Worth it to swap intercooler?

[Cerano]

Hey bros

 

I thinking of replacing my stock intercooler for a more efficient/larger one. Do you think it will make much of a diff?

[Burnings]

Without supporting mods, it is not necessary to change intercooler.... :)

[Mini-itx]

Yes, upgrading intercooler will usually result in a slight performance improvement, even if your car is stock.

 

However, if yours is a top mount intercooler I suggest you also install a fan to prevent heat soak when car is not moving. It will improve your pickup as well.

 

If front mount, you may want to consider turning on your fan all the time to ensure there is airflow over the intercooler. Of course this will reduce the lifespan of your fan. But then, electric fans are pretty cheap so I don't really care.

 

You may also want to consider a water to air intercooler instead of air to air. Its much more efficient but more complicated as well. I am using a water to air intercooler right now.

Edited June 26, 2010 by Mini-itx

[Zangetsu77]

Yes, there should be a difference. Go for it!! Fundamentally, you know you want it!!

[BITURBO]

Stock IC are usually not well designed or not big enough...can try aftermarket IC if you are running FI engine...

[Happily1986]

Hey bros

 

I thinking of replacing my stock intercooler for a more efficient/larger one. Do you think it will make much of a diff?

 

Technically it will make a difference. It improves performance by increasing the density of air entering combustion chamber.

[Kiadaw]

With all things remain the same, a Bigger intercooler will induce more lag, although the power may increase.

 

Thats why I am still on stock. Unless upgrade to bigger turbo, its better to keep stock, in my opinion.

 

Out of curiosity, what car are you driving?

Edited June 26, 2010 by Kiadaw

[Qr25vet]

too big a intercooler will cause a lag or a slight drop in pressure...think of it as opening up the hole on a jet washer...so be sure to choose a size which is just nice :)

[Mini-itx]

With all things remain the same, a Bigger intercooler will induce more lag, although the power may increase.

 

Thats why I am still on stock. Unless upgrade to bigger turbo, its better to keep stock, in my opinion.

 

Out of curiosity, what car are you driving?

 

Actually, getting a bigger intercooler doesn't exactly increase lag. Depending on the intercooler uses, it may actually improve response. This is because many intercoolers are actually more of a restriction causing pressure drop. If a better intercooler could reduce this pressure drop, then you will actually get better performance.

[Watwheels]

Hey bros

 

I thinking of replacing my stock intercooler for a more efficient/larger one. Do you think it will make much of a diff?

Leave it as it's, stock.

 

Some interesting facts on air to air intercooler and water based intercooler.

 

Link

 

How can an air-to-air intercooler be more efficient than a water based intercooler?

There is an overwhelming quantity of ambient air available to cool an air-to-air core relative to the charge air thru the inside of the intercooler (The iced down water intercooler is the only exception to this argument.). At just 60 mph, with a 300 bhp engine at full tilt, the ambient air available to cool the intercooler is about ten times the amount of charge air needed to make the 300 hp. Whereas the water intercooler largely stores the heat in the water until off throttle allows a reverse exchange. Some heat is expelled from a front water cooler, but the temperature difference between the water and ambient air is not large enough to drive out much heat. Another way to view the situation is that ultimately the heat removed from the air charge must go into the atmosphere regardless of whether it's from an air intercooler or a water based intercooler. The problem with the water intercooler is that the heat has more barriers to cross to reach the atmosphere than the air intercooler. Like it or not, each barrier represents a resistance to the transfer of heat. The net result; more barriers, less heat transfer.

 

 

 

 

What are the relative merits of an air or water-cooled intercooler and which would suit my purposes best?

This depends on the circumstances. These circumstances are; street use, drag racing, or endurance racing (more than two minutes).

 

Street use: The air-to-air intercooler will prove superior in efficiency when sized properly.

 

Drag racing: The short spurt of power allows the iced water to cool the charge air to below ambient temperature.

 

Endurance racing: The air-to-air intercooler is clearly superior due to the shorter route of getting the heat out of the air charge and into the atmosphere. Endurance racing would preclude the use of ice water, thus negating the singular advantage of the water intercooler. Further, the air-to-air intercooler is (virtually, see comments below) maintenance free

[Mini-itx]

Leave it as it's, stock.

 

Some interesting facts on air to air intercooler and water based intercooler.

 

Link

 

How can an air-to-air intercooler be more efficient than a water based intercooler?

There is an overwhelming quantity of ambient air available to cool an air-to-air core relative to the charge air thru the inside of the intercooler (The iced down water intercooler is the only exception to this argument.). At just 60 mph, with a 300 bhp engine at full tilt, the ambient air available to cool the intercooler is about ten times the amount of charge air needed to make the 300 hp. Whereas the water intercooler largely stores the heat in the water until off throttle allows a reverse exchange. Some heat is expelled from a front water cooler, but the temperature difference between the water and ambient air is not large enough to drive out much heat. Another way to view the situation is that ultimately the heat removed from the air charge must go into the atmosphere regardless of whether it's from an air intercooler or a water based intercooler. The problem with the water intercooler is that the heat has more barriers to cross to reach the atmosphere than the air intercooler. Like it or not, each barrier represents a resistance to the transfer of heat. The net result; more barriers, less heat transfer.

 

 

 

 

What are the relative merits of an air or water-cooled intercooler and which would suit my purposes best?

This depends on the circumstances. These circumstances are; street use, drag racing, or endurance racing (more than two minutes).

 

Street use: The air-to-air intercooler will prove superior in efficiency when sized properly.

 

Drag racing: The short spurt of power allows the iced water to cool the charge air to below ambient temperature.

 

Endurance racing: The air-to-air intercooler is clearly superior due to the shorter route of getting the heat out of the air charge and into the atmosphere. Endurance racing would preclude the use of ice water, thus negating the singular advantage of the water intercooler. Further, the air-to-air intercooler is (virtually, see comments below) maintenance free

 

Hmmm.... interesting read. But one main advantage of WTA intercooler is much shorter paths for air to travel, hence much lower turbo lag. Of course, a top mount ATA intercooler can achieve the same results. However, given the same size, a WTA one will be more efficient as water has much higher thermal conductivity and density compared to air.

 

Of course, the ultimate cooling is provided by those front mount ATA ones as they are much larger. However, downside is lag.

[Cerano]

im driving a supercharged c-class with quite alot of mods so im wondering if it'll help

[Ithunk]

swap it man.....live for the day! lol