wrapped CAI?

[bigstick]

Saw this at a car show a while back and just found the photo again. It's a Saleen Extreme owned by the wife of the president of Pedders USA (an australian suspension manufacturer).

I would be very surprised if there was any real benefit to wrapping the CAI.

But I suppose it could be a dirty little secret that everyone does but doesn't talk about.

Thoughts?

 

[HellsBells]

I would imagine that would increase the intake charge temperature.

The heat from the motor/blower would soak to the pipe from the throttle body and then the wrap would trap the heat in there nice and warm.

I would think using reflective material would work better in a way but I think whatever you do, the benefits will be so small and you risk causing more harm than good when trying to wrap your intake pipe.

If it worked so well, why don't we see wrapped intercooler piping and all that?

 

[Daniel Day]

I noticed in the "engine pic" thread, that Eric@ JPC posted a pic of an intake wrapped in what looked like header heat wrap. I think it may actually help but not sure. ???
Here is the pic:

 

[Ssiptang]

I like the look in strange way.

 

[NastyStang113]

If it worked so well, why don't we see wrapped intercooler piping and all that?

We do...

 

[JeremyH]

Yeah the reflective heat tape on components connected to the engine are pointless really with minimal results at best. Yes the tape will initial reflect heat and be a few degrees cooler, but this will only delay heat soak a bit. The engine bay is basicly and oven with the hood closed and all the parts are going to absorb and conduct heat just the same.

And the cai header wrap, yeah that cant be helping either, that fiberglass wrap is deisgned to keep radiant heat in and if anything its just keeping the metal intake hotter longer as it wont cool off as easy.

Now that refelctive heat tape if used properly can help on compents that dont conduct heat, ie isolated areas such as air boxes/shields around the battery etc.

I used that reflective heat tape on my turbos cai shield. It doesnt come in contact with any engine compents and will help reflect heat from the turbo and up pipe away from the intake filter. And again these gains are minimal, 3-5 degrees maybe.

 

[red_baron06]

Which is why we should all remove our hoods.

 

[bigstick]

Which is why we should all remove our hoods.

Or if that isn't practical, have heat extractor hoods