[Al_335xi]

What does removing the charcoal filter do? Will it cause problems or improve?

[LMB335IS]

Originally Posted by Al_335xi

What does removing the charcoal filter do? Will it cause problems or improve?

The N54 motor doesn't have one. On the N52 it's in the intake and removing it makes more intake noise and slightly less restriction from what I gather.

[jt335i]

That charcoal filter you’re referring is the hydrocarbon charcoal emissions filter that prevents evaporative emissions, via the intake manifold, from entering the atmosphere. These emissions are a particular problem when the engine is turned off and the intake manifold is hot. This source of air pollution has received considerable attention from the federal and state governments, a la the California Air Resources Board (CARB) which effectively sets the maximum air pollution exhaust standards for all motor vehicles sold in the United States, therefore they passed a regulation which requires that a hydrocarbon trap filter be connected in series with the air intake of most motor vehicle internal combustion engines with the goal of reducing these evaporative emissions.

You could possibly get a CEL light if you remove it, but it won’t hurt the engine.
Removing it will free up some air flow and give you little better throttle response, but it’s not going to give you a major HP boost that you will really feel.

[Volasko]

Originally Posted by jt335i

You could possibly get a CEL light if you remove it, but it won’t hurt the engine.

JT335i: Everything you said is on point, except the line about the CEL light. Removing the filter will not cause an error code. I have been running a charcoal delete for about 5 years without issue.

[jt335i]

Originally Posted by Volasko

JT335i: Everything you said is on point, except the line about the CEL light. Removing the filter will not cause an error code. I have been running a charcoal delete for about 5 years without issue.

Cool. Thanks bro for the clarification.


Yeah. This hydocarbon charcoal filter brought back memories of 2005 when new retro style Mustangs came out. In the early month 2005 GT models, people noticed them in their intakes and started removing them and when they did the CEL light kicked on. Luckily, when I bought my 2005 Stang GT new a few months later in July 2005 (hard to believe that was 11 years ago already) I noticed it did not have the hydrocarbon trap when I was swapping it out with a CAI.

[Wilt]

Originally Posted by Al_335xi

What does removing the charcoal filter do? Will it cause problems or improve?

It might improve the airflow, yet damage the environment more while doing so.