Effect of broken airfilter box on Mileage and Performance

JOSSYJACOB

The bottom park of my car's airfilter box has a hole (size of a fist) on it. What is its effect on mileage and performance? Is it urgent to change it? What isnthe price of a new one?

el tel

the answers depend on a lot of things you fail to mention.

Like what car fr'instance?

alias no.9

Luckily, most air boxes draw air in the bottom, up through the filter and out the top, so the risk of crap getting into your engine is probably small. The filter itself is the biggest restriction in the intake system so an extra airpath into the box before the filter probably won't have much impact on airflow. The problem arrises from where the air is coming from, is there crap being thrown up from underneath the car by the wheels and/or aerodynamics that's being sucked in this hole, clogging up your filter quicker. This will impact performance and economy. Best way to check it out is take a look at the filter, if it's dirty, change it and see how much difference there is in performance and economy, how quickly it deterioriates and how quickly the filter gets dirty.

JOSSYJACOB

The car is Peogeot 206 LX 1.1. I some times feel that there is not much power and also have a wroom... sound when i give acceleration. i went to a mechanic to show it and he told me that if i am getting a second hand one put in and other wise dont bother.

The hole is actually on the side of bottom airfilter box and not under the bottom box

maidhc

Can you not just rivet a plate over the hole or something?

AMurphy

So long as the hole is on the fresh air side of the filter and not the intake side of the filter and there is no leakage past the seal of the filter, ther is no problem, other than the possibility of a mouse wanting to make a nest in there. a scrap yard replacement will work perfectly.
If the hole or leak is on the intake side of the filter, then you have unfiltered air (and dust) entereing the engine and will increase bore and valve wear and shorten it's life, that's all.

another possible side effect, but depends on a lot of things. The intake tube feeds to the cold fresh air coming in through the grille.
If this hole is in the vicinity of the exhaust, you could be taking in hot air, particularly when stopped at traffic lights and again depending on how hot, volume and if it includes any exhaust gasses could cause the engine to idle badly or stall. (remote possibility, but happens)

forgot to mentino, if you are not in the mood to go fishing in scrap yeards, Duct tape inside and outside is pretty good for selaing up such holes.

Spitfire666

Sounds like this hole was "put there" as apposed to a broken box?
As they have been saying, if its on the intake side and is not exposed to hot air from exhaust or engine its fine and works like a poor mans attempt at an aftermarket filter by being able to draw more air in quickly. (Doesnt actualy do a thing on a car such as 1.1 but thats another thread). Also the wroom sound is just because the air is being drawn in closer then normal. you get the same sort of thing again with after market5 filters or induction kits.
Like your mechanic said, dont bother with a new box, get one from a scrappy or breakers yard or where ever as its not that big a deal.

Spitfire666

Sounds like this hole was "put there" as apposed to a broken box?
As they have been saying, if its on the intake side and is not exposed to hot air from exhaust or engine its fine and works like a poor mans attempt at an aftermarket filter by being able to draw more air in quickly. (Doesnt actualy do a thing on a car such as 1.1 but thats another thread). Also the wroom sound is just because the air is being drawn in closer then normal. you get the same sort of thing again with after market5 filters or induction kits.
Like your mechanic said, dont bother with a new box, get one from a scrappy or breakers yard or where ever as its not that big a deal.