Will

So, drove the car today, this is an 05 s2k that is bone stock, only about 700 miles. When I got home, I looked under the hood and the intake manifold seriously burned my hand when I touched it. Well not really. But it was damn hot. Anyway, i'm sure Honda tuned for this but if you could prevent it from getting that hot, could you realize any performance gains, or at least be running more safely? Doesn't the Hondata intake manifold gasket help with this issue? And has anyone constructed a heat shield to block heat coming from the upper radiator hose? Just curious.

Will

CoralDoc

Ouch!
You have discovered one of the basic physical properties of aluminum - it is an excellent conductor of heat.

There is nothing unsafe about intake manifold heating, and it is a desireable quality when ambient temperatures are low. However, when heat-soaked (like after a hard drive on the highway followed by idling), the S2000 engine will decline in performance. Some owners have installed the Hondata insulating gasket to prevent this phenomenon.

double11

Intake air temps have been shown to be up to 20 degrees cooler on the Honda B-series engines with the intake manifold heat shield type gasket.

I'm sure the gasket will do the same for the F20C, and it will make just enough power that you might feel it in the seat of your pants.

My room-mate has one sitting around here for his S, just hasn't gotten around to putting it on yet.

Cheers