I was in the Tognottis website and they have some products for heat insulating air intakes as well as a stick on product that would insulate the oem airbox. As the engine bay gets very hot on our RX8 s I was wondering if this type of mod would keep the incoming air cooler and net a small performance gain. Note these insulating products claim high heat reflecting numbers and are inexpensive to boot. Any thoughts.

 

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Sorry about the crummy pics some of there products claim to reflect a 1000 degrees the alumanized tape claims 500. Mark

 

it would, you could also use Dynamat. more costly, but a much better product.

 

For what it costs and weigh's will the end result be worth it?

 

i think so, at most it would weigh a few pounds. it is costly though, maybe a a/c shop could suggest something more effective.

 

Although common sense isn't always common, or right, one would have to guess that the heat transfer through plastic like our air box is so low that no significant heat gets through compared to the amount of air coming in.

The resulting delta in temperature likely is so low that added insulation would do little to nothing.

Someone could stick on some temp probes in the air stream w/and wo/insulation and prove this out if they were so inclined to bother.

You can put 3 ft of fiberglass in your attic too, but why?

 

I agree with you, hence my earlier question. (trying to make people think before doing)

Cons outweigh the Pros = not worth it!

 

I'm considering putting something like this around the dipstick tube (to keep it hot!) if I ever get the "foamy oil" problem. So far I haven't...

 

Your lucky nubo. Foamy oil is a misnomer. I thought everyone had 'dip-stick wax' like I do?

Check it when it's cold. I call it wax cause I took mine out and studied it, it's like Crisco. White, ucky stuff all over the stick.

What we need is an electrically warmed dip-stick tube! With that invention the RX-8 could accomplish another 1st - redifining the term 'dip-stick heater' !

 

I know this stuff is used in hot rods to what effect I can't say as far as being expensive it's about 20 bucks for a roll that would cover the air box. For those with tube type intakes ie K&N it might be good to keep temps down on the incoming air.there is a wrap not stick on for CAI. I was going to cover some other components as well plug wires and other under hood things that may be exposed to high temps this company has jackets for just about anything under the hood.

 

I doubt insulating the airbox will singnificantly affect the air temp. However I used to have a Taurus that would vapor lock in very hot weather. I wrapped the fuel runner to the injectors in aluminized insulating tape and it cured the problem.