Phenolic Spacer - Intake Manifold

[noone]

I've had a phenolic spacer sitting in my shed of bits for over a year now. Somehow it has not attached itself to my car...

I've read a few DIY's for Mk4 GTI's, etc, but wanted to know if anyone has done this on the Polo and has any firsthand experience.

Cheers.

[Tim]

I think Troy (aka VWTHUNDER) has one on his Polo. Might want to ask him if he has noticed any gain from it.

[flat6]

In theory they look good, yet i imagine there to be no gain in power, maybe responsiveness?

[vwthunder]

I have one and finally got around to putting it in.

It is a turbo car, so it normally drives different depending on the weather, so something as small as this, you are probably not going to notice.

In saying that I have a scangauge and I have been monitering intake temps and seems to be a bit lower when driving, still looks like it is getting the heatsoak when stopped.

Not hard to put in, but it does take a while, you need to have a gasket each side of it

[hazrd]

What does it do?

[vwthunder]

Reduces the intake temp by seperating the intake manifold from the head, so the heads heat is not transfered as heatsoak into the intake manifold

[Greg Roles]

An absolutley great idea if you have metal inlet manifold. If it's plastic, effect will be marginal at best.

[Buller_Scott]

where's the link on ECS?

[vwthunder]

Volkswagen Golf IV 1.8T > Engine > Intake > Power Gasket > ES#1393 Power Gasket Plus - NSPG18T (http://www.ecstuning.com/Volkswagen-Golf_IV--1.8T/Engine/Intake/Power_Gasket/ES1393/)

[Buller_Scott]

cheers troy :)

[VWindahouse]

Lads I also have the power gasket installed and the results must be more benefit than not. Before it went in if you put your hand on the intake manifold after a decent drive in Brisbane you would probably leave half a hands worth of skin on there, but with the power gasket it's quite cool to touch. They say that every 10 degrees of heat you loose approx 1% of power so it must be helping at least a little.

And also I think there may be some confusion. The link provided is for the power gasket. Relatively thin and no gaskets as Troy mentioned. Then there is the phenolic spacer as noone posted in the first post. There is a huge difference imo. The phenolic is about 2-3 times thicker and is ridgid, so both keeping the heat from the head further away and absorbing the transfer heat better. It seems to made from a different compound resin that sets hard. It also comes with gaskets and longer manifold bolts to be used because of the thickness. I rekon it's the way to go for sure and here is the link

Intake Manifold Spacer, 1.8t, Phenolic - 034 MOTORSPORT (http://www.034motorsport.com/engine-components-18t-intake-manifold-spacer-18t-phenolic-p-764.html?osCsid=jervdaadei0osep6gov14on2f4)

[Greg Roles]

Yep a true "phenolic spacer" is about 8mm plus thick, it needs to have a physical space, otherwise radiated heat will just jump the gap. Phenolic is a ceramic like plastic, and it's what the insulators that hold up powerlines are made of, it is a very unusual brittle material.

[noone]

Not hard to put in, but it does take a while, you need to have a gasket each side of it

I've not heard of this, I've seen people use a sealant, but not 2 gaskets as well as the spacer.

Do you have any info on this being required?

As for the pro's / con's, I too agree that if the intake is cool, that can only be a good thing, but the measurable results tend to be modest. I think with the sensitive electronics involved in the ignition timing, etc, a little less heat in the air coming into the engine may help in stop / start traffic.

The con is the effort involved, does not look like easy access to all the bolts...

[vwthunder]

I read somewhere on VOrtex about putting a gasket each side, I didnt even see the info on ECS about not using any.

Oh well, they were only $10 each, not that hard to put in, once the fuel rail and injectors are moved out of the way, they bolts are quiet easy to get to, providing you have the Hex attachment for your rachet

[Greg Roles]

You need a gasket, or sealant, each side as phenolic is hard and non compressive, and their may be leaks if installed dry.

[Bug_racer]

You need a gasket, or sealant, each side as phenolic is hard and non compressive, and their may be leaks if installed dry.

There is a few different types of materials that are used , some require sealant others dont , you need to read the instructions in the packet !

[Greg Roles]

OK didn't realise, I did a lot of work in the late 90's with a Starion and phenolic, and all I could find after extensive searching was hard, brittle stuff. Perhaps that has changed, or perhaps they are using materials other than true Phenolic.