Heat Management Testing and analysis (DEI heat wrap, Turbo Blanket, Reflective Tape)

[SRDFTITAN]

Ok next up I installed my turbo blanket and conducted an idle and 60 mph roll temperature test in the same manner as the last test.

The first temperature taken was from behind the driver's side headlight at idle. An average reduction of 10 degrees was noted.



I then moved the probe behind the radiator and an average reduction of 5 degrees was noted.



I then moved the probe between the intake manifold and firewall and an average reduction of 9 degrees was noted.



The turbo blanket netted a total under hood temperature reduction of 8 degrees at idle.

[SRDFTITAN]

Now came the 60 mph test of the turbo blanket. This test was conducted a little different then the rest, as the temperature taken from behind the driver's side headlight was about the same as the temperature taken (Post Heat Wrap @ 60 mph). After taking the initial reading behind the headlight and noticing that it was the same I did not go further and take the other two readings.

The temperature noted was about the same as the temperature noted during the 60 mph roll (post mani wrap). There was actually an increase in temp by 1 degree. So I think it's safe to say that the turbo blanket did not help us here although my oil temps were higher during this test.

*An increase in spool time was noticed during this test (butt dyno) lol, but I will compare data logs to confirm.

[SRDFTITAN]

Next up was the charge piping temperature testing. The entire probe was inserted into the charge piping approximately 14" away from the turbo. As stated earlier I was unable to get the probe any closer, as I was unable to reach it at the time. Even though this was the case the probe was closer to the turbo than it was to the intercooler.

The purpose of this test was to determine if the temperatures inside of the charge piping were higher or lower then the under hood temps. As stated before if the charge piping temps were lower then the under hood temps reflective heat tape would be applied and more readings taken to look for improvements in IAT's.

The results were a little interesting. A total of 7 test were conducted during idle. Temperature changes were noted every time the radiator fan would kick on just like previous tests. An average temperature of 120 degrees was noted with the probe 14" away from the turbo at idle.







After plugging all of the numbers into excel I noticed that at first the probe temps were higher then my IAT's. The probe temps and IAT's eventually leveled out to around the same temperature though. This test tells me that the heat that is generated from the turbo (@ idle) has a large influence on charge piping temperatures even though the turbo is not spinning very much.

My highest temperature recorded after the turbo blanket was installed @ idle was 121 degrees, thats one degree hotter then the temperatures inside the charge piping. Being that my charge piping is made of aluminum I would have reason to believe that radiant heat from the engine bay is playing a role in the high charge piping temps @ idle.

Right now this may seem like a no brainer to wrap the charge piping with the reflective heat tape to combat the radiating heat in the engine bay, but just wait until you see the numbers at a 60 mph roll and WOT.

[SRDFTITAN]

After the idle test I moved on to the 60 mph roll charge piping test. The probe was still in the same spot (approximately 14" from the turbo). I drove approximately 5 miles just like the last test and held the speed to as close to 60 mph as possible.

An immediate reduction in charge piping temp was noted, going from a peak idle temp of 132 degrees to 101 degrees at 60 mph. This showed a total reduction of 31 degrees. A reduction was shown across the board except for my oil temperatures that stayed about the same.



Now if you remember by under hood temps at 60 mph (after turbo blanket) was 59 degrees, this shows that the charge piping is hotter then the under hood temperature by 42 degrees. Now I know that the reflect a gold heat tape is supposed to radiate heat away from whatever it is wrapping, but it would also have some insulating properties about it as well. Now I'm not sure how much heat the charge piping is capable of radiating before the intercooler, but I would bet that it wouldn't radiate the heat enough to lower the temperature by 43 degrees to be lower then the under hood temps.

Conclusion: so far I'm not seeing a reason to wrap the charge piping coming from the turbo to the intercooler, as it will hold more heat in then it's radiating. It would be better to leave it unwrapped as the under hood temperatures are 42 degrees cooler then the charge piping between the turbo and intercooler.

[SRDFTITAN]

Next was the same charge piping test, but now at wide open throttle (WOT). I conducted the test in 3rd gear and the probe was still approximately 14" away from the turbo.

