Cold air intake from the cabin

[Smart Enuf]

I was thinking of something after having read the posts from members who are modifying their engine air intake systems. Forgive me for being dense, and maybe the answer is obvious, but if getting colder air into the engine is good (i.e., because it's denser than warmer air), why isn't the intake air piped in from the passenger cabin? Alternatively, why can't the intake be set up so that it can take in air from either the outside or from inside the cabin, switchable by the driver? For at least half the year, the cabin air would likely be cooler than the outside air, so it seems like setting up the cold air intake to take advantage of the cooler air in the cabin would make sense.

Thoughts?

[jetfuel]

..it will be too loud to make the ride unbearable...my 1c..
...can it be done?...for sure...

jetfuel

[John_H]

Is the air in the cabin cooler because of A/C? I'd think cooling the cabin and the engine air would significantly reduce mileage. The cool air that goes out the engine has to come in from somewhere. Outside! That outside warm air needs to be cooled to be comfortable, adding to the power required by the A/C.

Noise is probably a very big issue.

[jetfuel]

...excellent point John...

jetfuel

[jonnysan]

Originally Posted by John_H

Is the air in the cabin cooler because of A/C? I'd think cooling the cabin and the engine air would significantly reduce mileage. The cool air that goes out the engine has to come in from somewhere. Outside! That outside warm air needs to be cooled to be comfortable, adding to the power required by the A/C.

Noise is probably a very big issue.

John H hit the nail on the head...The added parasitic to the AC (inlet engine air being gulped in from the cabin) would net you less than advantage than the cooled intake air is offering, reducing mileage.

[sunnyokanagan]

Just as important is that creating a negative pressure in the cabin is never a good idea. And especially in the fortwo, which is quite tightly sealed, very short wheelbase with a flat back and whose engine is beneath the cabin space.

Carbon monoxide... it gives you a nice, rosy complexion!

[Smart Enuf]

The noise and other issues aside, in the summer you're going to cool your cabin air anyway with your A/C, so why couldn't you use that cooler air rather than the outside air?

[donnyonee]

i think that CO1 would give the pleasant gray tones and not the pinks as discribed. (lack of oxygen). i think a rosy completion would be from the funeral home.
i could be wrong?

[jetfuel]

...is an intake ...not an exhaust...but then again ...the cooler intake gain will even out the mpg's gain from the A/C use ...so..who's going to be the first one to try this mod? or get his body fluids replaced with formaldehyde?..lol

jetfue

[Godfather]

I confess, I did it, stole the "l" from jetfuel........