Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,563 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	Re: air intake pocket so... what would happen if you were to add a snorkel... hehe... you can get as high as.. what?.. the plugs? the bottom of the fuse box?

08-01-2008, 11:25 AM	#10
David Beale Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 1,556 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: air intake pocket A snorkel would change the tuning of the intake system. I doubt that it's critical, so it probably wouldn't hurt. It would certainly help those who drive into "ponds" on the road.

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