Checked temps.......
I bought an inside/outside thermometer from Wal-mart. The out side probe had a 10 foot lead so I attached it to the screen of the BHAF at the point closest to the turbo. Unfortunately the response time of the probe is not that great. I was trying to find a way to put it inside the hose but the probe did not look like it was attached well enough. Didn't want to suck it into the turbo or engine. Might give it some more thought later. If I find a feasable way maybe I'll get 2 and put one in from the inlet side and one near the intake horn. That would yield the truest results.
Here are the results from some very limited testing.
Evening was cool, outside air temp probably 70°. Once engine was warmed up I did several runs.
Without Exhaust Blanket-----------With Exhaust Blanket
MPH --------- TEMP. ------------------------ TEMP.
35 --------- 105° ------------------------ 98°
45 --------- 90° ------------------------ 86°
55 --------- 80° ------------------------ 78°
65 --------- 78° ------------------------ 76°
Idle till cool down = Temps continued to climb, 120° and got tired of waiting (Blanket or not)
WOT = temps rose steadily (Couldn't maintain WOT for too long in the areas I drove)
I have to admit the variables involved and slowness of the sensor make the testing difficult. I do see some help from the blanket, mostly at lower speeds. Once at higher speeds the air under the hood seemed to cool significantly.
Everyone I talked to seems to be of the opinion that the intercooler works on a percentage basis. It cannot cool all the air through it to one temperature. The hotter the air in the hotter the air out.
Personally I like the blanket for the lower speeds. Going on feel of the filter after long runs it is cooler to the touch. So it has to be helping some. Knowing the small gains would I drop that much money again... . Probably not.
If I get really gung ho with this I might put the stock box back on and check temps with the snorkle removed (As this is how most use it) just to see if there is any great heat drop pulling air from the near the fender area.
I guess this would be more like my 20¢ worth
Garrett
EDIT: Disregard the dashes. I typed all spaces and the message showed up without, kinda condensed everything.