I recently installed a 93 octane Predator tune to my 06 MN6. I am very happy with the tune. I even adjusted my LTFT with good results. The light throttle response is much better now, however, from time to time I noticed a loss of power.

After a bit of research on the forum, and by paying more attention to when it happens, I have determined that the problem is an increase in IAT (it only happens for a short time after driving in frequent stop and go traffic, and after sitting at a light for a min or two). This happens even when the outside temps are in the low 30's.

I'm thinking of getting a Vararam CAI to help eliminate this problem. My question is as follows. Is it possible for the IAT to be too low? My car is a daily driver, and the temps here drop into the low 20's from time to time.

This seems like it is a design flaw with the C6 (having the intake draw air only from the hot engine compartment), or was it engineered that way to protect vehicles driven in very cold, dry weather?

Sorry if this is a dumb question

 

well I'll try and answer for you if your engine temp reaches 200 degrees the engine starts to pull timing which will take power away I put a vararam on my 08 and love it but to keep it from dropping power after being in this wonderful traffic in Va beach lol.get a 160 thermostat and reprogram your fans to come on earlier. hope this helps

 

Thanks for the reply lockman. I believe the Predator tune already changes when the fans turn on. As far as the 160 deg themo, I think I'll wait until the summer and see if I really need it.

BTW, has anyone who added a Vararam had any cooling issues? Does the addition of the intake duct block some of the air heading to the radiator? Is this why people use the lower thermo, or is it just a good idea in general?

What I was asking in my OP is if I should be concerned about adding a CAI like the Vararam to a car that sees winter temps in the teens and twenties? Will that very cold dry air lean out the AFR? Am I overthinking things here?

 

q1: no, cooling is not affected
q2: no, no such thing as too low IAT. Yesterday it was 34 degrees and my IAT was right at 40 gotta love that!

160 thermo is I think a waist of time. If you research it, alot of tuners have noticed that most LS cars make most power at around 200-210, and actually lost power running cooler.
I've set my fan via HP tuner and now I rarely see 210 unless the AC is on. I've seen temps in the 189 while on the highway in cold weather, and about 193 during warmer days.

 

Thanks mirage2991. Looks like my next mod is going to be a Vararam

 

well as for making more power when runing at 200-210 how is that possible when the pcm starts pulling timeing when the temp hits 200.
when I put the 160 therostat in it lowered my temp to 180 even in the middle of the summer here in Va Beach. and as far as adding the cai and it causing heat problems I added mine right after I bought the car and love the intake and I DD my car as well. I would put the vararam on.

 

Wouldn't be surprised if your seeing detonation and the car is pulling timing. I used the Predator on my former 05 GTO (LS2 motor). Couldn't run any of the canned diablo tunes.....car consistently made LESS power on the dyno....it gained 10-15hp going to the STOCK tune. SOTP really fooled me, I swore the car was faster/throttle much improved in the low end. Then I compared it with stock timing tables....diablo cranked the timing down low, which helped make the car "seem" faster....then that cranked timing became too much, and the PCM started to pull timing in the mid-upper rpms resulting in the power loss seen on the dyno.

Handheld tuner days where over at that point.

But to the point a nice setup would be Vararam+160 t-stat+tune (either hp tuners or EFI). Your car will run more consistent, it's been a potent and proven minimal bolt-on setup. Those saying the t-stat is a WASTE are out of their minds. There's a reason so many tuners opt to run the car a little cooler, it's a "cheap" mod and will help your car run much more consistent.
When I did a bit of drag racing with the GTO coolant temp was directly proportional to trap speed, if coolant was in the 200 or lower range I would hit 107 traps, if it was in the 220+range I'd be lucky to trap 103-104......that's like a 30rwhp change just in temps from hotlapping and letting the car sit an hour. Same situation applies to vettes, too hot and the car will pull a ton of timing.

So to sum it up.....your power loss could be partly the predator to blame. Consider a real tune as opposed to a one size fits all generic tune.
Highly consider a 160 degree t-stat, with the proper one you'll run consistently in the 180-200 range, sweet spot.
Vararam will also help increase performance and get you cool air, keep in mind your driving and if you drive alot in rain. Much higher risk of sucking up water with a scoop style intake. Weigh the risks but imo the Vararam is the best performing. I no longer use it though after a serious water scare.

