Celica Forums General Discussion Engine and Performance what is the difference between ram air and forced air?

I know that forced air is considered turbos, superchargers, and even nitrous. but i just want to know why ram air and forced air aren't the same? its all just air being shoved into the intake, isn't it? to me it seems the same, but it doesn't produce the same hp gains. are the turbo and supercharger speeds that much faster than the speeds your traveling. turbos are fed by exhaust. it s only spittin out how much is goin in right? same with superchargers. its run by how fast your going. so if your goin 50mph is that wind traveling at 50mph or faster? it seems that air flowing into a ram air hood would have the same affect, or does the air not have anywhere to go. does the forced air go b/c it has a turbine constantly pushing it in. what exactly is keepin it the ram air from goin in? is the exhaust not exiting fast enough or is it something else.
any help would be greatly appreciated. im not the greatest when it comes to how the internals work. i only know the basics.

let it go buy a turbo

Turbo and superchargers compress the air, thus allowing the engine to take in more air in the same volume. Ram air makes it easier for the intake to suck in more air faster, but it is still the same amount of air per compression cycle.

thats a good idea! you can mail me 3-4 grand. i won't mind at all.

thanks alot, thats all i needed to know.

i completely understand now. i wasn't thinking about more oxygen. i was thinking about more air. the more oxygen and gas is better. not just faster air and gas. sorry guys. that helped alot.

I don't agree. how do you make more power at one point if there is always the same amount of air per compression cycle, or compression stroke? or are you referring to something else by "compression cycle"? if you are, I don't know what you mean. please explain.

assuming correct design and fabrication, the effect of the air being collected into a pressure point at high speeds creates higher than atmospheric pressure on a filter surface (street application). the greater pressure on the outside of the filter results in more air inside the intake system at greater than atmospheric pressure. this results in more air molecules consumed on each intake stroke and more molecules compressed on each compression stroke.

air from a ram air system at speed is also compressed at higher than atmospheric pressure, albeit not much higher. however ram air is not put into the same category as the devices comprising forced induction because it is on the whole...natural, dependent on the environment (air) acting on the car, not as effective and NOT dependent on a function of the car's engine as the sophisticated systems in forced induction (F/I) are. thus ram air is still counted as normally aspirated or naturally aspirated (N/A) and is used by pro sport compact all-motor racers. btw, normally/naturally aspirated is the same as all-motor.

trikdcelica, I highly recommend you go to howstuffworks.com and read up on superchargers, turbos, and nitrous oxide systems.

you may say you don't have the cash for a turbo or S/C, but to be honest if you go with ram air you may just end up with a funky looking CAI (cold air intake) coming out of the left side of your hood. Though I'm sure it will perform well because the tube will have one bend, and it will be short.
IMO if you want to go all-motor, just get a TPR cold air intake.
That is unless you have deep pockets to empty on R&D for a ram air system that will work for the Celica. and if you were that serious, you'd develop an intake manifold to work with individual throttle bodies. $$$ not to mention the MAP sensor conversion to work with them. that would have the best ram air effect. and then you would have a hood scoop low and in the center of the hood!

hey man, i'm just a guy that asked some questions about stuff i didn't know that much about. i didn't say i was clueless. i also asked for help not criticizms. if i did, i would have went to Criticizms.com what the other guy said (about compressed air) makes sense to me. what you said makes sense too. i think he was saying that the air was compressed more/volume than ram air.

who is criticizing whom? there's such a thing as an opinion and an opinion of what is good advice at that. take it or leave it. if I were you, I would get used to forum discussions. nothing personal of course, and I mean it.

Which type of system would you recommend throwing on your car? (Turbo or S/C)I understand how each of the systems work but I have no previous experience or know any body who does. Please help me out.

Turbo. more efficient and mroe power then SC. but SC is less invasive to engine. both void warrenty unless you get toyoita to do their SC but only seen it done twice and both were cusotm. slvceli is the most kick ass one with it