CAI air temp

[60OMSIN]

I'm wondering once the outside air enters a CAI box if it's being reheated again(and by how much) by the fact that is in the engine compartment?

[05_NISMO_4X4]

My scan gauge reports intake air temps of between 80 to 120 degrees, depending on outside air temps. I have the AirAid CAI. I need to pull it off one of these days and run the stock air box again to see if there is any difference!

[60OMSIN]

I wonder why no one has come out with an insulated version unless it does not a difference as far as keeping the temp lower because the air is moving rather quickly already inside the CAI.

I have one of these remote sensor thermometer and I will check it out today.

[Echelon]

Originally Posted by 60OMSIN

I wonder why no one has come out with an insulated version unless it does not a difference as far as keeping the temp lower because the air is moving rather quickly already inside the CAI.

I have one of these remote sensor thermometer and I will check it out today.

Yeah, if you could do a comparison between stock and the CAI air temp, that would be useful info. Kudos.

[60OMSIN]

Originally Posted by Echelon

Yeah, if you could do a comparison between stock and the CAI air temp, that would be useful info. Kudos.

I'll let ya know within the hour. Need to go run an errand anyway.

[Mainerunr]

Not like it's real warm here in southern maine today...I would think that a larger difference between ambient and engine bay temps will result in more heating of the intake air since the higher the delta-T, the higher the rate of heat transfer.

[60OMSIN]

Originally Posted by 60OMSIN

I'll let ya know within the hour. Need to go run an errand anyway.

Here is what I recorded:
8/7/06
I put remote thermo inside airbox before filter. Basically sitting inside airbox. Truck outside not up to temp. Cold from yesterday.
This reading is taken with no truck movement.
Remote temp 77.9
Outside ambient temp was 77.2(overcast, humidity 75%)

This reading is taken after I went for a ride.
No truck movement.
Approxiamately 45 minutes later (engine is up to temp)
Remote temp is 85.2
Outside ambient temp was 84.6(sun out, humidity 75%)

After sitting about 5 minutes engine still running in park.
Remote temp 89.5
Outside ambient temp 84.6.

Moved truck in garage and shut off engine.
Approx. 15 minutes later
Remote temp 93.6
Outside ambient 83.1

[05_NISMO_4X4]

So, did you take any readings while you were driving? I've found that even with the ambient outside temp at around 85, the intake air temp as measured by the scan gauge is still close to 100. Of course I'm not sure exactly what the scan gauge is recording either. It's taking the reading from the on-board ECU, and from my understanding, it's coming from the MAF Sensor. But, I also understand the MAF consists of a heated wire and a measurement taken from the difference in temp of this wire depending on the air flow across it. So the reading the scan gauge is reporting may be the temp of the heated wire, which is obviously going to be much higher than the air that is actually transversing the intake tube!

So, trying to compare these readings my be like trying to compare apples to oranges!

[60OMSIN]

Originally Posted by 05_NISMO_4X4

So, did you take any readings while you were driving? I've found that even with the ambient outside temp at around 85, the intake air temp as measured by the scan gauge is still close to 100. Of course I'm not sure exactly what the scan gauge is recording either. It's taking the reading from the on-board ECU, and from my understanding, it's coming from the MAF Sensor. But, I also understand the MAF consists of a heated wire and a measurement taken from the difference in temp of this wire depending on the air flow across it. So the reading the scan gauge is reporting may be the temp of the heated wire, which is obviously going to be much higher than the air that is actually transversing the intake tube!

So, trying to compare these readings my be like trying to compare apples to oranges!

As I was driving around I did not see a big enough difference in the temp the remote thermo was measuring versus the ambient temp. One degree maybe max.
As to how and what the ECU is reading is a good question. Would not even care to guess on that one..
I am also sure that as a vehicle gets really warm and all surrounding things become warm these temps will change. This short period of time was basically an engine warm up not taking in consideration surrounding engine compartment getting things warm and radiating heat.