Plenum warmer

[tchuck]

I was removing my plenum today to get some measurements and it occurred to me that the two coolant lines connected to the upper plenum (near the TB) are meant to heat the plenum. I quickly researched this a bit online and found it to be a fairly common practice in OEM plenum design that apparently aids in fuel atomization, etc... Basically it is heating up the plenum and the air inside that I am trying so hard to keep cold. My question is: Can I simply connect the two lines together, effectively bypassing the plenum? Are there any hidden consequences? I didn't see any coolant attachment points on the Cosworth plenum...

 

[Tko512iFX]

Yes, you can do that!!! I have the Kinextix Racing Upper Plenum, and that is exactly what you do. They supply you with an L fitting to connect the 2 lines

 

[fxlr8]

yup, mine has been bypassed for a couple of years.

 

[tchuck]

Excellent. Thanks guys.

 

[jbaker1121]

yup, my plenum spacer came with a switch..open for the winter, closed for the summer.

 

[Frankiago]

Careful with your butterfly valve in the throttle body in cold weather...

 

[tchuck]

yup, my plenum spacer came with a switch..open for the winter, closed for the summer.

How does the spacer interface with the coolant lines? Mine connect to the upper half of the plenum. Like this:



---------- Post added at 11:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:32 PM ----------

Careful with your butterfly valve in the throttle body in cold weather...

Can you elaborate? Is this a general caution or does it relate to the removal of the coolant lines?

 

[COPPERFX]

I have the switch too! Came with the Motordyne Iso Kit! Awesome set-up!

 

[jbaker1121]

JB, pic?

uhhhhhhh let me see if i can get one it's hard to see it since its behind the intake.

I have the switch too! Came with the Motordyne Iso Kit! Awesome set-up!

yesirrrr

 

[theMerchant]

here is a pic from motordyne ...

Iso Thermal upgrade with Aramid gasket and Coolant Control Valve Motordyne Iso ThermalT is the most comprehensive plenum thermal management system available. The upgrade will l reduce heat transfer into the upper and lower plenum assembly and helps to reduce power loss as the engine bay becomes heat soaked. Compatible with any type of plenum stock or modified. Recommended for warm climates generally above 45 ° F.

http://www.motordyneengineering.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_5&products_id=48

I got the full kit also ....
http://www.motordyneengineering.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_5&products_id=43

 

[jumbosrule]

I was removing my plenum today to get some measurements and it occurred to me that the two coolant lines connected to the upper plenum (near the TB) are meant to heat the plenum. I quickly researched this a bit online and found it to be a fairly common practice in OEM plenum design that apparently aids in fuel atomization, etc... Basically it is heating up the plenum and the air inside that I am trying so hard to keep cold. My question is: Can I simply connect the two lines together, effectively bypassing the plenum? Are there any hidden consequences? I didn't see any coolant attachment points on the Cosworth plenum...

Not to derail this thread, but this is a cooling line for the intake manifold collector, not a heating line. It's part of the FX cooling system, listed as part of the "cooling circuit" on page CO-9 & CO-10 (Cooling, pp 9&10) of the manual.

The Intake manifold collector, oil cooler and heater coolant lines all run to the thermostat before going to the water pump, cylinder block and cylinder heads, in that order.

 

[gto]

So are you saying that the switch, or bypass is not useful, & not adding heat if not modified?

 

[jumbosrule]

So are you saying that the switch, or bypass is not useful, & not adding heat if not modified?

No the switch is beneficial - but only because all temperature is relative. The reason to turn it off in the summer is because the coolant is warmer to begin with and using the valve open, it may bring in more heat than it takes away as the coolant warms up UNTIL the engine reaches the heat soak point. After heat soak, the temperature of the coolant is going to be pretty high and not beneficial to lowering manifold tempsl.

The reason to turn it on (valve open) in the winter is because the coolant temperatures stay lower with the colder air working to exchange heat in the radiator. It takes longer to reach heat soak and the coolant temperatures would benefit the intake temperatures up until heat soak is reached. After heat soak, again - not too much benefit.

 

[tchuck]

Not to derail this thread, but this is a cooling line for the intake manifold collector, not a heating line. It's part of the FX cooling system, listed as part of the "cooling circuit" on page CO-9 & CO-10 (Cooling, pp 9&10) of the manual.

The Intake manifold collector, oil cooler and heater coolant lines all run to the thermostat before going to the water pump, cylinder block and cylinder heads, in that order.

I don't have the manual. Can you post those pages?

 

[gto]

Oh, OK.
I dont think I have it bypassed. Been a while since I even looked at it. It's always warm out here

 

[jumbosrule]

View attachment 200138

View attachment 200139

 

[jbaker1121]

For some reason my camera was not being cooperative with focusing...and the angle made it hard to get a shot....but here are a couple of pictures...

 

[tchuck]

Jumbo, those illustrations show coolant leaving the cylinder heads and traveling directly to the heater and the manifold collector. At that point, isn't the coolant heating the collector, just like it is heating the heater core? In my (albeit brief) research I came across several instances where these lines are referred to as "throttle body heater" lines, and "plenum warmer" lines. Never were they referred to as cooling lines, though since coolant runs through them they are technically part of the "coolant system".

 

[turbocad6]

it's heating the manifold for sure, not cooling it.

 

[jbaker1121]

it's heating the manifold for sure, not cooling it.

thats why off in the summer, on in the winter is the way to go