K & N air filter and temperatures

I took a cheap Radio Shack indoor/outdoor thermometer and put it in my 88 900T. There is some argument as to whether the filter-chargers which replace the stock airbox are a valid performance increase.

I used the long outdoor thermocouple to place under the hood, right beside the K & N bolt-on air-filter which I got from Group 6. Many other companies sell similar products based on K & N filters. I put the thermocouple about an inch from the air filter. I figured this would be the next best place to have it. The ultimate place would be IN the air filter, but this is just a temporary and unscientific curiousity mission. I also didn't want road dust to find its way inside the filter, had I drilled or poked a hole for the thermocouple.

Then I ran the wire behind the fusebox and in through the door. The design of the door allows me to run the wire and not worry about pinching it. The only thing it really is tight against is the soft rubber door gasket. That black stuff on the hoodlatch guide thing is anti-rust stuff to ensure that my car lasts a very long time.

The outside temperature was around 12 degrees fahrenheit. After getting it wired up, I drove the car to town and stopped by the office for about 20 minutes. This was the air temperature under the hood after letting the properly warmed up car sit for 20 minutes.

As soon as I got driving, the temperature went down VERY quickly. Proably as quickly as the thermometer, which is kind of slow responding, could keep track. Around the block, it registered 35 degrees, and within a couple minutes, it was in it's 20's. 2 miles later, on my way home, it was hovering just above 20.

What does all this mean? In a turbocharged car, cold dense air is good, and lots of it. In my opinion, as long as the car is moving, the air is cool and dense enough with this air filter. This filter allows more air in than the Saab airfilter box, but it is more affected by engine heat in some situations. I am very happy with my K & N filter-charger thing, but would not recommend it's use in place of the Saab in very warm climates (such as the southern US). It's a nice performance enhancement for others, such as those of us in the upper half of the USA, and all of Canada.

It may not have its desired effect around town with lots of stop and go traffic and traffic lights, but out on the rural roads and highways, it's a good performance enhancement, and there's plenty of fresh air.

To make it scientific, I would have to have a control which would be a similar Saab with the stock airfilter box. Too much work. I'm not getting paid to do this, nor will I get a grade for doing this or not doing this. So I'll leave it up to everyone else to experiment.

Have Fun!

-Jason