Please educate me!

I somewhat understand why we need bigger and better turbo components except for the ICs. Why do some need bigger and better ICs? If you don't upgrade the ICs, what will happen? When do I know it's time to do the IC upgrade?

Thanks.

 

the only function of an intercooler is to cool the air charge before it enters the intake, lowering the air intake tempeture (or AIT). the reason why you want a lower AIT is to prevent timing pull because of a higher AIT, the lower the AIT, the better the car will run (generally speaking, until you get into 30degree-40degree F weather).

however its a trade-off, a intercooler too large (nothing youll see, mainly hondas with massive front mounts) will have a pressure loss of up to 1-2psi. but all intercoolers do have a pressure loss across them.

 

Thanks BurnAll4S4, I understood turbo cars need to cool air intake; but just don't know what the upgrade can do over the OEM. Does running better mean more HP or you can sustain the same performance over longer period of time? BTW, what is "timing pull"?

Thanks.

 

for example, i have protomotive kit on my car with stock ic, the boost should stay at 1.2 bar all the way up, but in my country the weather is too hot so with the high IAT (Intake Air Tempreture) the ECU will pull the timing and the boost droped to 0.9 and to solve this proble i found out that i need to cool the aircharge in my motor by adding bigger IC.

 

yea it was early for me, i meant IAT. lol. listen to that guy.

 

Got it! Thank you both.

 

I think for small mods like my K24/18g the GT2 IC's is the way to go. I live in Oklahoma. The summers here are 100+ degrees and can stay there for 3 months or more. The GT2's aren't that much bigger so the pressure drop is no problem. The cooling fins are larger and stick out past the bars to grab and flow more air. I think it's a good design and I saw someone in the classified section on this site had a used set for sale for $500.00 - a DEAL!

 

It was explained to me as an issue with heatsoak and more of one of attrition.

If you drive your car in hot climates, or road course it for extended periods (think repeated 30 minute sessions), then you'll need larger intercoolers. If you have upgraded the power in areas of turbo and tune, then it'll be even more important... I have the X50s, and upgraded hoses, but I feel a power loss when I'm tracking in July and August on the east coast where humidity and temps are high.

Mike

 

The GT2/X50 intercoolers aren't really enough of an improvement to bother with the install.

If you are going to upgrade, I'd go with the EVOMS/AP/Blown 6 intercoolers. They are a bar and plate design vs. tube and fin, with the former being more efficient. The small gain in size of these 3 intercoolers isn't enough to increase lag by any margin. The 3 brands above are good for flashed cars up to approx 750 HP.

For anything above 750, I'd probably go with either the Protomotive or Switzer intercoolers. They are substantially larger than stock and may effect lag, but will also keep things nice and cool.

Just my $0.02...

 

thats what my engine builder said with my boat motors, there is no reason to run water through the intercoolers on the dynos because it wasn't long enough to make the heat, That it would help on the long pulls. I said any time you compress air there is heat made. with water thru the intercoolers they made +87 hp. I made my point. that was on a 7 second dyno pull. If you are going to spend the money to change them get the best ones you can buy.

 

Now.

 

Larger ICs will keep the IAT delta lower like others have said....larger ICs on a stock set up can help keep power levels more consistent as things heat up.

When you run higher boost the IAT delta will increase and therefore the idea behind upgrading to larger ICs is the same - to reduce the power loss after running the car for a longer period of time.

Keep in mind though that there are other ways then installing larger ICs to keep IATs down. From what I've seen on this platform water / meth injection systems keep the IAT delta lower then most aftermarket ICs.

 

Agreed.

 

If you live in Hotter climates I would put on a set with 500rwhp.... otherwise a turbo that runs on a stock fuel system usually doesnt require bigger ICs... although its a overlooked upgrade to say the least...
markski

 

Thanks guys, very good info.