Temps at different places
I don't have a Windoze laptop because I am a Mac bigot. Rrrrrrr.
However the cheapest all-in-one reader is $299, which is less than the $700 one by a lot. I'll call them up next week and see what they have to say.
More importantly, I think the most interesting data would be to determine:
0. Ambient outside temp (at stationary position)
1. Air temp at front entry port to stock system
2. Air temp at (or inside) air filter box
3. Air temp at IAT sensor
I am very curious how these temperatures relate, and how the various warm air mods change them. Doing a radiator block, or cold air inflow blocks like I use sometimes, will change how the different areas of the engine compartment keep or pass heat and it is fun to look at that.
Ideally, we can find a reproducible difference so that all Insight drivers out there can get a cheap remote thermometer set-up and stick it in one place and thereby indirectly estimate their IAT sensor reading within some reasonable error - without having to spend more than 10-20 bucks on a cheapo outdoor thermometer.
For example, if the IAT sensor is 10 degrees hotter than the air filter box air temp, then that would indicate that 110 degrees is good for that temp to get to the 120 IAT reading Insightful Trekker mentions (as a higher limit). With the unmodified stock system, I've never gotten that high at >50 mph, even driving with outside air into the 80s. If 90 is the target at the AIT sensor, then filter box of 80 would be good.
Second question, is how speed impacts these readings. As expected, when I am going faster I see temps for my sensors drop, and I don't imagine that Honda has the Insight doing extra heating for faster driving, so the AIT temps must be dropping as well. How much does speed push air through, vs. the engine sucking it through? Apparently a lot!
