Wrapping intercooler pipes

[enoyes12]

Just wondering if anyone is wrapping the intercooler pipes? I know mine get so hot from the engine bay that you can't touch them. I figure that can't help with cooling the intake charge. I know it goes through there quickly but I have to believe if it that hot its raising the temp at least a little. Any ideas?

[powerhoghp]

There is some wrap on the pipes from the factory, but not much. It can't hurt anything but your wallet to try. You might be able to bring the air charge temps down 40+ degrees....

[enoyes12]

I have an early 99 and no wrap on mine so i figured what the hell I might want to try it

[campbellflage]

i was curious of this as well, i was thinkin of at least wrappin the passenger side one cause it gets cooled, then goes back through hot piping.. maybe drop in temp... anyone do this and see any results? lower egt?

[NoRalPh]

Originally Posted by campbellflage

i was curious of this as well, i was thinkin of at least wrappin the passenger side one cause it gets cooled, then goes back through hot piping.. maybe drop in temp... anyone do this and see any results? lower egt?

I'm not sure if the under the hood temps are actually significantly higher than what exits the IC though.....

Maybe with one of those non-contact IR handhelds you could see?

Removing the existing wrap, on the drivers side, can only help in cooling as it's only there for sound.

[campbellflage]

the temps are definately lower with what exits the IC, otherwise they would have stayed with the design of pumpin the air from the turbo straight to the plenums. I know that the drivers side was only for reduction of sound of the turbo, but adding it to the other side i would think might lower temps a little. I also have seen heat wrap for the turbo, supposed to sheild it from the exhaust side? anyone try this. I mean i dont have any problems with my current egt but some cheap HP upgrades are always nice.

[NoRalPh]

You misunderstand me...

Of course, the IC cools the charge significantly. My thought would be to exactly what temperature?

And is that "exit temperature" actually much lower than what the next pipe is. Is it raised in the charge by passing through the pipe that's exposed to the under the hood temps?

[campbellflage]

gotcha.... yeah i dont know how much heat from the engine bay actually penetrates through the intercooler tube... anyone?

[psd_va]

it would seem like the engine bay heat would heat up the IC pipes cause i know when i open my hood after i've been driving it is pretty freaking hot under it. i plan on wrapiing my pipes in the next couple of weeks while i have it torn apart for HPOP replacement.

[NoRalPh]

How hot do you think the air coming out of the turbo is?

WAY hotter than what's under the hood I bet.

So, First, I'd want to know the specifics before you just assume the pipes would benefit from being wrapped....

What if, and I'm just making these number up (but they might be reasonable), the Air Charge goes into the IC @300degrees / Comes out @200degrees / Under-the-hood is @190degrees?

Somebody knows the specific numbers and what the IC typically removes.