LVDell

Is the 997 air intake with the small "shelf" in the middle of it purely cosmetic or is there some functional reason? Reason I ask is that I see several 996 Turbo owners adding these to their car as a "mod" and I'm trying to understand why. I don't think it looks good or bad. Just curious if it's aesthetic or functional.

TIA!

JG 996T

I've wondered the same thing - at least according to one person on this thread, the air splitters are cosmetic only:

http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/9...splitters.html

LVDell

I saw that DIY over on 6spd and it appears it's purely cosmetic. I'm just baffled why this was added to the 997 Turbo if not functional. Wouldn't the largest and fastest volume of air be through an unobstructed intake?

Sam CS 05

Not to steal your posting but do these air intakes work all the time or only when turbos kick in? I also hear a lot of active air noise from the front of the car????

tvurt

These are intakes for your intercoolers, and provide the airflow to them. They only work if the car is moving, or if there is a really strong breeze.

The splitters on the 996tt are cosmetic only, and many seem to feel that the actually impede airflow if added. The 997 design is much larger, and the speculation seems to be that the splitter was added in part for style and in part to prevent a foreign object from lodging in the intercooler duct.

That being said, I have the splitters on mine, and love them.

Tom

Michael-Dallas

I got no physics to back this up, but I wonder if the splitters are their to increase air pressure to the intercoolers... like adding a nozzle to a water hose...

///Michael

TT Gasman

Porsche usually doesn't make changes purely for cosmetic reasons, it's either cost or performance. That being said I have heard that the "splitters" help the airflow, albeit probably not a whole lot.

doubleurx

The shelf helps prevent larger animals and birds from getting sucked in. I'm surprised there isn't a screen available for these. I would think after one summer we all have quite a huge insect smorgasbord in there!

LVDell

Do you remember where you heard this? I'd be interested in reading up on it.

I really have no idea since this is an area I have zero knowledge so I'm trying to get educated on what they are for, what they do, and why does one have it (997) and the other does not (996) if there is in fact a functional reason.

TT Surgeon

The 997 intake is much bigger than the 996 version, I doubt any functional advantage to doing this to a 996tt. When the 997tt first came out they had a video on porsche usa 'masterpeice something' that went into great detail on the bigger intakes.
c

LVDell

If you find that video Chris, please let me know. I'd really like to understand their functional reason.

Macster

Partially cosmetic and partially for function.

Cosmetic: There has to be some clear cosmetic differences to the newer models to make them more readily distinquishible from the older cars or no one would want a newer car if was hard to tell it from an older car, even if the older car an older model.

Functional: If the 997 vent bigger -- and I believe it is though I've not compared a 996's vent opening to a 997's vent opening side by side the cross piece could be to prevent the longer sides from separating -- vibrating, buzzing, etc. -- when subject to high air speeds when the car traveling at or near V-max, or of course traveling at a lower speed into a strong headwind or even a cross wind.

The cross piece adds nothing to the air flow and in fact has to reduce the opening's effective size somewhat.

Sincerely,

Macster.

AngM018

As per a training video from Porsche AG: The cross piece started as cosmetic. it creates the shape that ties in the front spoiler, with the wheels etc. After they incorporated the "vanes" they did find it helped the wind flow b/c it was shaped like an airplane wing. The gentleman was one of Porsche AG's engineers.

P.S. this is not my opinion, just passing along what Porsche taught me.

John
Leith Porsche

Macster

Then I predict the 998 will come with 2 cross pieces.

Sincerely,

Macster.

mooty

DUDE, you SAID you leave it stock!!!!!