Here’s What to Do After Installing Your GTI MK7 Air Intake
You've bolted on that shiny new cold air intake, and the urge to unleash your MK7 GTI's inner beast is strong. More horsepower, sharper throttle response, and that aggressive growl – you're ready to hit the gas, right? Hold on!
Before you floor it, there are a few crucial things to do to ensure you're getting the absolute most out of your upgraded GTI. It's not just about the install; it's also about optimizing your ride for peak performance.
From fine-tuning your engine to keeping that intake in top shape, these essential steps will have you enjoying that power boost for miles to come. Let's dive in so you have an idea of the next best steps to take after installing an air intake.
Unlock Your Intake’s Full Potential with a Tune
If you haven’t already tuned your GTI or Golf R, you should. Completing a tune recalibrates your car’s electronic control unit (ECU) to handle the increased airflow that an intake creates.
By reprogramming the ECU via a Stage 1 tune, you can unleash a whole new level of driving pleasure while maintaining factory reliability. In a nutshell, this translates to:
- More power
- A better throttle response
- An enhanced driving experience
Not only will tuning allow for these benefits, but it also removes your car’s auto start-stop feature and allows for a whole lot more room to complete other improvements and enhancements, including Stage 2 or 3 tunes and plenty of other bolt-on modifications.
Why Choose an IE Tune?
Tuning your car is simple when you choose the right tuning software. When you don’t? It can be more complex.
Many customizable tuning solutions result in extra costs to further optimize the tune with calibrations or additional features. And not many tuning providers offer matching hardware that’s engineered specifically for a specific tune and specific vehicle.
Integrated Engineering plug-and-play ECU software tunes utilize cutting-edge POWERlink technology to help you tune your car in minutes with just a laptop or tablet.
Other Essential Maintenance & Upgrades
So you’ve got an MK7 GTI cold air intake installed already. You’ve completed a tune. What’s next? Here are a few other upgrades and maintenance action items you might want to perform.
Upgrade to a Turbo Inlet Pipe
Upgrading to a turbo inlet pipe after installing your Golf GTI MK7 air intake is a great way to add a bunch of extra airflow, further freeing up your engine for enhanced performance by addressing the bottleneck that occurs with a fully OEM turbo setup.
Clean the Air Intake System
Clean your air intake filterat least once a year, or every 24,000 miles. Check on it periodically, and if it’s visibly dirty (even before that), use an air intake cleaning kit to clean it up.
Learn how to clean an intake here, plus, get product recommendations.
One more Pro Tip: If you live in a harsh climate, consider upgrading to a high-efficiency filter for better debris protection.
Check for Fitment & Rubbing Issues
Check for air intake wear and tear periodically. You especially want to make sure that the small coolant line is rotated in such a way that it is not rubbing on anything.
Buy an Air Intake Lid
We offer polymer air intake lids for the best value and carbon fiber air intake lids for a more aggressive look.
In Conclusion
Installing a cold air intake for your MK7 GTI is a great first step, and IE makes arguably the best cold air intake for the MK7 GTI on the market. But don’t stop there! Tuning your vehicle, adding a turbo inlet pipe, and regularly cleaning and maintaining the system will ensure peak performance. Meanwhile, adding an air intake kit makes for a sporty and impressive looking engine bay.
Still in the market for a new air intake? Shop IE air intakes now.