As expected the temperatures inside the charge piping rose from the temps taken at 60 mph (101 degrees). As I conducted the test my boost pressures rose to a peak of 12.2 psi, yielding a peak charge piping temperature of 163 degrees. Now this shows an increase of 62 degrees when compared to cruising temps. I did however notice a 5 degree decrease in IAT's during the pull.



Datalog of the pull during the test.



Photo taken of the temperature sensor right after the pull. *NOTE: the picture indicates a temp of 161 degrees. I was unable to snap the photo when it read it's highest temp of 163 degrees as I was driving 80 mph so sorry lol!!



Conclusion: this further backs up my hypothesis from earlier, wrapping the charge piping between the turbo and intercooer with anything will hurt efficiency, performance, IAT's and possible detonation if your already on the edge of your fuels octane rating.

[SRDFTITAN]

The next test conducted were the temps of the charge piping at the throttle body. This test just like the rest was conducted at idle, 60 mph roll and WOT.

Now the first thing that I noticed was the huge reduction in temperature compared to the reading that was taken at the turbo. I was seeing consistent readings of 73 degrees and holding pretty steady. This showed a reduction of 53 degrees when compared to the peak number at the turbo. This test was also effective as it showed how much heat soak effects the IAT's just on the other side of the throttle body from my probe. I was seeing IAT's as high as 131 degrees, even though just on the other side of the throttle body temps are a measly 73 degrees! WOW, I hate you heat soak lol!!









Conclusion: Post turbo blanket (idle) my temperatures behind the radiator, right next to my intercooler pipe that runs to my throttle body was 125 degrees. Now being that the charge piping temperatures are lower then the engine bay temps, I would wrap the charge piping from the intercooler to the throttle body with reflective heat tape to keep that air charge as cold and dense as possible!! WRAP AWAY!!

[SRDFTITAN]

Next up was the 60 mph test of the charge piping at the throttle body. During this test charge piping temps dropped even more with a consistent temperature of 64 degrees. Thats a 9 degree reduction when compared to the idle temp. There was also a 41 degree drop in IAT's.





Conclusion: Now remember that my under hood temps at 60 mph (post wrap) were 56 degrees. Now your probably thinking; he just told us in the last post to wrap the intercooler piping between the intercooler and throttle body, but the temperature of the charge piping is higher then the temperature of the engine bay at 60 mph!?

Here is my theory: If we can radiate as much heat as possible with reflective heat tape during idle, this will make your starting charge piping temp lower then if un-wrapped. We saw the temperature drop from 73 degrees at idle to 64 degrees at 60 mph un-wrapped. I feel that if the piping is wrapped it will reduce the charge piping temps even more, making the under hood temperature of 56 degrees irrelevant. Just my theory, don't kill me, will be wrapping the piping from the intercooler to the throttle body shortly!!

[SRDFTITAN]

Ok sorry for the delay but I have the wide open throttle results. A slight increase in temperature was noted from the probe in the throttle body. However a slight decrease in IAT's were noted at the same time.





As long as everything goes according to plan, I would like to build a cold air intake box and intake pipe to run to my turbo. Right now my turbo is sucking in all the hot air that's coming from the radiator. After doing this a drop in charge piping and IAT's are expected. Stay tuned.

[SRDFTITAN]

Have a few updates. I was able to build my Cold Air Intake box for my turbo this past weekend. Came out pretty nice. I made a template out of card board and then went back and transferred the template to some sheet metal that I had. All I have to do now is purchase a 3" hole saw and weld some tabs for mounting. I'm also going to fab some 3" piping from the intake box to my turbo. This should lower both my charge piping temperatures and intake air temperatures for sure! The intake box and pipe will be wrapped in the reflect a gold heat tape after more data is taken.

























Keep checking back for more updates.

[SRDFTITAN]

Got the cold air intake box done today, forgot to take a picture after I ran to autozone and grabbed another coupler, but its on there. Not really sure if my mind is playing tricks on me but it does feel like the car pulls a little different. I'm pulling fresh air from the frame rail right now, but I'm eventually going to run a pipe to the existing fog light housing for even colder air. On to the pics (oh yeah I ran out of the gold heat tape) and don't laugh at my crappy welding. Will have some data very soon to document any changes in my IAT's.