This is in regard to our 2016 Explorer 2.3 EcoBoost turbo. Vehicle is stock (why would you modify an Explorer anyway?). Anyway, last summer I experimented with a DIY cold air intake just to see what effect it would have on the turbo/induction noise. This was a cheap science project. I wasn't looking to sound like a bro racer, I just wanted some more turbo spool noise; this vehicle literally has the quietest turbo I've ever experienced. Long story short, this 'mod' made hardly any difference.
For the past couple weeks, I've been driving a Silverado with the 2.7L 4-cylinder turbo, and while it's faint, it makes a delightful turbo spooling noise under load. It's not obnoxious, but it's there, and I love it! Looking at the intake for that truck, it doesn't seem to have any resonators on the intake; just a large/expanded section after the airbox that necks down again before the turbo inlet. This has led me to revisit the turbo noise on our Explorer, if for no other reason than finding out why it makes so little noise.
Here's a picture of the stock intake setup on our vehicle (picture is not mine). You can see the airbox, which transitions into a flexible hose, back into a hard pipe:
After that hard pipe section, which ends just as it goes under the engine cover, comes this piece, which I am now the proud owner of for $45
. It is a 'resonator' according to the parts listing, and it leads directly into the turbo inlet:
This section of piping includes the massive growth aka the resonator, a vacuum hose port, and the bypass valve recirculation port. Most vehicles have resonators like this. My van, in particular, has two. Most resonators have a larger inlet, like 1" to 1.5" from what I've seen. This one is different, though. Here's a picture of the inside of that resonator tube, looking into the tube in the direction of airflow (Ignore the dust. The previous owner must have not had a good filter). You first come up on the resonator port, indicated by the RED arrow. It's not circular as the picture makes it seem, but is oval. However, it is small... like 0.5" x 0.75". There is also no 'return' port, as some resonators have. That little port is the only hole feeding that massive resonator. The square hole indicated by the WHITE arrow is the recirculating valve return; they are not connected:
Here's my plan: I'm going to cut the resonator off flush and seal it, and see what effect it has on sound. On my van, which has a naturally-aspirated V6, removing both similar-looking resonators lead to incredible induction noise under load, along with a little extra vibration in the steering wheel from the noise. On the Explorer, I really don't know what this resonator is for. I'm sure I'll find out soon, but I can only assume that it's mainly for quieting the turbo spool noise, and possibly the 'blow-off' noise of the recirculating valve given the close proximity? After the turbo, there is more piping to/from the intercooler before it reaches the throttle, so a resonator this far away wouldn't really affect much else, according to my thinking, at least.
Anyway, I will report back once it warms up outside. More than anything else, I'm just curious what effect this resonator has on this specific vehicle. OF NOTE: On the very similar 2.0 EcoBoost found on the Fusion, Escape, etc. this resonator is NOT there. From my searching various YouTube videos, those vehicles seem to have inherently more turbo noise from the intake... makes sense. What do you think?
For the past couple weeks, I've been driving a Silverado with the 2.7L 4-cylinder turbo, and while it's faint, it makes a delightful turbo spooling noise under load. It's not obnoxious, but it's there, and I love it! Looking at the intake for that truck, it doesn't seem to have any resonators on the intake; just a large/expanded section after the airbox that necks down again before the turbo inlet. This has led me to revisit the turbo noise on our Explorer, if for no other reason than finding out why it makes so little noise.
Here's a picture of the stock intake setup on our vehicle (picture is not mine). You can see the airbox, which transitions into a flexible hose, back into a hard pipe:
After that hard pipe section, which ends just as it goes under the engine cover, comes this piece, which I am now the proud owner of for $45
. It is a 'resonator' according to the parts listing, and it leads directly into the turbo inlet:This section of piping includes the massive growth aka the resonator, a vacuum hose port, and the bypass valve recirculation port. Most vehicles have resonators like this. My van, in particular, has two. Most resonators have a larger inlet, like 1" to 1.5" from what I've seen. This one is different, though. Here's a picture of the inside of that resonator tube, looking into the tube in the direction of airflow (Ignore the dust. The previous owner must have not had a good filter). You first come up on the resonator port, indicated by the RED arrow. It's not circular as the picture makes it seem, but is oval. However, it is small... like 0.5" x 0.75". There is also no 'return' port, as some resonators have. That little port is the only hole feeding that massive resonator. The square hole indicated by the WHITE arrow is the recirculating valve return; they are not connected:
Here's my plan: I'm going to cut the resonator off flush and seal it, and see what effect it has on sound. On my van, which has a naturally-aspirated V6, removing both similar-looking resonators lead to incredible induction noise under load, along with a little extra vibration in the steering wheel from the noise. On the Explorer, I really don't know what this resonator is for. I'm sure I'll find out soon, but I can only assume that it's mainly for quieting the turbo spool noise, and possibly the 'blow-off' noise of the recirculating valve given the close proximity? After the turbo, there is more piping to/from the intercooler before it reaches the throttle, so a resonator this far away wouldn't really affect much else, according to my thinking, at least.
Anyway, I will report back once it warms up outside. More than anything else, I'm just curious what effect this resonator has on this specific vehicle. OF NOTE: On the very similar 2.0 EcoBoost found on the Fusion, Escape, etc. this resonator is NOT there. From my searching various YouTube videos, those vehicles seem to have inherently more turbo noise from the intake... makes sense. What do you think?
also, I wouldn’t feel comfortable plugging it from the inside, since the intake vacuum could pull any plug loose and then I need a new turbo…
