Liquid intercooler options

[komete]

I'm currently in the process of rebuilding my KA24de and plan to run a low boost setup. 7 to 10 psi on a smaller turbo. I've been reading about liquid intercoolers and I think it is the rout I want to go. It just seems a hell of a lot simpler and efficant. I know a lot of people run at 7psi with no intercooler but I got a feeling once I start making some turbo power I'm going to want to boost higher.

I was wondering if I could just order a Hi performance radiator with an auto transmission cooling hookup and use the Automatic transmission cooling lines from it to cool the water for the liquid intercooler. Good idea?

My only other idea is to order a thick/fat short radiator and a smaller one to cool the liguid intercooler underneath it. Stack them and make a custom fan shrowed.

Any ideas?

[drmerdp]

You don't want to use the auto trans cooler for that. You'd be heating the air more than cooling it. For a liquid to air intercooler to work you want the water in the system to be as cold as possible all the time. If you plumb it through the rad you'd have 170 degree intake temps.

[S13FX]

How come you don't wanna go with a conventional Air to Air?

[Nismochop95]

go with a precision

[komete]

go with a precision

Those are a little extreme for my little 250-300 max hp goals.

[komete]

If you plumb it through the rad you'd have 170 degree intake temps.

That's what I needed to know. I wasn't sure how much of the engine water temps would transfer over. But I was thinking too much would. I guess back to the stackable radiator Idea.

s13fx -- Less lag since you use a lot less piping, it's different, and more importantly it'll cool the air to a lower temp than air to air. Should wind up close to stock intake lengths also. All that aside I have a guy teaching me to weld and I gotta use these new skills somehow.

[C-Kwik]

and more importantly it'll cool the air to a lower temp than air to air. Should wind up close to stock intake lengths also. All that aside I have a guy teaching me to weld and I gotta use these new skills somehow.

This depends on a lot of factors. Liquid to air does not have inherently better cooling properties than air to air. Liquids, for it's volume is able to absorb more heat than air, but it also must be able to maintain a reasonably low temperature. Meaning, that the radiator portion must be able to effectively bring down temperatures so that the intercooling can be effective.

There are two aspects to this. One, and the most obvious is the radiator size. The large it is, the more dwell time the liquid will have allowing it to cool longer. We will assume it is receiving reasonably sufficient airflow across the core as well. The second is volume. The more liquid you have, the more the medium can act as a heatsink. As with air-to-air, the overall weight of the intercooler can be important in soaking up spikes in temperatures and during sustaiined boost where charge air temps can not be radiated off as quickly as it it getting absorbed. More liquid means it can absorb more heat from the charge airwithout boiling or reaching temps that the radiator can not be effective at shedding so that the liquid maintains a cool temperature.

Air-to-air intercoolers generally require more plumbing (sometimes creative), but are mechanically very simple. Liquid-to-air tend to have more compact intercooler cores so they can fit under the hood more easily and are more flexible in terms of intercooler location and radiator arrangement. Generally speaking a well sized and placed Air-to-air is a better approach unless space is an issue.

[pr240sx]

Well, I am using a water intercooler and installation was a snap!!As for intercooler, I am using a Syclone/Typhoon with a modified neck. For chiller (the small radiator) I am using a big transmission oil cooler and for pump, a bait water pump and to increase volume, I am using an old transmission fluid accumulator that I had around. Cooling is enhanced via 80% water, and 10% coolant with red food dye to detect leaks if any.One of the main benefits is at idle and off boost. At these situations, intake air will also cool the water!!For street use and ease of installation, this setup could not be beaten.....well only by using the same setup as the SR but thats another story.

My turbo is a T3/T4 with 370cc injectors running at 7 psi.If stealth and simplicity is a goal, IMO this is the best way to go.As for cost90 for the intecooler10 for modifying the neck30 for metal intakes for piping (ebay knock off)75 for the water pump20 for water hoses, clamps, coolant and dye50 for the oil cooler (ebay)

You could have it done cheaper if you already have an intake kit and a welder

[C-Kwik]

One of the main benefits is at idle and off boost. At these situations, intake air will also cool the water!!

This is actually true for air-to-air intercoolers as well.

[komete]

Well, I am using a water intercooler and installation was a snap!!

Are there any pictures of your setup? I'd be interested to see how you did it.

[pr240sx]

Dunno how to post them, who can host them so everybody sees

[komete]

That sux, we used to be able to just upload pictures. I guess we need some new sponsors lol.

[480sx]

Use photobucket.com, or some webpage like them, upload your pics and post the link to here. Its so easy, and doing it that was saves Nico a ton of cash.