3 inch intakes
 

I just realized that many of us are using aluminum for intake tubing. Aluminum is a heat sink and absorbs heat. That means that those tubes are absorbing all the engine bay heat and inevitably heating up the IAT's.

I noticed that some people started making their own intake tubes out of PVC pipes (for other cars).

I was wondering if making 3" intakes out of PVC or other material other than aluminum would provide some advantage with IATs.

Now before anyone starts ******** on the thread, I want to make it clear that I'm not making any statements that one is better than the other. I just want to speculate with more people and run some ideas across.

The stock intakes with post-MAF silicon tubes have been proven to be very efficient exactly for that reason. Cold air long tubes are great for power gains as long as you're moving. I've often wondered why someone hasn't tried a hybrid with plastic/silicone in the engine bay and metal tube extensions for a front bumper intake filter.

Some people wrap metal tubes with heat reflective tape with very good results. Of course, the best option is a vented hood.

You would make more progress with lowering underwood temps; wrapped/ceramic-coated exhaust, heat extractor hoods/fenders, etc.
The difference in heat absorption between thin-walled aluminum and PVC wouldn't make much change to IAT over a period of time. It might matter if you're doing 1/4 mile runs with long cool downs between them, but then the point would be moot

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z1 has 3inch carbon intakes that would not suffer this issue. Carbon fibre is supposed to be a good insulator.

I did see a thread on myg37 where someone did exactly that. Metal extensions in the front and stock equipment under the hood. I think they got good results.

The air moves WAY too fast through the pipes to pick up any heat and it's never stagnant, always sucking in ambient.