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I've noticed that my intake pipe gets quite hot even with the heatshield between the pod and the exhaust headers (which have their own factory heatshield), so I was wondering what idea's people had for preventing it getting so hot, I have seen 1red5's solution but was wondering if there was something a bit less cluttered

For example ceramic coating, exhaust wrap, high temp paint (would that do anything?) any other idea's
and would it actually be worth doing or would it still heat up just as much?

for those that don't know what I'm talking about it's the intake pipe that runs directly behind the top of the radiator as seen in the following pictures

If I could either afford it or have enough engineering/metalworking know-how, I would have a large diameter 1/2 pipe running the length of the intake, hugging it and matching it exactly, but mounted on brackets so it has an air-gap between.
Get the idea?

Autobarn sells a ram-pod heatshield that illustrates what I mean. I think it's made by Monza.

High temp paint does nothing, it's just as the name suggests, a paint that doesn't flake or evaporate in high-heat applications.
Can't comment on ceramic coating as I have no experience.

Danny, ORX626, uses ceramic coatings. Shoot him a PM.

I think it's kinda unavoidable. Not unless you replace the pipe with some that's a bit more heat resistant than stainless steel.

I wonder what the heat transfer characteristics of the original factory plastic piping is like, and if it's any better/worse than metal.

I've stayed with the factory plastic tube but even that is really hot to touch after a few laps.

damn, no luck, this morning I had a quick look and the intake manifold is alot hotter than the pipe I was originally worried about so I'm not sure if there is much benifit in keeping the pipe cool just to have the air heated in the manifold

I remember gold foil is a very good heat shield. It has better heat reflection properties than silver, which is why they used it in the McLaren F1. Not sure if you can get any better.

Heat soak on these pipes isn't a major concern in my experience because as soon as you get some decent air flow up, intake air temp usually drops really quick to close to ambient so long as your picking up cool air.

If you get an opportunity to watch intake air temp on an ECU or an OBDII scan tool you can verify this yourself. In fact, if you touch the pipe while someone revs the car, you will feel the pipe go from hot to cold because thin wall pipe doesn't have much thermal mass.

Having said this, the more heat you can keep away from the intake the better, but just bear in mind that you're unlikely to pick up massive gains here.

dont worry about it - in na applications the evaporation of the fuel being injected into the mixture should remove a good amount of heat that may be picked up going through pipes and intake manifolds. the only way you are going to really cool it down is with a cryo2 system or nos. both of which require re filling and should only be run at wop. if its too sluggish when its hot turn off the aircon.

I use a heat wrap, like is used on headers, around all of my intake, and it is never hot to touch. Less bling than the stainless pipe underneath, but temps are down. Its easy, and cheap.

hamish71 wrote:I use a heat wrap, like is used on headers, around all of my intake, and it is never hot to touch. Less bling than the stainless pipe underneath, but temps are down. Its easy, and cheap.

I used to be worried about my bling, then I realised the only time it gets looked at is when it goes in for a service
might be worth a go

RJ,

Photos of the product in your engine bay?