Vz intake insulator...

[MattMarkey]

Hi guys,
last week I installed the air intake insulator and my fuel consumption has jumped from around 10.5l/100km to 13.9l/100km. I have not been driving any different.
Any reason?? Considering this is meant to lower fuel economy.
Cheers

[one_and_only2004]

Is it idling the same?

[MattMarkey]

Yes it is.
All I did was a general service, spark plugs, oils, radiator, filters and installed the intake insulator.
Everything is all normal except my fuel consumption has rocketed.

[Dr HaxZaw]

dunno about the alloytec (im assumming thats what your talking about) but i know after i did the exhaust on my ecotec feul went up from about 9.5 to about 11.5 to 12... lasted about a week and then dropped down to about 8.2
i know there different engines but i heard sometimes the computer adjusts to the modifications but it doesnt do it overnight...
happy to be proven wrong though

[MattMarkey]

Funny u should say that because it seems to be dropping now. But something like an insulator for ur intake manifold should not raise ur fuel consumption between 3.5 to 4 litres per 100kms. Thats crazy..

[NAVZCALAIS]

Whats happening is your increasing the amount of cold air into your engine. Colder air is denser so more fuel can be injected for more power, this is where your fuel consumtion is coming from. The MAF measures the amount of air coming into your engine and the O2 sensors measure how much air is in your exhaust. Because of the denser air in your engine there is more O2 in your exhaust so the ECU signals your injectors to inject more fuel because of this. Once its 'bedded' in and the ECU can read the difference your fuel consumption should drop

[MattMarkey]

Sounds right. It is dropping still, sitting on about 12l/100km and going down still
Thanks guys

[MACE]

Give it time. You can make the computer relearning process quicker by resetting if you wanted to.

Cheers,
Steve

[MattMarkey]

resetting the computer? how do i go about that? and will it mess anything else up?

[MACE]

I normally disconnect the battery myself, and leave it disconnect for a few minutes. If you do it this way you'll have to put the security code in for the factory radio and re-set stations in radio.

You can also pull out the ECU fuse preventing the above from my understanding, however I disconnect the battery myself out of force of habit.

In saying the above there probably is a better way of doing it all together

Cheers,
Steve

[NV-MY-VT]

Gday Mace,

I've just come from the VT forums where your parts come highly recommended.

I'm really looking for an informal quote on getting a little "more" out of my VT Olympic Edition.

The sort of budget I'm aiming for is around $3000, but this is flexible. In my limited experience, I was thinking of doing Extractors, Headers, Rockers, Cold air intake and new plugs and leads. Further down the line I was also looking at perhaps doing something with the exhaust system, but I don't really know what.

What advise can you offer as to parts, and can you give me a ballpark figure as to what this will cost? Any advice is much appreciated!

[MACE]

Hey NV-MY-VT,

To be honest if you’re sticking with bolt-ons you won’t need to spend that much, even if you get someone else to do all of the work.

What I would recommend, assuming your car is in good services order (with new plugs and leads, oil etc.)

Cat back exhaust system (don’t worry about extrators of a high flow cat unless yours are stuffed)
Higher ratio rockers
Manifold spacers
Cold air intake kit
69mm throttle body
Memcal

Depending on what your order parts will be around the 1.5-2k mark while labour would be around the $300-$500 mark give or take

If you have any more questions please don’t hesitate to ask.

Cheers,
Steve

[Tuttle]

I have just installed the intake insulator on my VZ V6, a job made very easy by an excellent walk through by mace, cheers guys.

I do have a small question:

I have just driven the car for the first time after installing the insulator (also changed oil and spark plugs), about 6km on flat roads and after leaving it to sit for 2 hours have felt the top of the manifold. The manifold still feels quite warm and about the same as a mate with the same car but stock insulator who came with me (same distance driven).

Im just wondering if it is possible that I have installed it wrong because I thought that it would be noticeably cooler with the 12mm insulator especially over a short distance??

