My planned intake temperature test
I just bought an indoor outdoor thermometer with the outdoor sensor on a 9 ft lead. It was 15 dollars at radio shack and samples the temp about every 10 seconds, less than I would like but I think it will do. I currently have the stock intake but just ordered a Warpspeed CAI and intend to do an intake temperature test similer to the one done by Str8ridin. I plan on putting the temperature probe inside the intake tube as close to the throttle body as I can get it so I can account for any increase in temperature in the intake tubing. I will test - Stock intake, Hybred HAI, CAI and possibly CAI with the tube in the engine compartment wrapped in insuation.

After looking at Str8ridin's test I came to the opposite conclusion than most of the members here. It seems most pointed out that the intake temp on the HAI was close to that of the CAI at speed and therefore the CAI offered little advatage. However I agreed with JAIMECBR900, I looked at the huge difference at idle in Str8ridin's test (45 degrees or about 9 HP for a 200 hp engine using the SAE correction factor) and my underhood temp test below (difference between outside air and underhood air 30+ degrees). I think I would want maximum power when accelerating from a stop and for the next 10 to 20 seconds. Once I am already moving I don't think a couple HP matters as much.

My under hood temperatue test

This was just a quick test and I think having an HAI would change the results by drawing in hot engine compartment air that would be replaced by cooler air from outside, or more hot air after it passed throught the radiator or exhaust manifold first.

The outside air temp was 59 degrees and the weather was sunny. I twist tied the sensor in between the strut tower brace and the MAF near the stock airbox so it was not touching anything, this is about as far from any heat source as I could get and also in the same area that a cone filter would be.

At idle the temp stabilized at about 94 deg after a couple minutes. Leaving my neighborhood at low speed (20-30 MPH) I was surprised to see the temperature go up to about 97, thru out the rest of my test the temperature was consistantly highest during low speed driving.

At speeds of 30-40 MPH the temperature remained pretty stable around 90-95 degrees. I had to exceed 40 MPH before I saw any significant drop in temperature. At speeds of 40-50 MPH the temp would slowly drop to about 80 deg.

On the highway at a 70 MPH cruise the temp dropped to about 70 deg after about 2 minutes and seemed to stabilize. By the time I reached the bottom of the off ramp the temp had already climbed to 80 and at the next light it quickly rose to mid 90s.

I will post the results of my intake temperature test when I get my CAI.

 

Thank you for agreeing with me....

And spelling my name correctly....