Insulate Intake Duct

[Architect]

I have been wanting to insulate the pipe on my K&N Air Charger intake...
but, I couldn't find a good method...
Cold air more dense than warm air...etc...
You guys know that stuff...:D
I wrapped the pipe with an aluminum faced water pipe insulating tape....
2" wide by approximately 1/8" thick...
Then I covered that with 2" wide aluminum tape...the kind used to seal Heating and A/C ducts...
I think it should substantially reduce the air temperture increase (caused by engine heat)from the intake to where it reaches the manifold...
I'm sure I won't be able to feel any difference, but I bet a before and after dyno would...:D
Architect

[GrazniM]

Nice job! (And I thought I was nuts :D ) I did just about the same thing as you;

1) Heavy duty aluminum foil, w spot high-temp metal duct tape (Nashua) to hold it all together.
2) Foil faced Insulation tape (like duct tape)
3) Final wrap of Nashua high-temp metal tape
4) K&N Decal

Really, it probably dosn't need it, as the air pretty-much roars right up the pipe into the throttle body - but it can't hurt either, and it covers the plasticy looking K&N unit. Pics attached....


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[Breadfan]

Looks cool, would be neat to see an IAT reading before and after!

BTW those pics are making me hungry for a Chipotle burrito...

[Go Mifuni]

BTW those pics are making me hungry for a Chipotle burrito...
Mmmmm... Homewrecker. 20oz of pure love!
Welcome to Moe's! :drool:

[Raudermaster]

Good idea, but it doesn't look good for me lol.

[larryo340]

Hey, wouldn't header wrap be a better insulator? If it can keep the heat in, I'm sure it can keep heat out.

[GrazniM]

Looks cool, would be neat to see an IAT reading before and after!

BTW those pics are making me hungry for a Chipotle burrito...

Too late for me to get a "before" temp...(without ripping it all off) an "after" temp would be meaningless without it. Didn't think of it at the time :censor:

[GrazniM]

Good idea, but it doesn't look good for me lol.

Your pic didn't come through

[Raudermaster]

I don't have a pic. What I meant was that, to me that would be an eyesore when I pop the hood.

[Paul]

I don't have a pic. What I meant was that, to me that would be an eyesore when I pop the hood.


Come on, don't be shy now...

Tell us how you really feel!!

[Raudermaster]

Personally, I don't like it. I'm sure it serves a good purpose, but like I said, it's an eye sore.

[Blackmobile]

Nice job! (And I thought I was nuts :D ) I did just about the same thing as you;

1) Heavy duty aluminum foil, w spot high-temp metal duct tape (Nashua) to hold it all together.
2) Foil faced Insulation tape (like duct tape)
3) Final wrap of Nashua high-temp metal tape
4) K&N Decal

Really, it probably dosn't need it, as the air pretty-much roars right up the pipe into the throttle body - but it can't hurt either, and it covers the plasticy looking K&N unit. Pics attached....


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11642

I was thinking of doing the same thing, but I'd still paint it black.

[GrazniM]

I hear ya - the K&N tube looked fine in pics, but when I got it and put it on it looked so cheap in that engine bay... that my foil-homebrew seemed like an improvement to me.:o



I don't have a pic. What I meant was that, to me it would be an eyesore when I pop the hood.

[GrazniM]

That's a pretty good idea


I was thinking of doing the same thing, but I'd still paint it black.

[Architect]

I hear ya - the K&N tube looked fine in pics, but when I got it and put it on it looked so cheap in that engine bay... that my foil-homebrew seemed like an improvement to me.:o
Everyone to their own opinion of what looks good and/or does not...;)
I was a little concerned too...
What I found was most folks think it looks kind of "serious business" or
Speed Technical"...:cool:
Not meant to be pretty....
Architect

[magindat]

I was thinking of doing the same thing, but I'd still paint it black.

Don't do it, Ed. I'll get you some heat-reject dynamat. It will look smooth and not all wrinkly.

I don't mind the silver, but the wrinkly doesn't get it for me.

I think black exhaust wrap would have looked better.

[Blackmobile]

Don't do it, Ed. I'll get you some heat-reject dynamat. It will look smooth and not all wrinkly.

I don't mind the silver, but the wrinkly doesn't get it for me.

I think black exhaust wrap would have looked better.

Well to help hide the wrinkles I was thinking of using, what I call Grip paint. Stuff that can be sprayed on the handles of tools. It's more of a texture than just paint.

[Blackmobile]

Putting more thought into it, I'd split the covering down the middle and velcro it on so it can be used at the track ( Where who cares what it looks like) and then remove it when at shows and stuff.

[Bobmiddle]

The K&N tube is made of ABS Plastic which does not conduct heat very well. So IMO this mod would work better on a metal tube system and you will see little to no difference on the K&N system.

[gdmjoe]

FWIW and FYC ( as an IMO esthetic alternative ) .....

While my CV set-up may be considerably different than that of the Marauders', the concept would be the same ..... reduce the heat-soak to the intake tube ( especially from the heat generated from the exhaust manifold / header ).

By attaching a sheet of Cool-It Aluminized Heat Barrier™ to the bottom of an inexpensive stainless steel heat shield ( bought at eBay® ) and attaching that to the intake tube, the temperature of the intake tube was lowered an average of 100+degrees.

I've read that for every 10degree drop in air intake temperature, that there is a 1% increase in power.

The set-up .....

http://www.geocities.com/gdmjoe/sh01.jpg
*Set-up details (http://www.crownvic.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=780640&site_id=1#import) <<<<< -click-

Recent measurements ( after a 45mile trip with the cruise control set @ an MPH inexcess of 70MPH ) .....


ambient air temperature - 82degrees ( as per the EATC's outside air temperature. ).
IAT - 78degrees *As measured with an AeroForce scan-guage.
air intake tube temperature - 86degrees*
under-side of heat shield of the air intake tube - 192degrees*
throttle body housing - 86degrees*

*Measured with a MicroTemp MTPRO non-contact, hand-held laser therometer after stopping the vehicle.

Some caveats .....

Have a cowl hood.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/10/web/2206000-2206999/2206612_134_full.jpg
Was using a RamAirIntake
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/10/web/2206000-2206999/2206612_129_full.jpg

[Architect]

FWIW and FYC ( as an IMO esthetic alternative ) .....

While my CV set-up may be considerably different than that of the Marauders', the concept would be the same ..... reduce the heat-soak to the intake tube ( especially from the heat generated from the exhaust manifold / header ).

By attaching a sheet of Cool-It Aluminized Heat Barrier™ to the bottom of an inexpensive stainless steel heat shield ( bought at eBay® ) and attaching that to the intake tube, the temperature of the intake tube was lowered an average of 100+degrees.

I've read that for every 10degree drop in air intake temperature, that there is a 1% increase in power.

The set-up .....

Excellent Idea and looks good to boot....
What is the brand and description of your wheels...they really look outstanding....:beer:
Architect

[gdmjoe]

Architect ... What is the brand and description of your wheels...
Ford Racing Performance Parts 18"x8½" Bullitt black - part # M-1007-S1885B

[Blackened300a]

I like your intake tube set-up a lot better then the aluminum foil wrap method.
I like form as well as function and opening the hood to see wrapping like that around my intake would make me not want to show my engine off.