Intake Air Temperature
The temperature of air entering the engine. Hotter air = less dense = less power and more knock risk.
Why it matters
High IATs reduce power and increase detonation risk. Monitoring IAT over a session reveals heat soak and intercooler effectiveness.
What to look for
IAT below 120F is ideal. 120-140F is warm. Above 140F is heat soak territory. IAT rise rate between pulls shows intercooler recovery.
Related terms
When repeated hard use causes temperatures to build up faster than the cooling system can dissipate.
How effectively the intercooler cools compressed air. 100% = ambient temp, 0% = no cooling.
When the ECU detects detonation (uncontrolled combustion), it pulls ignition timing to protect the engine. Any amount above 0 degrees means knock was detected.
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