Aftermarket IAT sensor that fits in the stock location

[Samurai 20V]

As above, does anyone know of an IAT that will fit into the stock location in the intake?

 

Do people usually change the IAT when goign standalone, or stick with stock?

 

Thanks.

[Mike2JZ]

Typically the stock sensor works fine when doing standalone install. However, due to location on intake manifold it can suffer quite badly from heatsoak. Any sensor located on the inlet manifold usually suffers the same fate.

 

So there isn't much point changing to another sensor if using the same location. Normally when using an aftermarket sensor, we get them installed just before the throttle body on the intake charge pipe. Here they won't suffer from heatsoak and still give a fairly accurate reading of the air before it hits the cylinders.

 

If you did want to replace your stock sensor with another in same location then I think the thread size is something like M16 x 1.5.

[Samurai 20V]

Thanks Mike..

 

Is the OEM fast enough to respond?

 

With its location, is it not a better estimation of the charge air temp as opposed to having the sensor in the intake?

Hence not needing much charge air temp correction.

[Swampy442]

I spoke to the guy at Fensport when researching my Link install, he says the stock sensor is bad for response time, he fits and open air type sensor, like this

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Inlet-Air-Temperature-Temp-Sensor-Dta-Megasquirt-Me221-Dta-Syvecs-Haltech-Link/273896837942

[Mike2JZ]

Thanks Mike..

 

Is the OEM fast enough to respond?

 

With its location, is it not a better estimation of the charge air temp as opposed to having the sensor in the intake?

Hence not needing much charge air temp correction.

 

OEM speed is adequate from my own experience, works fine if your setup is stock and you are using P&P Ecu and not looking to over complicate things.

 

Generally if your intercooling system is good you won't be needing a super fast IAT sensor as the temperature fluctuations won't be huge anyway. An oem sensor still highlights any inadequacies with the intercooler system, but it is slower to respond for sure. Going to a faster sensor won't hurt though, I use one myself on my single build but have used stock sensor to good use many times.

 

In a perfect world having an IAT sensor as close to where the air charge meets the cylinder would net the best results for air temp corrections, in practice though we are only measuring the best estimate of air charge temp. If you want to be really anal then your IAT's would change based on cylinder position and inlet distribution, but not really worth the aggro trying to account for this either by using IAT as a reference.

 

The engine is a hot place so even having the sensor mounted on the inlet leads to the sensor usually getting skewered results from the heat soak of the hot inlet manifold. The problem with heat soak it is not always representative of the air charge temperature. Just because the inlet manifold might be 50C, the air charge temp could be 20C and wont be affected by the inlets heat as it passes by with high velocity (under boost). However the sensor itself cannot distinguish this difference very well if its heat soaked.

 

I'm sure you could ask 10 tuners and get a variety of answers but many tuners will opt to place the sensor before throttle body away from the heatsoak as the data received of the airflow temp charge without heatsoak is more representative of the intercoolers efficiency & airflow charge at a given point, even if it is a few centimeters away from the cylinder. Fueling or ignition based IAT strategies may be more accurate under more scenario's than a sensor located in inlet manifold using this logic. Though you could make an arguement the other way round.

 

Personally I'd try the stock sensor first in stock position then compare to a sensor mounted elsewhere and make your own conclusion on the matter.

 

If you are using modelled mode for fueling on the Link ECU there is a map you can play with called Charge Temp approximation table. This table is aimed towards addressing heat soak on IAT sensors so you can define a bias between ECT or IAT to dictate air charge temperature depending on if the air speed is fast or low (under boost vs idle for example).

Edited March 7, 2020 by Mike2JZ (see edit history)

[Samurai 20V]

Thanks Mike..

 

I'll stick with stock for now..

[Krister]

I disagree. The stock sensor is too slow if you are after performance. Depending how good your intercooler is, doing a highway pull the IAT:s can rise quite fast and high IAT is one of the top reasons for detonation. A slow sensor wont catch fast rising IAT:s.