Induction kit on Seat Leon 1.6 16v (Mk1)

[KieranSprouse]

Hi there,

I have a Seat Leon SX 1.6 16v (the Mk1, 2003) and I wondered about putting an induction kit on it.

Now, it is the 16v, and from what I have read/seen under the bonnet, it looks like it has one of those annoying engine cover air box thingys that some of the Mk4 Golfs had...guess the 1.6 16v version of those.

Why it doesn't have an airbox where it is on every other Leon I dunno, but hey ho, that's why I have come to you guys! (yay for you)

So I wondered, if I was going about putting a cone filter on there for example, how the heck would I get round the engine cover?

Or is there any point at all on a 1.6? Well I know you'll say no, but I guess I want one anyway, I quite like the noise of the engine and would like it to sing a little louder, if you get what I mean, though I am way too lazy to fit a full exhaust system, or get the darn thing re-mapped for the power.

So I guess I have three options:

1)Get over it, accept its a 1.6 and go home.

2)Get a cone air filter and somehow get round the engine cover

3)Get a flat air filter..but is that gonna be a bad idea? In terms of comparing it to cone filters?



Thanks in advance,


Kieran

[Defcon5]

Either cut the engine cover appropriately or just leave it off - it's only for cosmetics.

It won't add any power, but will sound a lot different.

[KieranSprouse]

Hi Defcon5,

Cheers for the reply, that is a real help!

Did think it may be only cosmetics, but wasn't 100% sure, so thanks for confirming.

Yeah I realise it won't add any power (if anything it may lose 1HP or whatever, not that anyone would notice) but it is the sound I am looking for.

Is there much of a sound difference improvement between getting a performance flat air filter and a cone filter?

[ch427]

you may find a small breather hose attached the bottom of the existing airbox that needs reconnecting when you fit an induction kit so make sure these parts are supplied too.

[Defcon5]

Ah yes there may be a PCV hose that you need to fit a catch tank/filter tip to.

Also using oiled filters on cars with hot wire MAFs isn't recommended. I think your will have a MAP instead though (the smaller VW petrol engines of the same era did anyway)

It will sound pretty awesome to be fair

[KieranSprouse]

Thanks for the info guys, really appreciated!

So one last question if you aren't sick of answering yet!

If you were me, would you buy a cone or a flat air filter?


Apparently the oil filters are a pain to maintain, whereas I think the cone filters are a little bit simpler.

What do you think?

[steveo3002]

is there any scope for drilling the airbox ? will make the same race car noise but no hassle

[KieranSprouse]

Hi Steveo3002,

Where would you drill?

Not sure about doing it really, depending on what you drill just because I would rather get new parts than damage the old ones.

I know you could take the airbox off and stick a sock on the end of pipe as well for the race car noise