I cannot notice any change in performance on warm days compared to cooler ones, a nice benefit of a proper tune in combo with t-stat and intake.

 

If there is rain...there may be water...for a front end air scoop like the Vette-Air or Vararam. Do you drive in the rain? If so, you might want to consider a Calloway, Breathless, LPE or such, that has their intake opening higher up and on the opposite side of the radiator. Thus making it much tougher (but not impossible) to ingest water.

 

yup I drive in the rain, and unless you plan on going in a 10 inch pundle at 40mph, I wouldn't worry about it too much...for the water to get all the way in there, it would have to go past the filter, and you'd need to stay on the throtle.
no problem so far...not saying it never has been a problem but I think there's more than what meet the eyes from those that have posted water issue...just sayin'

 

That is what was posted on other forums by dyno tuners

 

I agree with installing a 160 t-stat and driving in rush hours traffic between home and DC, the temps barely reaches 185.

I would not worry a single bit about driving in the rain with the Vararam...unless you have lowered your car and want to become a U-boat commander and drive through 6-8 inches of water.

Following the thunderstorm shown in the pics below, I drove through 3-4 inches of standing water without any problems. I also don't hesitate to drive in the rain (BTW, it doesn't melt if it gets wet).



I would recommend you install the Vararam...just be careful not to poke a hole in the condenser when cutting the shroud or you will not be a happy camper...remove the shroud just to be sure.

 

I see pics of vettes parked in the rain. So? I have seen here issues of Vararam water ingestion in ankle deep water. Individual experiences obviously may vary. Some may not want to take the risk. Hydrolock certainly would not be covered under warranty with a non oem intake. Even the C6 manual has a say about water ingestion with the stock intake!

I have seen water issues reported on other forums with VR and even some were from other manufacturer's too. None of them resulted from a 10" Noah Ark disaster either. Sometimes if you play, ya gotta pay!

 

I guess I should have been more succinct and said, there was standing water 3-4 inches deep after the thunderstorm stopped.

I have over 40k miles of use with my Vararam with no problems driving in wet weather. It should not be a problem unless he has lowered/slammed his car (my car is not lowered) and drives through water 6+ in deep or a low spot in the roadway which could be enough to cause water to be ingested into the engine.

 

I didn't have issues driving in rain till one bad night. After that near disaster I had nerves driving in rain with the Vararam. Recently put an Airaid intake on and am happy with it and the additional peace of mind.

Deciding if I should sell it now or do some back to back comparisons at the track this spring....perhaps just keep it for track days.

 

Wow that is some rain.

 

i have a vararam and i had to drive from new york city to my house in a horrible downpour. 2-2.5 hours of pouring interstate driving. i was terrified. Made it home fine, checked the filter the next day, totally dry. Still is scary

 

Thanks evenone for your input.

My car is at stock hieght, and as a DD I do drive it in the rain. It is rare that I drive through puddles, and if I do get the Vararam (which I likely will) then I will be even more careful.

I am not certain that I need the 160 thermostat. I've read many posts both for and against using one. From my personal experience so far, I've only noticed a decrease in performance when there is a lot of hot air in the engine bay (sitting in traffic, sitting at a long light, after some spirited driving, etc.). My engine temp stays around 205-210. It seems like as long as there is some cool air feeding in the engine the performance is top notch.

 

i have the vararam drive in rain and snow, get a tune and get the 160 stat, the vararam is a great mod i went from 12.91 to 12.38 when i added it. look where i am now and still have it, thanks VARARAM

 

This was at the 2007 ALMS Sebring race and we found out later on that afternoon that a small tornado had touched down at the civilian airport which was about a 1.5 miles away...

 

I also have the VaraRam with a 160 thermo. Get it, you will not be disappointed. At 45MPH and lower you will notice no difference from stock, but above that.....whew, you will feel it and will love it. By the way, I don't drive my Vette in the rain, so I don't worry about it.