This weekend I found out something intresting.
After a couple of good hard runs at the "Goodguys" Autocross, opened the hood to let some guys have a look at the motor. The engine compartment was like a frigging oven. The plastic intercooler charge pipe was too hot to touch[not good], the airbox and stock ducting were real toasty[almost as hot].
I can see why some guys are blowing holes in the charge pipe, with it being so hot. That much heat has to weaken it a lot. I'm sure with all that heat, the air in the airbox was'nt real cool either.
Glad I'm doing up a custom CAI., that will mate the airbox to the hood scoop, sealing it to the hood. That much heat under the hood ,queers any gains by the way I've been doing it in the past.
Something to ponder, if you're looking for any CAI gains.
Does make sense, since this little motor, spooled up, with lots of boost, is a major heat pump. "Moon"

 

Well I'd imagine the heat load is pretty high under hood, have you considered any additional heat shielding around the turbo itself, specifically the exhaust side....they'll just glow cherry red in even moderate use.

Another thing to consider would be hood vents or louvers to give the heat an escape path, messes up the aerodynamics a bit, but I'd think wouldn't be a huge issue in Autocross mode.

 

One thing about autocross, there's virtually no airflow, because speeds never get high enough.......

 

That's why I'm thinking he might want some additional hood venting along with his CAI setup, you're right Greybeard, not much airflow to keep the temps down under hood.

 

agreed...first thing i noticed was the under hood heat issue
so far it hasnt caused my any problems but it has got to be a big power robber even with a CAI unless your pulling outside air - i wonder what the hood would like louvered - anyone got photoshop??

 

Check out this thread, its an oldie but it covers louvers.

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/show...=louvered+hood

 

Even if you have a cold air setup, the air still enters the hot turbo, goes through all that hot piping, then gets cooled by the intercooler, before entering the intake manifold. Cai's are not very beneficial on turbo cars. I like Moon's hood scoop idea, but I would still replace the restrictive elbow on the intake. The real benefit of an intake vs. the stock airbox on these cars is the increased airflow.

An efficient intercooler will bring your ai2 temps down to ambient, that's where I would focus my $$$$, and that's as good as you can do.

 

I've experienced very noticeable drop in under hood temps and driving "spirited" and parking on my HHR SS since I've swapped over to E35 blend .

As far as IAT's, you still have IAT 1 in your MAF pre-turbo that measures air temp.

I noticed better idle and throttle response just by switching the SSA CAI filter location to outside the engine compartment instead of behind the headlight like it was designed.

It was such a noticeable difference my wife even asked me if I retuned the HHR SS again and all I did was switch air filter location for colder air.

 

do you have pics of your intake setup? are your iat2 temps any lower than before you moved the filter location?

 

that's great that you are seeing that with just an e35 blend, just imagine what e85 would do if you could run it

I can't wait to get an E tune, working out some bugs on 93, then will decide on e47 or e85