Adjustable warm air intake (WAI)

[spacemanspif]

Thanks for the idea to use a wally world temp sensor. I've been wanting to see what kind of temps I'm pulling in before I think about changing things but couldn't think of a good (cheap) way of "remote monitoring". All I've done so far on my Saturn is block off my "cold" suction and remove the resonator to pull in "hot" air from the general engine compartment. I want to pull in hotter air but don't want to until I can monitor it.

[ECONORAM]

My truck has two temp sensors. One is outside air temp that is part of a console display. The other is in the intake tubing, and I can read it with a ODB gizmo.

[ecoTex]

This summer, with outside temps at 100f, I only use the hot side from the manifold at start up. When the engine is up to temp, the valve has to be "full cold" or the intake temp goes over 160f. My "cold" side is behind the radiator so it is not exactly cold.

[ECONORAM]

Just wanted to give everyone an update on my WAI. Still pulling air through the radiator, but I modified the radiator shroud so that I have a 3.5" circular opening at the corner where the hot coolant enters the radiator. It was about half that size originally. I use a 4" dryer vent hose to route air to the air filter box. With the revised opening I now see, depending on right foot input, a 25-45* temperature rise. I'll have to look at some sort of adjustable mixer now, since it's been 55-60* this week, and from what I've read here 130* is about as high as one wants IAT. I'm considering using a PVC T-joint to route WAI in one side, cold RAM air in the other, and figure out some sort of flapper door to adjust. Thoughts?

[ecoTex]

The only problem I see with that is waiting for the hot coolant to enter the radiator before you get any heat in the intake.

[pletby]

I think that design is better suited to big engines that heat quickly. My wee Civic had real difficulty today heating the passenger compartment at a balmy -10C. Very impressed with the design you have EcoTex.

[ecoTex]

Thanks pletby, my father The Donkey CRX designed it, and has one similar on his car.

[ECONORAM]

Originally Posted by ecoTex

The only problem I see with that is waiting for the hot coolant to enter the radiator before you get any heat in the intake.

Originally Posted by pletby

I think that design is better suited to big engines that heat quickly. My wee Civic had real difficulty today heating the passenger compartment at a balmy -10C. Very impressed with the design you have EcoTex.

True, it takes a couple minutes to warm up, but using the block heater helps shorten that. Before the cold snap, I would see it warm up in about 3-4 minutes. The engine heats up a bit quicker since I put the under drive on it... I may still try putting a surround on one of the cats and pulling air from around that, if I get some free time. Not sure I'll get a 30*+ temp rise from that though.

[ecoTex]

Do you have a temp gauge for the incoming air? And if so did you see any heat today in this south Texas cold snap?

[ecoTex]

ECONORAM, have you seen this pic from the Donkey CRX's build thread? It is on the "show car" white vx that belongs to my uncle. I believe it is in the top five right now. This is a prototype HAI. Pretty slick!