When I see new K&N type air filter kits installed in the after market it usually has a box which insulates the filter iteself from the warm engine compartment air. The theory being that cool air input improves engine performance. Anyone have the facts on this issue? In the case of the later model cars we have a hot water heating system that warms the butterfly valve section of the intake manifold. In the summer on very hot days our cars are heating outside air even hotter with this system. At idle I suspect the air coming into the intake manifold gets quite warm. What do the experts think about bypassing the heater portion of the intake manifold to help reduce the temperature on intake air? Of course the intake manifold in our cars sit a top the exhaust manifold so it is subject to warming. So maybe the hot water bypass will have no effect on performance.
Thoughts, comments?
