Insulating gaskets on inlet manifold?

[LegoHead]

Any point in fitting insulating gaskets either side of inlet manifold?

How much heat is transfered to the air in the plenum and inlet manifold?

 

[Fred@BTM]

PTFE gaskets have been used for years, but i'm not so sure on their effectiveness

 

[stan*]

They need to be quite chunky to drop the temp a few degC...it all helps.

 

[LegoHead]

I was thinking of using some tufnol and machining the thickness of the inlet manifold to make sure it all lines up still.

I suppose there wont be any harm in trying as long as it all seals up airtight.

 

[stan*]

aye. make sure you compensate the extra spacing on any supporting brackets for the plenum, and that your studs are long enough!!

 

[RichMcc]

yeah but the main plenum chamber has all the heat rising from the head because its right below it, then all the heat from the exhaust manifold pumping up from the back of the engine and the heat from the rad coming from the front.... and you think a gaskets gonna do much for temps?? LOL

 

[GordonD]

Warmer air = better fuel atomisation = better specific fuel consumption = better economy.

Colder air = more oxygen molecules = potentially more power, but you have to run richer to get it.

 

[LegoHead]

yeah but the main plenum chamber has all the heat rising from the head because its right below it, then all the heat from the exhaust manifold pumping up from the back of the engine and the heat from the rad coming from the front.... and you think a gaskets gonna do much for temps?? LOL

Yeh I do.... as the thermal resistance between aluminium->air->aluminium is higher than aluminium->aluminium. Increase thermal resistance and you potentially lower the inlet air temperatures at a steady state condition.

 

[RichMcc]

Well in theory if you stuck some of that heat shield stuff to the bottom of the plenum, wrapped the turbo in a heat shield and cut some big holes in your bonnet you'd reduce temps a wee bit.

 

[TomTom]

Well in theory if you stuck some of that heat shield stuff to the bottom of the plenum, wrapped the turbo in a heat shield and cut some big holes in your bonnet you'd reduce temps a wee bit.

Surely you want your turbo to keep cool not overheat? Wouldn't wrap anything around the turbo.

 

[en035]

header wrap, that's your best bet, rest will make very small differences unless you are driving an F-1 car

 

[LegoHead]

Well in theory if you stuck some of that heat shield stuff to the bottom of the plenum, wrapped the turbo in a heat shield and cut some big holes in your bonnet you'd reduce temps a wee bit.

I've been thinking about a bonnet vent. Might be too chavvy though.