Warm Air Intake?
I just heard of something called a “Warm Air Intake” today. It is as it sounds: an air intake system designed to pull warm air from the engine, heater core, and/or exhaust manifold(s). Some people seem to think that these somehow improve fuel economy. Has anyone else heard of these? Am I the only one looking at the science behind this, and ending up completely and utterly baffled? It seems very backwards from almost everything I know.
Comments
hot air = more space between molecules less fuel possibly needed to keep it form running lean (need verification) but less HP after all that?! got me knackerd how this would help
I usually joke about it because I have a open pod filter that came on my car. But I don’t see why that would increase fuel economy. But I haven’t actually thought about it
I have heard of EGR ( exhaust gas recirculation) being used in cars to improve efficiency.
my volvo has a valve in front of the air filter which is controlled by the water thermostat. when the car is warm, it is a cold air intake. when the car is cold, it switches to “hot air intake” mode, which draws air directly from near the exhaust manifold. in cold weather, this helps the engine warm up faster, which wastes less fuel because it doesn’t have to run rich as long as it would have without the hot air.
It’s a hypermiler trick, together with running the engine lean, and adjusting the intake valve closing to r*tard it.
Some older cars with carburetors(vw golf mk2 for example) have it from factory - it’s needed for winter driving, so that the carb won’t freeze.