High Temperatures
Volume
Turbulent Flow
Having operated a turbo-charged car, the high temps of a turbo can nearly
destroy all the gains a turbo adds. By putting an intercooler (essentially a
heat-exchanger that cools the air into the engine) on the intake it
dramatically improves horsepower. It also adds length (restricts volume) onto
the intake system and creates turbulent air. No matter what you do, you seem
to run across tradeoff's.
In non-turbo systems, an intercooler is less necessary as the intake air is
usually not heated as high as with a turbo. My main concern is that after
running around in my Dak for awhile, I burned my fingers on the filter-box.
If it supposedly has cool "outside" air being run through it all the time, why
was it so hot? The Chrysler boys only had minimal heat shielding to protect
the box from the exhaust mainifold. I suspect 2 things here:
The engine was tested and okay'd on the big RAM truck with a larger engine
compartment, so it had more "airspace" between the filter box and the
manifold. When they put it on the Dakota, they had to move the box back and
closer into the engine, so that when they fired it up they said "well, the box
didn't melt so it'll be fine there". However, now the Dak is stuck with a
very hot intake system and a very 'snakey' one. I think Chrysler is saving
some $$$$$ here.
The system should've been redesigned for the Dak with a smoother airflow and
greater insulation from the exhaust manifold. This is something that any
designer could do in his/her sleep, and missing the direct line to the front
of the truck is nearly criminal (I missed it as well until it was pointed out
to me-doh]). With that direct intake & proper insulation, the intercooler
becomes totally unnecessary, but clean, high-volume, laminar flow air still
should be induced by any replacement system.
Shaun
Tustin, CA
------original message------
I am hardly an expert in this area so I may be way off in my thinking (most
likely explanation), but it seem to me that all this talk about cold air
induction using dryer vent tube etc. is a big step backwards. After all,
the whole idea of going the open face filter route was to increase the
volume of the air flow into the TB. Now everyone seems so concerned with
the temperature of the air. So they use these dryer vent tubes, etc. to get
cold outside air. But doesn't that cut down the volume of the air getting
to the TB? You're trading volume for temperature. Doesn't that put you
right back where you started before you did any mods at all. Along with all
these experiments trying to figure out the temperature of the air getting
into the TB, I would like to see some numbers for the volume of air flowing
through these home brew intakes. Especially compared to the stock air box.
I still think you are better off with great big gulps of hot air rather
than little bitty sips of cold air. Please have mercy in your responses.
I'm trying to learn :)
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Jun 20 2003 - 12:09:20 EDT