Thread: water to air intercooler sizing

Dare I say " Ask Dougal?"

Originally Posted by Vern

Can anyone suggest how you size up a water to air inter cooler?

For a diesel or petrol? If for a diesel my advice is DON'T. Turbo is spooling most of the time so intercooler has to deal with removing a constant heat load plus heat spikes as you accelerate. Race turbo petrol engines have the same issue but even more exaggerated, as most probably most modern turbos. Air to Air doesn't have a problem with heat soak (the cooling agent slowly building up heat) as the air moves away whereas Water to Air does. BTW: its really an air to water to air intercooler. To get similar performance out of a water to air intercooler to deal with heat soak more cooling water reserves are required, so more weight. Water to Air is more suitable for cramped engine bays.
After that soapbox session, it appears that sizing is kept close to the supplier chest. You'll need to talk to PWR or another supplier to get sizing.

Originally Posted by iPom

Dare I say " Ask Dougal?"

Dougals having an aulro break

Originally Posted by bsperka

For a diesel or petrol? If for a diesel my advice is DON'T. Turbo is spooling most of the time so intercooler has to deal with removing a constant heat load plus heat spikes as you accelerate. Race turbo petrol engines have the same issue but even more exaggerated, as most probably most modern turbos. Air to Air can handle this better than Water to Air. To get similar performance out of a water to air intercooler more cooling water reserves are required, so more weight.

I have no choice, my air to air is top mount and too small, water to air is my only choice. Seems to work well for others. Oh its diesel

Have a look at ARE website. They have quite a few turbo diesel examples. Best performance is using an ice cooler. Not very practical in real life, only on dyno.

Originally Posted by Vern

Dougals having an aulro break

Why am i not suprised

Ice cooler is not really practical unless i'm doing a dyno shootout😊

Originally Posted by bsperka

Have a look at ARE website. They have quite a few turbo diesel examples. Best performance is using an ice cooler. Not very practical in real life, only on dyno.

Had a look, hoping the pricing isn't the same as there land cruiser kit, $4400.
Will give them a call, as well as plazmaman and others.