Warm air intake

[Magician]

After a month or so of using the 13W solar panel to charge, I've determined that in warm weather and for my 15-20 mile commutes daily, my 13W solar panel usually keeps the battery charged as long as I have sunny days. During the colder half of the year, I'm pretty sure I'll have to put the belt back on unless I get a larger panel... a 100 Watt panel will easily do the job based on testing this tiny 13W panel. I was considering one of those flexible panels for the roof, but I may just buy a rigid one as I'm sure it's cheaper and I can angle it for better results. It may be a good idea to consider an AGM battery or Marine battery... I know I switched to LED lights all around, but I still think this will drain down the battery a good amount in bitter months. Time will tell.

[Stubby79]

You might take an aero hit with one not conformed to the shape/top of your roof.

[Magician]

I actually put it on my tailgate and lean it against my glass hatch. Later in the day I move it onto my roof. Works out well. And takes only about 10 seconds to move it. I keep it in the hatch area inside while driving or when parked at night.

[Magician]

What does somebody think of the idea of cutting off the back section (mostly the top section)...from another hatchback from a salvage yard and cut out the center section so I can make it taper toward the rear. This would be a boat tail for it and would somewhat match the body... I'd remove the existing hatch door and make it much more narrow for the new added section and keep it functioning. I think it would add about 3 feet of length. I know I need to lower my drag if I want to see much more improvement and seems like a good idea. Feedback?

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Sounds interesting...

[Magician]

OK... an update on the warm air intake... Works awesome in the Summer... Even with near 100 degree temps. I still have my engine bay heavily insulated as well as the tubing for the intake. This car is killing it in the heat. I'm averaging about 64mpg this tank and climbing. No doubt it is a huge gain and I hope this answers some of those who were wondering when I first put this mod in with the large amount of insulation to keep the intake temps as high as possible. No engine issues and car runs great. I've noticed a large decrease in power, which was expected since it is getting less fuel. Lean burn is a beautiful thing.

[Magician]

Now I have another idea... install a heating element just before the air enters the actual intake manifold. This way the air is heated like in a hair dryer. This way the air is heated even when the engine is cold and perhaps in the winter it will improve fuel economy even more than my warm air intake does. I think this may help in the summer a little, but a lot in the winter. I see they sell these 12V intake heaters for diesel engines... I could easily set it up in my VX...
Also want to insulate by oil pan and put a oil pan heating pad in between the oil pan and insulation for higher efficiency.

[teoman]

The blower part of a hairdryer uses 70W
The heating element part uses 800-1500W of power.

This is not insignificant for your alternator.


You would be better off having a valve drawing directly off your exhaust manifold. Or some kind of heatpipe that you can transfer the heat to the intake. gain you would need some kind of control mechanism for it.

I dont want to sound like i am pushing my own thread, but i calculated the energy requirements for heating the intake air in my steam injection thread.

[Magician]

I already have a tube sucking air off the exhaust manifold. The idea is to heat the air when the car is cold to give it instant hot air until the car reaches temp. Then shut off the heating element. It would only need to run for about 5 minutes or so...maybe 10 minutes max in the winter...

[teoman]

That is roughly 1 to 2 hp.

800W @12V => 66A

But I like the idea. Especially if you have a garage, and have the luxury of starting up the car plugged in to the mains.

I am pretty sure some one will come in a moment and say that an EGR basically achieves the same thing.