Air temperature probes

[Turbo Talon DL]

I just had a random thought while thinking about how badly I need a new intercooler setup when air temperature probes came to my mind. Does anybody know where to buy these to see air temps before and after the turbo/intercooler? I think it would be some nice-to-know information to have. Does anybody have any installed with pics? I did a search and didnt come up with anything.

 

[absolute_DSM]

I plan on doing this soon. If I remember Ill post up.

 

[Defiant]

I think all early turbo users want this, but hardly anyone bothers because it doesn't matter enough. Real ones are expensive,
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/PLX-...006QQitemZ160143104008QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V
but there are other things you could do. You'll get a "close enough" reading on the surface of the intake piping, without having to use an intrusive (and, leaking) probe. This is made for the RC racing crowd, and is cheap:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Venom-Racing-Gr...ryZ44028QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
The intake air coming out of a turbo runs around two-hundred, and the IC sheds about half that.

 

[DSM90AWD]

You can pick up a couple of the GM IAT sensors/pigtails and an Innovate SSI-4 4-channel analog/digital datalogger for <$150 total.

Nice thing about the SSI-4 is that you can use it to digitize/datalog just about any internal/external sensor (RPM, Knock, Timing, Temps, Voltage, MAP..etc) in case you want to try others in the future and is compatible with many aftermarket ECU Tuning Packages

 

[compression]

ray peters the supported vendor of integrated solutions used 3 different temp sensors , for an air to water intercooler one after turbo one after intercooler and one to measure the water temp of intercooler.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/sho...ocked+the+garage+again+now+look+what+happened

maybe he can help you with it as well.

 

[Turbo Talon DL]

You can pick up a couple of the GM IAT sensors/pigtails and an Innovate SSI-4 4-channel analog/digital datalogger for <$150 total.

Nice thing about the SSI-4 is that you can use it to digitize/datalog just about any internal/external sensor (RPM, Knock, Timing, Temps, Voltage, MAP..etc) in case you want to try others in the future and is compatible with many aftermarket ECU Tuning Packages

I was kinda hoping for something along the lines of a simple gauge, a probe, sending unit, and some wiring. Defiant gave the closest link to what I was looking for, but thats a little out of my price range. The proxy-temp probe method is not as precise as I would like. I can drill/tap threads for a fitting that dont leak, thats not the issue. I like the whole datalogging sensor but its just not what I was looking for.

 

[Turbo Talon DL]

ray peters the supported vendor of integrated solutions used 3 different temp sensors , for an air to water intercooler one after turbo one after intercooler and one to measure the water temp of intercooler.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/sho...ocked+the+garage+again+now+look+what+happened

maybe he can help you with it as well.

Fry's Electronics is where he got them from. Maybe I should have looked harder but my search didnt yield any results.

 

[turbosax2]

I know I have seen a little setup to measure your intercooler's efficiency using 2 probes and a little display. I saw it on a Supra in some magazine before. I'll try to look for it later.

 

[turbosax2]

Finally found it - Sound Performance Engineering Intercooler Digital Temperature Gauge. Really expensive though.

http://www.lancershop.com/customer/product.php?productid=383&cat=66&page=

 

[tkelly27]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Digital-K-Type-...oryZ3202QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I've seen them as low as $20 shipped with the two thermocouples you need. Thermocouples aren't as quickly responding, but with peak hold and T1-T2 it's all you really need to measure IC efficiency or figure out how hot your charge is getting.

I've never used that one, but I was planning on it. Would probably be a good idea to get it calibrated if you needed really good temp information.

 

[Defiant]

The pisser is, once you get the gauges and can read the data, then what? The IC is pretty-much a solid chunk of hardware. There's nothing there to tweak. You could fiddle with spraying it and other wastes of effort, but other than running different parts, what good's the data?

But don't go by what I say. I've always wanted a turbo tach. I'm curious just how fast that monkey's spinning.

 

[Turbo Talon DL]

The pisser is, once you get the gauges and can read the data, then what? The IC is pretty-much a solid chunk of hardware. There's nothing there to tweak. You could fiddle with spraying it and other wastes of effort, but other than running different parts, what good's the data?

But don't go by what I say. I've always wanted a turbo tach. I'm curious just how fast that monkey's spinning.

I have always loved the twist you put on things. I just like to know exactly WHAT the values of the ideal conditions are for my car to make the most power. I can always change out the IC or make a better airbox for my air filter or something.

 

[Defiant]

It'd be of use if you're swapping out multiple ICs. If you're doing that, the cost of a true, switchable IAT gauge should be incidental for you.

I'd be surprised if airbox fiddling will have much effect on the turbo output temperature. You might be able to drop the air going into the compressor by ten or fifteen degrees, but that difference will be trivial to the output of 200°F+, and there's the question of whether the larger number of molecules in the cooler air results in sufficient drag to slow the turbine more than the fewer molecules of slightly-warmer air, and if that would result in a net-zero sum gain or loss.
If you can do such research, and can get worthwhile date, you're working at university levels.

 

[99gst_racer]

I bought a gauge and probe kit from www.coolingmist.com about two years ago. It was only $50 then. I don't see it on their site anymore, but you might want to give them a call to see if it's still available.

CSR also make a kit. It's basically identical to the coolingmist kit, except for the fact that it costs twice as much.

 

[DSM90AWD]

I tried one of the "cheeper" gauges by Nordskog (Summit sells these) but was completely useless at measuring Air Temps due to the fact the probe was a non-exposed type housed in a brass fitting. These types of sensors are good for solids/liquids, but not for air. Mine would basically heatsoak from the the wicked heat from the metal UIP (where mounted) and never fluctuated more than a couple degrees under boost.

The GM IAT has an exposed thermistor which is quick to react to temp changes, hence why is so popular

 

[99gst_racer]

Interesting point, John. I wonder if it would make a difference to isolate the probe from the IC piping to help reduce heat transfer from the piping to the probe. Maybe something along the lines of a nylon bushing. Thoughts?

 

[Defiant]

Hm. IR thermometer pistol, taken apart and with the sensor remote-mounted. Hmm.

Where's our hackers?

 

[DSM90AWD]

Interesting point, John. I wonder if it would make a difference to isolate the probe from the IC piping to help reduce heat transfer from the piping to the probe. Maybe something along the lines of a nylon bushing. Thoughts?

I tried that, along with encasing the top of the fitting with rubber fuel line to insulate it from radiant heat in the engien bay. The 2-3 threads exposure of the UIP to the sensor was enough to make the sensor useless other than to read the temp of my AL UIP (cruising with no boost I'd see ~102F when was 54F outside). On the flip side, my GM IAT was within 2F of ambient in the same position/conditions and would immediately change when my boost came up.

As for the IR probe, I don't think they work well for a gas as I use mine (intact ) around my engine bay so would think radiant heat would make it ineffective if it did