Intake tract reflective insulation

[Grant 302]

Been meaning to do this for a while on the GT and finally got around to putting some on today. I only got to the intake tube, lower part of the filter box facing the engine bay and the inlet through the radiator support. It was about 90* out when I went for short test drive this afternoon. Just wanted to get some casual baseline data with an IR temp gun. Two temps stood out. The filter box top which is still uncovered was 103* and the silver tube was only 87*. Last night on the same drive without the insulation it was about 76* out and the two temps were 121* and 117* respectively.


Lower side:

Inlet behind radiator support:



This is just the reflective material here:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hsp-721202/overview/
not the type with a thin 1/8" 'glass mat:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hsp-180021/overview/

 

[Grant 302]

Took a few more temps running after around on the freeway and I'm not sure that the IR gun can take reliable temps from a reflective surface. It was 80* out and the intake tube had wildly varying readings from 67* to 107* and everything not covered on the intake tract was 140* to 160* or so. The foil was cooler to the touch than any of the surrounding plastic or rubber parts, but that's to be expected since the foil has a lower specific heat. I just don't get how the foil could even have spot temps under ambient.

Maybe one of those stick on thermometers would work if I can find one for the right temp range.

 

[WorldFamousZ]

Keeping heat away from the intake tube / filter is never a bad thing. Cheap to do and works too. I had gold heat wrap on my past projects and measured intake air temps significantly lower.

 

[Grant 302]

No such plans for your Boss? On my old '00 GT I measured big differences between a metal 'CAI' and a plastic/ABS one and there were differences between 20 to 30 degrees or so at idle less once rolling. It was much easier to check on that car since I did a lot of data logging. So I've been hopeful that the reflective insulation would have improvement.

Finished the rest of the box today:




Took a few more temps today, and I think it reads pretty accurately point blank. Ambient was about 70*, and taking the temps quickly after stopping I got around 85 to 90 on most of the intake. Exposed parts were in the 103 to 120 range.

 

[Cobra700]

Came out looking real nice. I wanna get mine done with the gold stuff. Hopefully I have the patience and comes out nice like yours.

 

[Grant 302]

Came out looking real nice. I wanna get mine done with the gold stuff. Hopefully I have the patience and comes out nice like yours.

Thanks! I think my only useful tip would be to start on the underside or less visible parts first.