Reducing intake temperatures
We hear it all the time here at Funk Motorsport. Lower intake temperatures produce more power. Keep your induction system cool. Colder intake temperatures improve performance. How do I lower my intake temperatures? Whilst this may seem gospel, there is actually a relatively small amount of information out there for how to effectively go about this, or understanding of why this is so important? We have decided to debunk these common motorsport phrases to help you clearly understand how this can be done achieved. Remember, a cooler airflow, is a denser air flow. A denser airflow provides a better platform for combustion – when combined with fuel.
In a performance car application, we want to help lower intake temperatures to help create a more efficient combustion cycle. Every application can be very different, experiencing different extreme elements or flow patterns, so we have put together a few ways of how this vital technical practice can be achieved:
Reflective GOLD heat tape
Reflective Heat tape is the most obvious solution to protecting induction pipework. Commonly found on many race applications and space craft, Gold reflective Heat tape can help reflect away up to 80% of all radiant heat. When used correctly, this additional protection can help the physical pipework reduce conduction of heat, and therefore reduce the transfer onto the airflow passing into it. This is a relatively cheap and easy modification that can be used on any hard piped induction system and heat shield. The gold tapes are self adhesive and can be hugely successful when used correctly. See our other blogs showing how Gold heat tape works (in more detail) as well as a case study of one Formula Ford ecoBoost team and how they used Gold Heat Wrap to drastically improve their “restricted” performance.
Top Tip: Thinner strips create the neatest application when working with complex curves and corners.
Induction tube sleeving
Lower intake temperatures can be helped by managing convectional heat transfer as well as radiant. Our induction tube sleeving can make for easy fitment to your entire induction route, without the need for timely and super accurate application. Performance Crossover pipes can easily become a victim of heat soak and therefore actually provide a negative effect on performance. Available in both Gold and Silver, the tube simply fits around the induction pipework to protect from convectional heat sources which are super close to the sensitive pipework. Increase road performance, whilst neatening up the engine bay tenfold!
Heat Blankets
These are available in both gold and silver and are fully customisable. Slightly thicker than the induction tube sleeving, the heat blankets are used to ensure a tight and very neat application to your complex pipework. Championship winning BTCC teams and World Rally Cross teams have utilised our easy trim and shape Gold Heat Blankets to create a consistent and cool intake temperature when running in all conditions. The teams love the thicker construction of these products, allowing for maximum pipework insulation as well as maximum radiant heat deflection due to the high shine finish! Our blankets can be secured in a number of ways, which ever best suits your application; Metal zip ties, cable ties, Reflective Heat Tape, anchor and nut systems adhesives – to name a few.
Lace up induction tube sleeving
Another great product which is very similar to the Velcro Induction Tube Sleeving. These products are commonly used within the FIA F3 and FIA F4 single seater race scenes to help provide maximum reductions in intake temperatures and have the versatility of easy removal should this be required. Lace up Induction Tube Sleeving is great for curved applications which have limited space to work with. Effective, simple and proven within top flight motorsport.
Aluminium barrier sheeting
Aluminium barrier sheeting is available in both single ply and dual layer variations. Allowing for ultimate customisation for perfect heat shield insulation. Easily bent, cut, shaped, drilled, bonded, riveted and fastened to create a the most heat efficient intake protection. This option has been used by our most detailed clients, which have intake pipes which run unbelievably close to exhaust manifolds and turbo turbine housings. If the time is available, we cannot recommend a custom dual layer heat shield enough against heat protection for vital intake pipes. See our video section for a great understanding of just how powerful this can be on heat protection.
turbo blanket
Ok, this isn’t directly an induction pipe component, but turbo blankets are a highly beneficial component which will dramatically reduce all engine bay temperatures. Lower engine bay temperatures, less stressed components and also cooler induction pipework – MORE PERFORMANCE and Better reliability. Turbo blankets can greatly lower your intake temperatures. Check a specific blog post on this here.
As you can tell, there is more than one way to skin a cat as it were. Many many options are available to help improve performance from an area which can be “free” performance gains to your performance car or motorsport application! Still unsure? We would be more than happy to help you out. Let us know some details of your application and we are more than happy to help you make the best decision for your build.
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