Here's my Mondeo airbox delete using an AEM DryFlow air filter, basically a washable K&N with no oil.

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And here's a log from my EMU Black ECU showing true IATs under different conditions:

Normal driving at 24c:

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Under load accelerating to 5,445 rpm and holding 24c

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At idle and rising to a maximum of 43c

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The reality is IATs only rise to very slight performance limiting levels at idle where it really doesn't matter a jot, as soon as you're on the move IATs fall rapidly to a more than acceptable and super consistent 24c. The only benefit offered by the Mondeo airbox is it will keep IATs a little lower at idle where it really doesn't matter anyway, and maybe a microscopic performance benefit when the driver wants to accelerate hard after an extended period at idle, but the performance gain will be so tiny as to be imperceivable.

Any restriction the Mondeo airbox creates remains untested as I'd replaced it with the open AEM DryFlow filter before fitting the EMU Black ECU, however, the truth about air cleaners is assuming your MaP reading is reaching 100 kPa (atmospheric pressure) there is no restriction. Ford would have extensively tested the Mondeo airbox on a 143hp Duratec and also would have ensured it could cope with 20% more flow than the standard engine could ever hope to create and still hit 100 kPa, so I'd suggest assuming you're not exceeding 172hp you're probably best off retaining the Mondeo airbox for its small IAT benefit at idle and the noise reduction it will give over an open filter.

I haven't put Monty on the rolling road yet but all the evidence in the Duratec tuning world suggests the list changes I've made should be delivering over 200hp, this and my dislike for for plastic is why I deleted my Mondeo airbox, sure there's a tiny IAT negative at idle in going with an open filter but given my plan was to significantly exceed 172hp it made perfect sense to fit the AEM DryFlow.

It also looks the part and delivers a wicked induction howl evil

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