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I was wondering if anyone here has had any luck with a WAI? The warm air supposedly reduces the power output and pumping losses from the engine right? Since my commute is only 12 miles, I think it might have some benefit, on the balmy 40 degree mornings/50 degree evenings.

However, if the power is so reduced that I cannot lockup the TC or stay in 4th gear as much, it might not improve FE.

Any tips on how to go about building one?

I'm sure someone else will come in here and talk more, but from what I understand about WAI, is that it warms up your engine faster since it's sucking in warmer air. So on your 12 mi commute you should get a noticeable increase in your fe.

I'm sure someone else will come in here and talk more, but from what I understand about WAI, is that it warms up your engine faster since it's sucking in warmer air. So on your 12 mi commute you should get a noticeable increase in your fe.

That is what I am thinking.

Hitting the cold winter and seeing my FE drop, I started watching temp more. I have found during my 13 mile commute and hypermiling the car often never even gets up to optimal temperature. I installed a partial grill block, even that little bit notably helped.
By next winter I WILL have some type of WAI going. Engine temperature IS that important to FE, in my view.

On the other side of too cold - is too hot. Everything I am seeing also points to being too hot is also an issue. Example: For more power I find a number of people saying to add a Cold Air Intake (more so when it is warm)

So a way to find the balance is my question. Quick warm ups with out getting too hot.

I read basjoos’s aerocivic (http://aerocivic.com/) has a lever to open or close the grill, maintaining the desired temperature. Not directly addressing WAI, but more what I think is the actual goal - a warm engine.
I really like the idea of adjustable!!

That is what I am thinking.

Hitting the cold winter and seeing my FE drop, I started watching temp more. I have found during my 13 mile commute and hypermiling the car often never even gets up to optimal temperature. I installed a partial grill block, even that little bit notably helped.
By next winter I WILL have some type of WAI going. Engine temperature IS that important to FE, in my view.

On the other side of too cold - is too hot. Everything I am seeing also points to being too hot is also an issue. Example: For more power I find a number of people saying to add a Cold Air Intake (more so when it is warm)


Well, I live in the hellish SoCal climate where it is always hot/warm, except for the few balmy 40 degree mornings in January/December. For example, tomorrow's forecast is be 80/46, bone dry, 0% chance of precipitation. So the "too hot" might be a concern.

But generally, I do commute in the cooler hours, so it might help...

If the temperature needle doesn't make its way to at least about the 1/3 mark after driving 5 miles you probably need a new thermostat. My thermostat was locked in the open position and so my engine couldn't get warm in the cold. Replacing it and flushing my radiator was easier than changing my oil! Now my temp gauge gets to the middle mark after a few miles and stays there even if its extremely cold outside. A warm air intake will definitely improve FE a lot during those first few miles as your car will warm up a bit faster and it will run better before it's warm as the air coming in will be warmer and so better able to dissolve fuel. However if you'll see a reduction in power when the engine is fully warm and it's a warm day out when you really step on the petal (something hypermilers rarely do). I don't believe you will see a reduction in FE except for when it is very warm out.

Every engine reacts differently to WAIs. The best thing is to try it out and see if it works. Dryer ducting is cheap. :)

Every engine reacts differently to WAIs. The best thing is to try it out and see if it works. Dryer ducting is cheap. :)

Haha, I just realized it is ridiculously easy for me to install a WAI. The airfilter box has an pipe sticking out of the side facing the exhaust output from the engine. All I need to do is remove the stock AI, and get about 18 inches of 3 inch dryer duct. I'll probably try it out this weekend.

Besides the benefits mentioned above a WAI has the benefit of allowing your ICE to run more lean - because warm air is less dense than cold. Your ECM adjusts accordingly. This is part of the reason FE declines so much during the colder months - your system runs richer as a result of the denser, colder air coming in to the intake. I'm considering installing a WAI on my new-to-me Sentra. Should be easy enough to do. I've read that it can cause pinging in some ICEs though.