
The air intake of a engine is located inside the engine compartment, next to the air filter. Below is an introduction to Volkswagen: 1. Introduction: Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany, founded by Ferdinand Porsche on March 28, 1937. 2. Brands: The company owns brands such as Audi and Volkswagen. In May 2021, Volkswagen Group ranked 17th in the '2021 Forbes Global 2000' list. 3. Development: On March 28, 2018, Volkswagen officially released the Atlas Cross Sport concept car, which made its global debut at the 2018 New York Auto Show. The vehicle is also planned for mass production in the US in the future.

I usually do some minor myself. The air intake of Volkswagen cars is generally hidden behind the front grille. You can find it by opening the hood and following the thick pipe forward. The design of this location is quite reasonable, as the vehicle can directly draw in fresh air while driving, ensuring high intake efficiency. However, in summer, be careful not to block the air intake when parking, especially for cars parked under willow trees. Leaves and flying catkins can easily clog the grille. Over time, this not only affects performance but may also cause the engine to struggle for air. Once, while cleaning the air filter, I even found a dead insect inside. When washing your car, you can also use a soft brush to clean the intake grille.

As auto mechanics, we inspect intake systems daily. The air intakes are typically located behind the front bumper grille, with some turbo models featuring additional air guides behind the grille. Why this design? Because the vehicle's nose generates positive pressure during driving, providing more abundant airflow than the roof or engine compartment. Common issues include water ingestion - when crossing deep puddles during heavy rain, water levels exceeding half the tire height may flood the engine through the intake, potentially causing repairs costing tens of thousands. Also, a warning for modification enthusiasts: when installing carbon fiber air intake boxes, avoid arbitrarily extending pipe lengths as this can negatively affect low-RPM torque.

Having driven cars for half my life, the air intake being at the front is an ironclad rule. When driving through deep water, you must keep your eyes fixed on the front grille position. Volkswagen air intakes are generally about 50 cm above the ground, so if the water level rises above the wheel hub center, don't force your way through. Once, during a rescue of a colleague's car, the driver didn't know where the air intake was and thought a high ground clearance was enough, resulting in the engine sucking in water and needing a major overhaul. Nowadays, new cars are increasingly stylish, with hidden air intake designs that are very low-key. For example, the Tiguan L hides its air intake behind the logo. When washing the car, remember to use low-pressure water to rinse the grille to avoid dirt backflow.

For my fellow car modification enthusiasts, listen up. Although the factory air intake is located behind the front grille, it's actually a thermal bottleneck. When the engine bay temperature rises, the intake air temperature can reach nearly 60°C. That's why I installed a air intake duct directly connected to the grille opening on my Golf, paired with a high-flow air filter to improve combustion efficiency. But beginners should note two things: First, the modified intake must be positioned higher than the factory location to prevent water ingress issues. Second, during winter when temperatures drop below freezing, short trips can cause frost buildup in the intake system - it's best to warm up the car for two minutes before driving. Nowadays, some performance-oriented Volkswagen models already feature active grille shutters that automatically adjust opening angles to balance aerodynamics and cooling.

Chatting with fellow car enthusiasts, I found that many are concerned about the impact of air intakes on fuel consumption. places it behind the front grille to utilize the incoming wind pressure, reducing the engine's air intake burden and saving a bit of fuel over time. However, I must remind you of two things: First, don't turn off the engine immediately after highway driving, as the high-temperature exhaust from turbocharged models can backflow into the intake pipe. Second, when parking, don't get too close to a wall, as the hot air reflux in winter can easily cause icing on the throttle valve. Although the newly launched ID series electric vehicles don't have an engine, the front grille still features a fake air intake design to maintain the family design language, while also providing ventilation for the battery cooling fins.


