The question being the efficiency of the intercooler on an Exige S with three different top configurations.
1. Factory hardtop
2. Top removed
3. Canvas top from Elise
I've been wondering since I got my Exige S several months ago whether the intake scoop on the car really made much difference,so I set up a little experiment.
Note that when installing the canvas top the opening on the aft part of the scoop was fettled out,as shown in the photo,for better flow. The hardtop was replaced after doing the fettle job and before all these tests.
Using a differential (delta) thermometer which shows the change in temps between the two probes I made several 50 mph runs on an 80 degree day both into and with the wind. Each run was made after getting the engine temp stabilized at 190 degrees and attempting to eliminate variances in heat soak by driving a circular route for about 4 miles. The temperature drop was noted after 2 more miles in each direction.
Run one with the roof in place showed a drop of 12 degrees with the wind and 18 degrees against the wind.
Run two with no top showed 15 degrees drop with the wind and 19 against the wind.
Run three with the canvas top showed a 17 degree drop with the wind and 22 against the wind.
Maybe 50 mph isn't the best speed for these tests but seemed to me to be a good starting point. I will attempt to try again at different ambient temps and different speeds. I did note that at low speeds of about 25 mph the temps without the stock top seemed lower than with it in place but no real data was collected.
Fettle...good word.
1. Factory hardtop
2. Top removed
3. Canvas top from Elise
I've been wondering since I got my Exige S several months ago whether the intake scoop on the car really made much difference,so I set up a little experiment.
Note that when installing the canvas top the opening on the aft part of the scoop was fettled out,as shown in the photo,for better flow. The hardtop was replaced after doing the fettle job and before all these tests.
Using a differential (delta) thermometer which shows the change in temps between the two probes I made several 50 mph runs on an 80 degree day both into and with the wind. Each run was made after getting the engine temp stabilized at 190 degrees and attempting to eliminate variances in heat soak by driving a circular route for about 4 miles. The temperature drop was noted after 2 more miles in each direction.
Run one with the roof in place showed a drop of 12 degrees with the wind and 18 degrees against the wind.
Run two with no top showed 15 degrees drop with the wind and 19 against the wind.
Run three with the canvas top showed a 17 degree drop with the wind and 22 against the wind.
Maybe 50 mph isn't the best speed for these tests but seemed to me to be a good starting point. I will attempt to try again at different ambient temps and different speeds. I did note that at low speeds of about 25 mph the temps without the stock top seemed lower than with it in place but no real data was collected.
Fettle...good word.
Attachments
-
141.2 KB Views: 1,809
-
86.3 KB Views: 1,782
-
163.9 KB Views: 1,793