Is the Intercooler noticeable?

[Patrick McHugh]

I have the TCD s2 intercooler on my car and I don't notice that much of a difference with it's coolant pump on.

Does in intercooler increase the power to the point where I should be noticing it?

I'm pretty sure i've got it bled, running properly and coolant does circulate, but i've never felt much heat at the HE's after a run or a the kick in the pants I thought I would.

[turbodan]

The difference should be remarkable. Do you have any way to monitor IAT's?

[Ieatpeople]

i noticed on my car that the intercooler didn't really add any power, but the car would maintain full power longer on hot days, and it made it much more resistant to detonation.

[Duke]

I have the TCD s2 intercooler on my car and I don't notice that much of a difference with it's coolant pump on.

Where are the heat exchangers mounted? Pictures would help.

[Jeremy]

How much boost are you running? The higher the manifold pressure, the more you'll notice the difference. If you're running low boost, the difference might very well be fairly unremarkable.

Jeremy

[Patrick McHugh]

How much boost are you running? The higher the manifold pressure, the more you'll notice the difference. If you're running low boost, the difference might very well be fairly unremarkable.

Jeremy

10 psi, the HE's are mounted where the fog lights used to be. I think I will rig up a IAT sensor and see if it's doing its job.

[Kyle in NO]

It doesn't "make" power, it simply keeps the intake charge cooler to enable you to make the power all the time. I frankly didn't notice much of a peak difference between the intercooled setup on a normal day versus the best the non-intercooled setup ran on a very cold day. Sure, there is a difference, but its not earth-shattering. The only time I've felt my heat exchangers get more than warm to the touch was at an autocross track event.

[Patrick McHugh]

It doesn't "make" power, it simply keeps the intake charge cooler to enable you to make the power all the time. I frankly didn't notice much of a peak difference between the intercooled setup on a normal day versus the best the non-intercooled setup ran on a very cold day. Sure, there is a difference, but its not earth-shattering. The only time I've felt my heat exchangers get more than warm to the touch was at an autocross track event.

Cool, that sounds like my car to. I suppose it could make a bigger difference on a hot day.

[Brad D.]

It doesn't "make" power, it simply keeps the intake charge cooler to enable you to make the power all the time. I frankly didn't notice much of a peak difference between the intercooled setup on a normal day versus the best the non-intercooled setup ran on a very cold day. Sure, there is a difference, but its not earth-shattering. The only time I've felt my heat exchangers get more than warm to the touch was at an autocross track event.

That pretty much sums it up IMO. Cooler IAT should allow for more power at a given boost level due to the charge density increase. It's not going to feel like a 50hp shot of nitrous. A good IC system will also give a better detonation threshold which, in itself is reason enough to run one.

[turbodan]

I dont agree that lower IAT's dont make power. More air is more power. Non intercooled systems will have charge temps from the high 100's on up. Intercooling will greatly increase the air delivery for any given boost pressure, which should make for a noticeable increase in power.

[Coldswede]

Has anyone here dyno'd a non intercooled engine then dyno'd the same engine after an intercooler was installed?

From what I understand the intecooler cools the incoming air which makes the air denser, so more air can be crammed into the cylinder. If this is true then you definitely would get more power.

[turbodan]

Thats exactly what they do. Theres nothing to it. Colder air is denser and makes more power. With boost the difference between intercooled and non intercooled can be 200 degrees. Thats enough to make a difference you should feel.

[Brad D.]

Has anyne here dyno'd a non intercooled engine then dyno'd the same engine after an intercooler was installed?

From what I understand the intecooler cools the incoming air which makes the air denser, so more air can be crammed into the cylinder. If this is true then you definitely would get more power.

Davidu's threadsaid he made 286whp at 9.5psi non-IC. It would definitely make more power than that at that boost level if it were intercooled.

[Shadow]

I'm just going off of memory, but the old 240 volvos
came in both intercooled and non-intercooled.

The intercooled models made I think something like 40hp over
the non-intercooled. I mean it also boosted 2psi more, but that's allot of power just for 2psi. Mostly was the power of cooling.

[Brad D.]

If cooler air also allows for more timing, you will find power, not even taking charge density into account.

[Patrick McHugh]

What have you all used for an IAT gauge?

[turbodan]

Megatune

[M. Holtmeier]

Megatune

Just thinking the same thing.

Are you ever planning to megasquirt this car?


v v(post whorin' m**her f**ker)

[Patrick McHugh]

Megatune

Just thinking the same thing.

Are you ever planning to megasquirt this car?


v v(post whorin' m**her f**ker)

Might as well. I am going to focus on some of the bodywork first.

[Cardinal James]

Would the loss in pressure caused by the inter-cooler balance out the gains in density? Seems like that is a possibilty, since I imagine you might get a 1-2 psi loss just by adding the intercooler.

Also, did you change anything else when adding the intercooler? Like upping the boost?

With no other changes I could see it possible that HP changes might not be that noticeable. Obviously you could raise the boost level quite a bit now that you have the intercooler and get a real kick in the pants that you will notice.

[turbodan]

Pressure drop through a reasonably sized intercooler running within its flow capabilities shouldn't be more than .5 psi. No big deal.