Torque Tube / Cool Blue hose - What do you like/Choose

[Tomeygun]

Pretty simple little poll



Please vote for your favorite of the two based unon what you will buy OR have bought:



Torque tube

OR Cool blue Hose

OR OTHER intake tube/hose

 

[JVolpe]

I have the original powder coated metal AFE Torque Tube. I think I would rather have the new plastic AFE Torque Tube. The metal Torque Tube does get fairly hot, dont know if the air is heated in anyway because of it, but plastic should eliminate the metal heat retention. The Cool Blue tube looks a little weaker or flimsy. Just my . 02.

 

[Tomeygun]

I have the original powder coated metal AFE Torque Tube. I think I would rather have the new plastic AFE Torque Tube. The metal Torque Tube does get fairly hot, dont know if the air is heated in anyway because of it, but plastic should eliminate the metal heat retention. The Cool Blue tube looks a little weaker or flimsy. Just my . 02.

Good to hear, I ordered a new torque tube to test and I might get me a cool blue too to test too and then keep/sell the ones I like (i hope the new design TT does not look to cheap though... )



Also, That was my thought too on the cool Blue, though I have never actually saw one, so I would not know how sturdy they are...

 

[JVolpe]

tomeygun,



Let me know what you think about the plastic AFE tube. The other advantage to plastic is no chance of corrosion.

 

[thejeepdude]

I got the metal torque tube and would have gotten the cool blue hose otherwise. The new plastic TT stinks, IMO. It flows less, and temperature is really a non-issue. The volume of air and the speed at which it flows through the intake tube is so great, any heat transfer from the engine compartment would be negligible. Besides, it's going to get a lot hotter as it's compressed anyways. Also, the metal TT flows better than the new 1 piece stage 2 kit and doesn't require a 5" filter, which is not neccessary and hasn't proven to flow any more than the 4". The 5" to 4" tapered design of the new tube looks good in theory on paper, but that's about it as far as I can tell. Besides, I powdercoated mine RED... can't do that with plastic!

 

[bpenrod]

I have a plastic Torque Tube, I think it is the new one but it is the same size throughout, no taper. It comes with a 2" and 3" boot to install it but I like the extra coverage of the 3" so I ordered one to replace the 2" boot. Overall I like it alot, definately makes more boost than the stock hoses and the Airaid MIT I had. I like the look of the cool blue but didn't see it until after I had the TT.

 

[Hercules130]

i have the cool blue hose. it is very stiff silicon with a couple of metal reinforcing bands on the inside. i am happy with it, but when i step up to the full intake i am going to get the MAC intake. it has a shiny stainless tube with what looks like 45 degree bends instead of the 90's like the cool blue. also, on the filter, the end of it has filter surface instead of just a cap so it can suck the cool air from the fender.

 

[nickleinonen]

i am using my own home brew torque tube, but i prefer the look of the cool blue hose... if i could get that to work with my bhaf arrangement, i'd really consider it

 

[2broke2smoke]

good post/question Tommygun ...



i was wondering the same thing ...



i'm just gonna wait 'till indy and look at 'em all side by side then buy one there ...



i'll just install it saturday in the parking lot while watching the festivities

 

[Tomeygun]

good post/question Tommygun ...

i was wondering the same thing ...

i'm just gonna wait 'till indy and look at 'em all side by side then buy one there ...



i'll just install it saturday in the parking lot while watching the festivities

Thanks!



I'll bet there will be alot of "buy now, install for ride home" types of purchases



I know mark at TST is bringing quite a few powermax's and the laptop to load programs, yee-haw!

 

[Mark Craig]

We have found from all of our distributor customers retail customers comments that they like the new Rotomolded polymer TT better, it looks like a stock part (important for some folks) and fits easier too. Plus not having the connection in the middle between the metal and rubber elbow on the old style TT is an improvement for flow, no bumps to flow over etc. Probably a non issue with the flow rates we need in our diesels, but better none the less. Anyway just what we hear from our customers and thought you guys would want to know.



Mark @ DPPI

 

[Car_nut57]

Cool Blue Hose

I have the original powder coated metal AFE Torque Tube. I think I would rather have the new plastic AFE Torque Tube. The metal Torque Tube does get fairly hot, dont know if the air is heated in anyway because of it, but plastic should eliminate the metal heat retention. The Cool Blue tube looks a little weaker or flimsy. Just my . 02.

Actually the Cool Blue hose is very strong, it is made with several layers of reinforcement in the same way as the Hump hose connecting to the intercooler which hold up well to the heat and pressure at the turbo discharge. The Cool Hose has some insulating properties to help keep the intake air insulated from under hood heat. The Cool Hose as it comes fits the factory air box location or can easily be trimmed for the best fit for after market intakes such as the Scotty RA3 and RA5.

 

[Diesel Nut]

I have the Metal TT and didn't know about the plastic one. I myself was considering looking into changing out to the Cool Blue Hose because I know anything I can do to reduce the temp going into the turbo will reduce the temp coming out of it.

That, and the blue color is good for like 25 HP!

Right?! Isn't that how it works? :-laf

 

[Tomeygun]

Looky, Looky what UPS happened to drop off today



For ya'll that have not seen a plastic one (or whatever if is made of)

 

[jakemeister]

I had the AFE filter and metal TT on my 03 cummins. The only difference i noticed with just the tube(not the filter) was I could hear the turbo much better... . I like to hear her whistling Put that filter on and boy is it sweet.



On my 05 I just took off the factory plastic tube and cut out the big plus silencer thing in there and put it back on... I heard an immediate difference... it sounds close to the torque tube but just a tad bit quieter... maybe due to no filter yet...coming soon



The metal TT does get hot but its mostly from under hood heat... . Thats my 2 cent from my ear and seat of the pants dyno... .

 

[Tomeygun]

I just got done installing the new TT, and might I add that it is quite a booger when you have an aftermarket turbo. .



My turbo inlet is about 2 inches forward of the stock location because of the shear size of the SP66, So the TT is a bit cocked, So I might try shortening the intake tube that is hanging out of the intake housing



anywho, Guess I need to go for a ceremonial test drive... later!

 

[JCleary]

I have had both the old design AFE and the CBH.



I originally did not like the AFE. The way my '03 is, the air filter gets soaked by rain all the time. The water penetrated the filter and went into the intake. Because the AFE was only powdercoated on the outside, the inside of the pipe corroded. There was a white powdery substance all over the inside of the tube that easily flaked off. I had the AFE powdercoated inside and out, and it is GREAT!



I love the sound of the AFE, and that metal tube really carries the sound.



Before powdercoating the AFE, I ordered a CBH to take its place. I received it, and found the quality to be nice. One thing I did not like is that the support rings are bare metal. If water gets in there, they'll corrode as well.



As far as the sound, the CBH allows the turbo whine to be heard, but there's a resonance in the AFE that the CBH does not have.



If I had to pick one to stick with, it would be the powdercoated AFE

 

[Tomeygun]

BTW... . (after the ride)





Large aftermarket turbo w/o silencer ring - $1500

AFE intake - $250

Torque tube - $99

-------------------------



Getting mistaken for a bi-state bus due to turbo whistle - PRICELESS

 

[crobertson1]

I just installed my aFe Stage II with Torque Tube. I must say, it's going to be difficult for my wife not notice the sound and ask what the heck that's from. I may be in trouble.



I thought I'd notice a few more pounds of boost, but I don't. Does the filter come pre-oiled? I can't tell.

 

[Jengle]

The aFe comes pre-oiled. Tom, from the sounds of it, I guess I will be replacing the TT when the new turbo goes on. BTW, I got the original metal one.