Underhood temps
 

I'm looking at doing a massive underhood rewire and need to know the temperature ratings that the wire will have to sustain. Does anyone have numbers from under their hood, preferably from various spots.

S4 N/A (yay no turbo heat)

I can get them to you once my infrared thermometer gets here! I'll check all the areas where there are wire harnesses.

Cool, sounds good. I have two main options from Waytek: ~170 degree and ~250 degree. It says the 170 degree is OEM replacement, but wanted to make sure.

well, apparently my order is already in town so I should get it soon. I'll update you with any info I find.

I can get you air intake temps at the MAF and after the throttle body... but I don' think that's what you want.

I would go with the 250 degree wire. I am pretty confident that the wiring harness area gets above 170 degrees as the wire loom I used when I built the wiring harness for the Haltech in the '86 was rated at 80 C (176F) at it melted where it crossed the passengers edge of the engine (I was running elevated EGT due to a 16:1 AFR).

Well I looked up the difference and it's maybe 1c per foot. I'd still like the know the temperatures for general knowledge, but I'll probably go with the good stuff.

Now here's the other question. I've been looking at Waytek wire and they have 3 options in the higher temperature:
1. SXL - Standard Wall
2. GXL - Thin wall
3. TXL - Extra thin wall

The prices are comparable (10GA is from .32 to .36/foot). Any opinions on which to go with?

And to clarify my project, I'm mostly looking at redoing the driver's side (power) harness. The passenger side (emissions) harness may come later.

I believe the wall's refer to the ability for the wire to fend of RF-I.

Ok, so I quickly did a bunch of reading from the driver's side and nothing was hotter than 160*F.

This was after 20 minutes of driving at normal speeds (no redlining or any of that fun stuff) so temps may increase a tad more. I'll go ahead and take more reading and take pics by the time the weekend is over.

What's your setup (including exhaust)?

here is a pic:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...riptoSF079.jpg


S5 NA
air filter, Fiero efan (wired in properly with thermoswitch), pineapple racing sleeves, disabled PS and AC, RB header, midpipe and HKS catback.


I took readings from all electrical connectors on the Driver's side as I got out of the car at work this morning.

well, I did some more readings and I saw temps as high as 160* on the driver's side and as much as 180* on the passenger's side (headers).

Just go with the higher temp wires mang!

I most likely will go with the higher temp wiring considering they're not too much more expensive and probably needed. This is all assuming I ever get off my ass and do this... :p

P.S. Thanks for the readings Phoenix.

Could I get a link for the site you used for your harness? I want to start pricing it out how much a custom harness would run me.

I was just looking off www.WaytekWire.com for the wire and terminals. I've seen sites with pre-made harnesses, but I doubt any would work well with the 7. Most are for old hot rods.