Is this what I want for my 1995 916 Strada P8? The only engine modifications are a 50mm termi and freer flowing air filters.
And run with no filters at all? They seem to be so unrestricive I was wondering if they filter the air at all lol.
I saw nothing but power losses with those MadDuc snap-on-the-velocity-stack filters. Air filters that are attached directly to the velocity stacks similar to the MadDuc devices (I won’t call them filters) disturb the airflow at the entrance to the velocity stack enough to reduce peak output on a dyno 4 – 12 horsepower. Air filters are protective devices not performance devices. They need to capture dirt efficiently and hold a sufficient quantity, without degrading engine performance. The MadDuc’s don’t. So, next time you're doing some dyno work, place your finger near the top edge of one of the velocity stacks and watch the power output drop-off big time. This is absolutely the worst place to place a filter because it turns laminar (smooth) airflow into turbulent flow.
Ok you kids have convinced me. Throwing those madduc gizmos in the trash bin. Is the Pipercross a decent unit? Other suggestions?
These Pipercross filters are the same shape as the stock filters, but thicker. They even use the stock plastic frame to give rigidity. Thicker means they seal to the air runners better and hold more dirt. They also filter better since they use a coarse layer (similar to the stock unit in cell size) bonded to a smaller cell foam layer so they capture smaller dirt particles. They come supplied with filter oil. Most important, they don't mess-up your airbox resonance. The principal reason for selecting the Pipercross MPX038 instead of an over-the-bellmouth filter design is their better throttle response, the ability to respond rapidly to rapidly changing air-fuel mixtures. When you crack the throttle open there's an instant demand for unimpeded air. In the auto industry they use a rule-of thumb that the filter should be placed far enough away from the butterflies so that you have an open air volume equal to 130% or more of the engine displacement in order to assure a "nil" vacuum restriction within the air filter system. Otherwise, when you crack the throttle open, it'll run rich until the air upstream of the filter gets moving. This will result in more misfires (missed combustion events) 'till the air-fuel mixture normalizes. The stock system has several times that amount of air downstream of the filter in the airbox ready to enter the velocity stacks unimpeded. That’s why Ducati put the filters in the air runners in the first place. One reason for using an air box and intake runners is to direct cool air to the engine. This design also results in an small pressurization of intake air that increases with speed. It also reduces the volume of the intake flow noise. But there's also a performance benefit because the air box is a Helmholtz resonator. That is, a resonance effect occurs when you connect a suitable enclosed volume to an engine’s intake stacks causing the air inside to resonate at a frequency that results in pressure peaks coincident with the cylinders’ intake strokes. This can increase power by 10–15% within a particular rev range. Air boxes need to be well sealed and stiff in construction to maintain these resonance characteristics. However, when you fill up a large portion of the air box volume with an aftermarket foam filter you change the resonance characteristics of the air box.
Thank you @Shazaam! Very helpful. My bike has DP carbon air runners with no provisions to hold the stock air filters. Can I make the MPX038 work with what I have?
I managed to find a NOS Ultimap chip for my P8 916. UM061, and it's a great eprom. Bike runs very smooth. Has different fuel maps for front and rear cylinders. Some debate as to whether DP bothered with that or just added 3% richer fuelling across the board. Most advocate for a dyno and custom tune these days anyway. Probably the best option.
You could also try coating the inside of runners and airbox interior with chain lube. Sticky as all get out, catches bugs and debris while not impeding air flow.
The DP carbon tubes on my bike have been modded so they are held on extra securely with bolts that thread in from the airbox. Quite elaborate actually with wire screens, a custom surround “frame” and safety pins in each bolt. I’m thinking to fashion some filter elements and install them here. Do we like that plan?
