The effect of intake air temp on engine temperature.

[Ve8r]

Hey everyone,
I have been pondering on if there is any effect on engine temperature if air intake temperature is dropped.
The reason I ask is my Cutlass runs about 220 buzzing down the road. It currently has Goodwrench 350, 400 trans and 3.23 gears in the rear axle. My car has a 3 row diesel olds radiator. It also has a open element air filter ( like everybody runs).
I know a lower temperature air intake charge benefits performance , but does it decrease engine operating temperature?

Car has a 160 thermostat, a fan clutch that is in good shape, and a radiator that is not clogged.
I have eliminated those variables.
This car has always run this hot even with the olds 455 I used to have in it.

I would like to hear from people that have installed ram air on their vehicles, and to find out if there was any drop in operating temperature of their engine.

 

[pontiacgp]

you will not get lower engine temperature from lower air intake temperatures but the performance will be affected

 

[kalidromos13]

Speaking of ram air setups, most G-bodies came with a sort of cold air intake stock. I know mine has one and so did my cutlass. 220 on the gauge isn't bad at all, I run a little before middle on my gauge while cruising, goes a little over 220 before the 190° t-stat opens and the electric fans come on while at a stop. I also have a aftermarket coolant temp gauge on the water jacket on the intake and it never goes past 190. I have a stock replacement radiator with plastic tanks. But to answer your question I think the temp of the intake charge will not affect the temp of your coolant. Depending on where your coolant gauge is 220 in the cylinder head isn't bad.

 

[Ve8r]

I didn't figure it would effect engine temperature any, but I have never seen or heard it mentioned if it did or didn't. I knew it would have a effect on power output. Thanks for your help guys.

 

[MrSony]

The cooler the intake charge you can get the better. Cooler air at sea level is denser than warm air allowing for more air, and consequently more fuel, at a given instance. Can a cold air intake decrease engine temps? Maybe, but it would be negligible at best. The temp sensor/sender/switch in the head will read hotter than in the intake in a coolant passage because the heads are where the combustion chambers are, and combustion as you know is a very hot process. If it was in the intake, it probably wouldn't read much over 200 degrees but it wouldn't be as accurate due to the thermostat being in the equation. Why do you have a 160 t stat? Does it run that hot at idle speeds? An aluminum rad will ALWAYS dissipate more heat than a copper one of comparable size. If your timing is off it could make the engine run hotter.

 

[Ve8r]

I have the temp sensor in the intake.
It reads roughly 220 going down the road a 75mph ( I live in Texas). I suspect it is more that I don't have a overdrive trans in it, and it also has 3.23 gears in the rear. It is spinning around 3500rpm at 75. I am probably going to put some highway gears in it soon probably like a 2.47 ratio or so.

 

[Texas82GP]

Sometimes your coolant can flow too quickly for the radiator to do its job. For grins, try a 195 degree thermostat and see if the temp improves. Also, more advance will make it run cooler. Do you have vacuum advance?

 

[pontiacgp]

I have the temp sensor in the intake.
It reads roughly 220 going down the road a 75mph ( I live in Texas). I suspect it is more that I don't have a overdrive trans in it, and it also has 3.23 gears in the rear. It is spinning around 3500rpm at 75. I am probably going to put some highway gears in it soon probably like a 2.47 ratio or so.

in 1974 Grand Prix with the non overdrive 400 transmission I had 2:93 rear end gears and that ratio was great for the highway and city.

 

[pontiacgp]

Sometimes your coolant can flow too quickly for the radiator to do its job. For grins, try a 195 degree thermostat and see if the temp improves. Also, more advance will make it run cooler. Do you have vacuum advance?

and if that is happening the engine temp can actually be higher than the coolant temp. If the coolant isn't hanging around long enough it doesn't absorb the heat from the engine

 

[Ve8r]

I am running vacuum advance 48degrees total all in by 2500.
It doesn't exhibit any overheating symptoms such as boiling over or anything. No spark knock.
I have wondered if the gauge/sender is accurate as well.