I was looking at another 96 Maxima and I noticed that their front air tube (not sure what it's called) has some rubber foam along the edge.



I noticed that I don't have any foam on my car, so does anyone know why the foam is there?

 

I'm not sure what purpose it serves other than trapping any dirt particles going into the air duct/intake. Every Max I believe has this foam if kept stock. But, as time goes on as the car gets older, the foam tends to harden and flake away. Maybe yours did this?

 

mine had it before I took my stock intake off. Might keep your hood from rattling against it? :shrug:

 

Just a stock item - it may touch the bottom of the hood when its closed.

 

Umm, I don't see how it could trap any dirt particles seeing how big the opening is ... that is what your air filter is for.

 

Yeah, I know.... that's why I said I didn't know what other purpose it served other than maybe trapping any possible dirt, along with the air filter (which I failed to mentioned). But, yeah, it makes sense about protecting it from vibration from the hood.

 

bingo

10char

 

It just keeps a good seal for fresh air to get to the air box.

 

uh...what? it's not a seal. it's just a thin foam fold that goes over the lip of the beginning of the stock airbox. i believe that people are right in saying it is to protect it from hitting the hood hard.

 

Just as mentioned before, it does in fact touch the hood when closed (tested it by putting a piece of paper on it and closing the hood). I'm pretty sure it is to prevent the intake from vibrating against the hood. Also that is an air intake that leads to the air box where the filter is.