So we all know the aluminum Z Tube has heat soak. I experienced that after installing it, I mainly got it for sound. But now that I've experienced the heat soak personally, let's talk about preventing it.

Theoretically, could a heat protective coating on the inside (or outside if it could maintain the look of the chrome/polished aluminum) of the pipe prevent outer heat soak? It sounds logical, and a thinner coating shouldn't prevent air from being sucked in.

 

Anything you do to a pop-charger including painting or using wrap will have little effect on heat because that filter is sucking hot air which lives under your hood! Buy Stillens CAI/Z-Tube intake, it's the only one besides OE that isn't subjected to heat. Made of poly plastic with a covered K&N giant cone filter it still has the sound your looking for without the loss of power! That's what I use as my back up and comes with a CARB sticker making it legal everywhere...Gary

 

I thought the PopCharger was hood sealed, and only sucks air from the grille? If that's the case, it's sucking air from the outside. Wouldn't wrapping it or protective coating it negate the inner heat soak that occurs from the engine?

Damn bad engine/bay design lol.

I'm not worried about CARB legal, only thing truly illegal in Rhode Island are test pipes and obnoxiously loud exhausts. But basically everyone here knows someone who could get an inspection passed with a small fee