Running a WAI through the wringer

[FrugalFloyd]

Good grief! It just dawned on me that I misspelled the title of this thread. It should refer to running it through the wringer, as in a wringer washing machine. Can a moderator fix this for me?

[Jay2TheRescue]

Done!

[FrugalFloyd]

Thanks. Now I won't be so embarrassed when others see the thread title.

[Project84]

I'm pleased with your willingness to try this test.

I'm not pleased that your WAI didn't boost temps up as high as some of the more successful stories report.

Mine consistantly reaches +70*F over ambient, and in city under 40mph (roughly) It'll climb 80-90*F over ambient.

In the s-series it's been found that the magic happens at 160-180*F intake temp.

I know there's no consistancy in my gas log, but I did just get back from another all highway trip to/from Cleveland. 39.84mpg and my intake temp was only at 100*F for the trip, but still, 70*F over ambient.

The car consumed 2+ quarts of oil on the 260mi trip there, and the same amount on the trip home. It's sad... but this Saturn has one wheel in the grave.

Luckily, while there, I went and test drove an SL1 that I'm buying next weekend. Unfortunately it's another auto instead of the elusive 5-sp. Buying it from the original owner, window sticker shows OEM mileage (in 2001) at 37mpg highway. This one should be in the 50's for mileage assuming no mechanical defects in the car, after a WAI is made for it.

[severach]

Higher temps may or may not help. In my 1998 Delta 3.8L V6 Delta 88 95*F was the perfect temperature, +- a few degrees depending on air density from water content. Higher temps produced knock without any mileage gain. After about 140*F the mileage went down one or two MPG.

OTOH my 1994 Grand Am 2.3L SOHC has less than 0.5 MPG change from 55*F to 110*F IAT though it runs more quietly. It's just harder to start at 110*F IAT.

V engines naturally warm intake air so the ECM must be designed to handle it. The inline engine of the Grand Am with its cooled intake and multi port injection never sees hot intake air so the ECM does not need to be programmed to manage for it. Hot air sends it out of design parameters.

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by severach

V engines naturally warm intake air so the ECM must be designed to handle it. The inline engine of the Grand Am with its cooled intake and multi port injection never sees hot intake air so the ECM does not need to be programmed to manage for it. Hot air sends it out of design parameters.

Another interesting and different idea.

[spotaneagle]

Originally Posted by SentraSE-R

First, photos. Then we'll discuss the testing.

My Scion's air filter box, IAT sensor (I presume), and intake piping.


This is where my air intake was, in front of the battery, behind the radiator. I
connected my WAI over the 3" diameter plastic pipe that looks like a little horn, and snaked it back over itself. I had to remove the battery to get the WAI tubing into this tight compartment spacing.

thats a maf or map sensor located after the filter near the throttle body, your scion might not have an IAT sensor, they are located before the air filter on saturns and are only two wires, and a little sensor that is virtually the same thing as a coolant temp sensor a little nipple and a two prong clip

[spotaneagle]

Hello potter, welcome to carforum....The air intake temperatue depends on the temperature of the outside air, which flows through the air assembly box.The IAT sensor should be on the front of the intake just behind the dist cap & wires....

[spotaneagle]

are you sure you were measuring your air temp? your ait sensor may be located in the sidewall of you engine compartment and just measure ambient tempurature... that is definately a maf sensor and not an ait sensor

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by spotaneagle

this guy is probably wrong don't trust his opinion

That was completely uncalled for. If you're going to talk smack like that, you better have some facts to back it up or disciplinary action will be taken. Even at that, you could have found a more polite way to say it. Consider this your only warning.