I see where your coming from...

But wouldn't 65 degree air cool down the IAT? I mean, you are pulling it in at a rapid rate (assuming the car is moving). Does the MAF make a/f decisions based on temp and air flow?

I mean if what you are stating is the case then there is really no point in getting an CAI aside from airflow?

 

Personally i think there isn't one.

And I've yet to see some definitive comparison Dyno's with stock, altered stock, CAI, and SRI.

Another point is that most aftermarket intakes use metal for teh piping, which is great at absorbing and holding heat when compared with plastic - but hey they do look soooo nice don't they ;)

 

The IAT may be dangling down in the airstream, but within a matter of minutes at idle, all of the parts have heatsoaked; as you mentioned, the air is travelling through the piping rather briskly, so it has little time to draw the heat out of the plastic/rubber... so the IAT cools down just as slowly as the rest of the materials around it.

My intake is a true CAI: it intakes air from outside the car, and it makes every effort to keep the plumbing as heatsoak-resistant as possible.

 

Yo Doc,

Does the MAF make a/f decisions based on temp and air flow? Does this sensor work in conjunction with the IAT?

 

This is true.

 

The MAF and the IAT are right there together at the exit from the airbox. The ECU makes fuel decisions based on airflow and temp from those sensors.

 

Well from what I've notice that general region (airbox) doesn't get that hot, in compairson to other components in the engine bay.

But I guess you do what you can to make it cooler.

 

More accurately, you should emphasize "not that hot". Every 10º of increased air temp is roughly equivalent to a 1% loss in power. Fifty degrees above ambient will cost you 5%, or about 7.5hp to the wheels. People spend $200-300+ for 7.5whp. Every little bit counts.

 

Nice setup Doc.

 

I hacked the airbox on the VW and noticed small gains... and I just hacked the airbox on the TC and noticed even better gains.

In your setup, you're pulling air through a 2-inch pipe. I took a boxcutter, scissors, and pliers and managed to cut out the majority of the bottom right side, around the opening. The whole corner on that side is gone, save for the attachement to the upper airbox.

Much much louder, and much more throttle responsive. It PROBABLY gained a few, but i can't back it up. Feels like an SRI to me. Certainly worth the hour of labor.

I suggest you do it too.. and if you're not happy, then go with intake.

 

I was actually thinking about cutting out the whole side where the airbox inlet is... but then I was thinking how its not reversible.

I might even inquire about ordering a spare bottom portion of the airbox.

 

Would you happen to have some pics?
I can picture it my head, but for some reason thats not good enough..

Maybe even a sound clip/video, you know... to prove to the naysayers.

 

It's not pretty at all, but I can probably get some pics. Lots of rough edges, but since it faces downward and away, you have to specifically look to see it.

As far as sound.. a video will be tough to do, but I'll try. Its definitley a lot louder, and sounds great.

 

Well plastic is easy to grind down, so you can make it pretty, LOL

 

sorry to bring this back from the dead but doc is this the hose that you used?
file:///c:/WINDOWS/Desktop/viewtopic.php?t=80063&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=&sid=d652c42dc509a671ff9ef3e1d9fad6c9

 

Link doesn't work.

 

I ran this mod for a while... it was good for the time being, but please note that it probably is not as effective as a wrapped CAI.

I wrapped the CAI with some 1/4-inch pipe wrap from Lowe's, and it has basically eliminated heatsoak. Some guys at the last autocross with fully built b18's were asking where I got it, since it was way more effective than the thin reflective stuff they were using.

I will get a measure of my IAT's soon. If you're in an area that big brother is watching (cali), then I highly suggest going through with Doc. I's method.

 

I'm still really happy with the GFI. It's basicaly inexpensive (all of the parts to complete all 3 stages, including the filter are only ~$120), it dramatically reduces heatsoak, intakes ambient-temp air, and looks stock enough so as not to attract attention. I like the zero-bling factor of it.

 

$120?
Interesting, so...
Spectre parts: ~$60
Flexpipe: ~$8
K&N drop-in filter: ~$40

yeah?

 

^^^ That's about dead-on.