This is something that has been on my mind as long as I had this car, about 5 months now.
I been reading up and did not find anyone really proving this or denying this, so I decided to test it myself.
Intake short ram pipe, in my case its K&N aluminum pipe that heat soaks like crazy during stops.
I know some will say that it don't matter because turbos compressing air and making it hot anyway, then why worry about cold air intake from outside of the engine, let just take one from engine bay and call it good, anyway back to my test.
Ambient Temp 36F
TEST 1, AS IS
For car to full operating temp, engine and transmission, pulled in to garage shut the engine down for 5 minutes. after 5 min came back started engine up and here are my measurements after 5 min heat soak:
Intake Temp (at the filter) - 68.00F
CAC Temp (at throttle body) - 70.16F
IAT2 Temp (manifold) - 120.19F
TEST 2, wrapped short ram pipe with exhaust heat shield wrap, see photos.
30 min after first test, Went back for another quick drive to bring my temps back up to same temps, came back home, parked in the garage, shot engine off, 5 min later, started the car and readings are:
Intake Temp (at the filter) - 62.59F
CAC Temp (at throttle body) - 73.06F
IAT2 Temp (manifold) - 122.00F
SO HERE YOU GO for everyone to think about and see if there are any benefits of it or not.
I am sure summer day with 95F outside change will show more dramatic...