So I have kind of a weird question regarding valves hitting the top of pistons. I realize the normal cause of this is either overrevving due to an accidental downshift, or a timing chain failing, but could having an aftermarket air intake cause this in any way? or are the two things just not connected?

 

No.

 

There is no way an air intake could cause this. The air intake has nothing to do with timing. It will throw off your air to fuel ratios a little, but nothing as severe as making the valves hit the pistons.

 

What kind of long term damage would this cause? if any.

 

Timing Belt Failure











^not ture. Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

To answer your question, using an after market intake should not affect your a/f ratio enough to present a problem. There have been exceptions to this rule ie K&N Typhoon intakes for Evo8/9, but you should be fine. If the intake adversely affects your idle or causes stalling issues, then you have a problem. If you ever plan on having the car tuned, make sure said intake is installed for the tune and you won't have any problems.

Make sure that the air filter isn't overtightened to the MAF. People have been know to blow headgaskets as a result of overtightening.




^final two sentences are not true. Sorry, I still can't help myself

 

^ you dont even have an X. get to the proper forum!

If you are too lean, you will be at risk for detonation, which can cause many types of engine failures.

an automatic transmission will prevent any accidental downshifts.

 

I have an IX, too. It doesn't matter for either platform of the Evo, the answer remains the same. Just because I have an IX doesn't mean I can't post in the X section...

An intake won't cause valve contact, but in some extreme cases it can effect your air to fuel ratio. It will lean things out a bit, which if that is your only mod from the factory is a good thing. All versions of the Evolution run pig rich from the factory, probably because MMNA wanted to avoid any damage running the car lean would cause. Also, they run a crap load of timing on some of the newer versions of the X so you don't want to be lean and run excessive timing like that.

So, OP, no it won't cause contact, but get yourself an WBO2 to keep an eye on things if you plan to mod any further.

Detonation won't cause piston to valve contact either, it will just pit the top of the piston and can lead to cracking issues or problems with the upper rings and their seals. As far as I know most versions of the automatic transmissions in Evos can be controlled via sequential sport shifting, correct? So you can still downshift to a retarded RPM and cause contact, if you were determined (read: stupid) enough to do so.

 

haha you guys are funny. And the car was not money shifted, the dealer had said the timing chain failed. It was warrantied(not sure if that's a word...).

I think evremonde was joking about getting to his own forum considering his "drives" list is saying an evo 8, not 10

 

^ money shifted? what?

 

You have a timing chain, not a belt.

 

haha I meant chain, my apologies( I corrected it in the OP). Money shift referring to redlining it in a gear and then shifting down a gear rather than up.

 

Ahh! I see... the "money" part must be for the repair after such a shift!

 

haha luckily this problem was paid for, so i'm not exactly sure how much it costs, but my car was in the shop for 3 weeks, I imagine it would have ended up horribly expensive.

 

this is correct.

this is a bit unerving if its true. I'd imagine there is some electrical control of the clutch, rather than the mechanical connection of a true manual. If so, its a mere one line of code...

 

Yeah... I feel like it would be easier to accidentally press the paddle once too many times rather than put the shifter into first rather than 3rd...