I was wondering what some of you were seeing for your Intake Air Temp (IAT)? I did some searching here, and didn't see anything (If I missed something, I appologize, and would apprecite a PM with a link)

I ask because I decided to plug in my ElmScan tool and do a little logging with PCM Scan recently, when I noticed a high IAT. It was in the 130-150 range...

The culprit is my unwrapped/uncoated headers largely I am sure (I know, I am an idiot for not wrapping them or putting a heat shield on). The conduction from the headers and radiator seems to be effecting the quality of air, even down at the filter on my CAI. I currently have built a box/heat shield to isolate the filter from the engine compartment, and saw about a 10-15 degree (F) drop in my temps. I am just curious as to what some of you are seeing, and what might be a resonable goal for my temps (NOTE: I have heat wrap for the headers on the way)

our engine bays are notorious for being hot as hell in there.
Your temps are about right..
But yes a cold air box should help out quite a bit

Try heat wrapping the intake piping. Especially if its aluminum... I remember taking off my CAI when I went driving around for a little while and that sucker was hot; had a DC Sport header installed as well. Not entirely sure if that would help at all, as I remember reading that the air charge going through the intake piping is too fast for the heated up intake piping to heat up the air more than it already is going through the IM.

Eh, not too sure though.

Originally posted by saikou
Not entirely sure if that would help at all, as I remember reading that the air charge going through the intake piping is too fast for the heated up intake piping to heat up the air more than it already is going through the IM.

That's correct. We had this discussion in my motorsports club. The air charge is moving so fast that it doesn't have enough time to heat more than a fraction of a degree (conduction heat transfer requires a significant amount of time)

I knew the underhood temps were high, but honestly didn't think my IAT would be THAT high. I installed the preliminary airbox design today. It helped (about 5 degrees difference) but it's still not mounted correctly and allowing some heat soak from the engine compartment. Unforunatly, I leave for maryland tomorrow for a work and won't be able to work on it for a week. When I get back, I'll have my header wrap and be able to finish installing the airbox. Hopefully that brings the temps down some more.

FWIW

My 97 Talon is bone stock and IAT is anywhere from 20-35 degrees above the outside temp. most times. Last night it was 110F ambient and IAT was 137F. This was on a long 10 mile drive on the freeway at 70 MPH cruise.

My 98 Eclipse has a Hahn kit and it can't help but suck warm air off the radiator since the cone air filter is in the front corner by the radiator fan output. I've seen as high as 170F IAC some days with 105-110F ambient. I'm looking to make some room in the engine compartment and I may move the filter or direct cooler air to it as part of the re-plumb of the FMIC pipes later this summer.