If you look at this pic, you will see a warmup emissions device indicated by the arrow.

I haven't been inside there, but I'm guessing there is a flap that is actuated by vacuum, and could be restricting some airflow.

Any thoughts on this? What about removing the whole snorkel itself, to help increase airflow potential?

Could be the poor man's intake This will be my morning project tomorrow, as you have to take the bumper off to get the snorkel out.

 

That is part of the intake track (Third/second port? forgot what everyone else called), it is suppose to open ~ 6200 at WOT, but from what I have tested with a LED, the ECU send out the signal to open this port at 5500rpm regardless of throttle position. If you remove that piece of intake, you might loose some low end torque. . . Without replacing the stock intake & filter, I don't think it's worth the effort.

Btw, the warmup emission device is the air pump (aka smog pump) which is located near the passager side in the engine bay.

If you happen to squeeze yourself in there, let us know what you see :D maybe you might find some tiny horse in there

 

The stubby intake tract you found is the one that opens up at 7000+ revs, to maintain the power band.

No need to jam its little door open or attack the vacuum servo, the control for it is behind the air filter box, a little to the left.

You will see an electrical connector on a vacuum switch- the servo is 'vacuum-to shut', so to open it, just disconnect the signal. No power, no vacuum, tract stays open all the time.

You may notice a little more intake howl, you probably won't notice the subtle loss of mid range torque due to the wrong length of the intake path......

Looks like there is no benefit to keeping it open.
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Thanks for the info guys!

On some cars, the flap, when open will still restrict the flow patch, so that's what I'll be investigating


I'll have to check the insides of the airbox tomorrow for the electrical/vacuum switch.

Regardless, it'll be a good learning experience on taking a bumper off the rx8, and some good pics will help the community

The intake snorkel is HUGE compared to other cars on the market!!!! Hats off to Mazda for that one!!

 

Correction, that port is opening at 5500, which comfirmed my finding.

The picture below is referenced from this thread

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...threadid=10321


I guess I've been digging around the engine for quite sometime, the attach pic was taken sometime ago.

ps: Thanks for bring up this topic, which point to my incorrect wiring for my DIY MAF modifier which intended to operate when the third track open at 6250rpm onward. . . I'm also learning new thing everyday