good idea - but i have a short ram - not an airbox. - I'm sure this would help cool things down at speed but when I'm not moving it won't change anything, I think.

 

It should, but this is conjecture on my part. Since you're drawing in cooler air (albeit a smaller amount at idle) any lower temps are an improvement over that inferno known as the engine compartment. Today it was pushing 100 degrees here and when I popped the hood after my drive home I couldn't even hold the hood prop rod with my bare hand. I'm amazed more things don't melt/fail as a result of all the heat.....[:'(]

 

Here is how it goes. Since the intake side of the turbo is attached to the exhaust side, however seperated somewhat they are still connected, the heat from the exhaust side will raise the intake air temperature due to heat sink through the metal housing. The intercooler was made specifically for this problem, it is designed to reverse the heating of the intake air by passing it through a cool metal radiator. As was already mentioned, cooler air is denser which equals more power. Drawing in hot engine compartment air and then passing it through a hot turbo results in two negatives, one is the turbo getting and remaining hotter and the other is the intercooler trying to cool twice heated air. The intercooler can only do so much and the hotter it goes in the warmer it's going to come out thus reducing the power potential.

Using a cold air intake draws in air from outside the engine compartment, it actually draws it in from between the inner and outer fenders at the very bottom almost underneath the car itself. Drawing in this cooler outside air reduces the temperature of the air going into the turbo as well as the turbo itself and the air coming out of it going into the intercooler. And naturally it will result in cooler air coming out of the intercooler and into the engine.

You can help your short ram and lower it's intake temperature, this will only work while the car is in motion since it will use air grabbed by the hood scoop, by doing the hood mod. Sitting idle it will draw in hot air still, but once your driving the hood scoop will grab and vent cooler outside air right onto the air filter of your short ram. This will help, but it won't be nearly as good or as effective as a CAI.

Your best bet is actually a CAI, especially the K & N Typhoon CAI since it is designed to be used as both a CAI and/or a short ram. It is designed so that you can put the air filter on right where the small hose section goes in place of the lower pipe section. You can get a bypass valve that will allow air to come in through it if the CAI's air filter becomes submerged in water, but they are known to cause power and performance losses though. I have my K & N Typhoon CAI on fully and if I ever come into a situation where I think I might have to go through questionable water I will either take another route or I will loosen the hose connecting the two pipes and slide it down on the lower pipe so that the engine will draw in air from the gap. The only problem with doing this is that it will be unfiltered air, but it would only be until I get where I am going so it would be just fine.[sm=goodidea.gif]

Here is a picture of my K & N as it is now and one of it in short ram mode (this picture was taken at night without the flash and it is hard to see):

[IMG]local://upfiles/193/47AC3E17B6854C94AA963DA53BB227DC.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/193/3E2FEBD5825F4835B867499AB81CC601.jpg[/IMG]

 

thanks, rr - that was a great explanation.

I thought The shorty might double the heat prob. but I was assured that it wouldn't make a diff. by the dealer that sold it to me.

Since I already have the short ram, Do you think it would be a bad idea to stage 1 or 2 upgrade w/o the cai? I'm mostly curious to see if there is a damage concern of just performance.

 

I bought the K&N offroad system. It's a short Ram but it has a heatshield that wraps around it from the radiator to the battery and fits snug to the hood when closed. I like it. Check out their website if curious.

 

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Going with one of the Stage upgrades is fine, the short ram won't hurt it, but it will hinder the performance a little.[sm=itsok.gif] Even the factory air box setup is a CAI type, but your short ram smooths up the air flow and increases the amount of air going into the turbo. A short ram is about equal to a stock air box setup, where one is better the other isn't and it comes out about the same. Your short ram will work miracles in the winter time, it will be like a CAI and it will be far better than stock.