My take on air gaps...
Aluminum is highly conductive of heat. It's going to get just as hot as a non air gap, it will just take a few more minutes. If you're drag racing, it might help. On the street you want to get the engine up to temp as fast as possible, both for the health of the engine, and for air/fuel mix... getting off the choke... driveability, etc. Millions of tests have been done and it may account for a couple hp... which you'll never feel in your butt, but if it shaves .002 seconds off your quarter mile, it might be worth it.
My opinion is that air gap intakes are 100% gimmick. I might even go as far as snake oil. Squarely in the "bling" category.
In my builds, I typically keep exhaust crossovers. I want that intake hot. Does it cost me 2.7 hp? Yup. Gladly. I'll never miss it.
Aluminum is highly conductive of heat. It's going to get just as hot as a non air gap, it will just take a few more minutes. If you're drag racing, it might help. On the street you want to get the engine up to temp as fast as possible, both for the health of the engine, and for air/fuel mix... getting off the choke... driveability, etc. Millions of tests have been done and it may account for a couple hp... which you'll never feel in your butt, but if it shaves .002 seconds off your quarter mile, it might be worth it.
My opinion is that air gap intakes are 100% gimmick. I might even go as far as snake oil. Squarely in the "bling" category.
In my builds, I typically keep exhaust crossovers. I want that intake hot. Does it cost me 2.7 hp? Yup. Gladly. I'll never miss it.