Or am under the wrong impression about the reduced heat transfer to the manifold

Cheers

[MACE]

Hey Tuttle,

Unless the car is not running normally then you’ve installed them correctly

In regards to the insulation ability of the insulator they work by blocking heat transfer via conduction. What this means is that they directly block heat that is in direct contact with another component, in this case hot lower runners to upper plenum.

When the car is driving and there is sufficient air flow there will be a noticeably reduction in manifold temp. However under heavy stop start conditions or shut downs over a long period of time it will eventually heat up predominately due to natural convection.

To appreciate where I’m coming from, if you get another chance to do the same test, try touch the manifolds (better yet say using an infrared thermometer) just when you guys pull up to your destination. You should notice a greater temperature

Hope this clears things up

If you have any more questions please don’t hesitate to ask.

Cheers,
Steve

[Tuttle]

Thanks Steve,

I knew that there was reduced heat conduction just never thought there would be so much natural convection.

Thanks for clearing that up.

[bigjim92]

Give it time. You can make the computer relearning process quicker by resetting if you wanted to.

Cheers,
Steve

This will most likely be a tough question to answer, but how many km's will the car need to do for the computer to adjust once fitting the manifold insulators?
I helped a mate install manifold insulators and your CAI to his car just over a month ago now, and he's been complaining to me about fuel consumption going up (by around 2-3litres per 100km)... It's dropped a bit now, but we were both hoping to see a reduction.
Next time I see him we'll try disconnecting the battery though.

[MACE]

This will most likely be a tough question to answer, but how many km's will the car need to do for the computer to adjust once fitting the manifold insulators?
I helped a mate install manifold insulators and your CAI to his car just over a month ago now, and he's been complaining to me about fuel consumption going up (by around 2-3litres per 100km)... It's dropped a bit now, but we were both hoping to see a reduction.
Next time I see him we'll try disconnecting the battery though.

At most it can take a couple of tank fulls though ever car is different. You can try resetting the computer which should make the learning process quicker

If you have any more questions please don't hesitate to ask.

Cheers,
Steve

[frank6969]

Does it improve performance I was thinking of getting one

[MACE]

Does it improve performance I was thinking of getting one

It sure does, from testing we have found that the manifold spacers improve torque right from idle (approx 10% due to the increased runner length) which naturally means a increase in power. You also get improvements in fuel economy because the intake charge going into the cylinder is cooler. Cooler/denser air contains more oxygen which means you can add more fuel to produce more power.

In reality this is one of the few mods that doesn't have any negative impact on performance in any way.

Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any more questions.

Bart

[frank6969]

Hey mace well I ordered and within 2 days I received the insulators put them strait in was a very easy install thanks too your instructions. The car loves them lol I've noticed it reves out alot smother and the take off feels more responsive after driving for a solid half hour the manifold is still cold to touch, so I say a top product and I highly recommend to anyone interested.

[NAVZCALAIS]

Hey guys just on the topic on mainfold insulators. As far a i'm aware you can't run the insulator with the CPR6 mainfold? When i got both of mine i had already modified my bonnet a bit so it would fit. I'm just wondering is it possible to fit both in withour alterations to the bonnet?
Cheers

[MACE]

Hey mace well I ordered and within 2 days I received the insulators put them strait in was a very easy install thanks too your instructions. The car loves them lol I've noticed it reves out alot smother and the take off feels more responsive after driving for a solid half hour the manifold is still cold to touch, so I say a top product and I highly recommend to anyone interested.

Ah excellent frank6969

Glad to hear you're happy with the product.

Hey guys just on the topic on mainfold insulators. As far a i'm aware you can't run the insulator with the CPR6 mainfold? When i got both of mine i had already modified my bonnet a bit so it would fit. I'm just wondering is it possible to fit both in withour alterations to the bonnet?
Cheers

On the VEs it is from my understanding, if anything it helps a little with the installation process. Though it can rub up against the plastic cowl on the back of the firewall, but apparently it's not a problem.

VZs on the other hand can struggle with the CPR6 by themselves, so I dare to run both, the bonnet will need to be modified

Cheers,
Steve