Thread: Intercoolers - again, but with a difference

I have messed about with waterspray systems on intercoolers for a bit, a few years ago on fast road and race cars.

I had a Lancia Integrale evo which had the homogolation waterspray kit on it. IMO opinion it didn't make much difference, and was removed as was the intercooler, and replaced with a chargecooler, and completley seperate water system.

Subsequently, we played about with a much more sophisticated sytem on a very modified Impreza 22b with a front mount intercooler, on which it seemed more succesful.

(These were both seriously powerful 380bhp+ 2 litre turbo engines)

In the end I am not sure they are worth it. You also need to carry how ever many kg's of water which is a real pain. (and then you run out!)

If it were me, I would just chip it and buy the Scotch.

A quick Google brings up plenty of discussion, but my impression is that lots of people talk about it, but the ones you have actually done it don't think it was worthwhile.

One thread I read suggested diverting the windscreen washer fluid and spraying on the intercooler. Nice and easy if you really wanted to give it a go.

Steve

Originally Posted by steveG

A quick Google brings up plenty of discussion, but my impression is that lots of people talk about it, but the ones you have actually done it don't think it was worthwhile.

One thread I read suggested diverting the windscreen washer fluid and spraying on the intercooler. Nice and easy if you really wanted to give it a go.

Steve

Worth it? For simple power gains? No...

For a flow improvement, better cooling, less heat load when towing, for a moderate performance increase above chipped.... Absolutely...
Improved response to throttle (less lag)....

Cooler charge = Lower EGT, less thermal stress on the engine etc....

Whether or not you consider $990 value, well its relative....



Water spray on stock intercooler wont improve flow....

One thing I have thought of is a water/methanol spray into the intake,water injection.I almost bought an LR factory kit for one of my series three's and I think it would be more effective than an intercooler spray.I also think you would need a fueling tweak to get the most out of a bigger cooler,one thing that may be missed in the upgrade. Pat

What Tombie says.

I fitted one to mine after having had it remapped a couple of years earlier and it made a big difference to the smoothness of the vehicle. It doesn't give you the really obvious bang for buck that the remap gives, rather its a more subtle and sophisticated improvement. PM Stuuu, he just fitted his D2 with a TRS intercooler the other month.

Originally Posted by dm_td5

What Tombie says.

I fitted one to mine after having had it remapped a couple of years earlier and it made a big difference to the smoothness of the vehicle. It doesn't give you the really obvious bang for buck that the remap gives, rather its a more subtle and sophisticated improvement. PM Stuuu, he just fitted his D2 with a TRS intercooler the other month.

Nope... TRS sourced their intercoolers from me!!! Now they get them made by my fabricator mate...

If you want a TD5 intercooler go here... 4WD Performance Accessories

Ask for Dave and tell him Mike Hayes the Landrover Guy sent you...

If you're going to run more boost, then yes a bigger intercooler is well worth it.

It's about keeping charge temps down (which keep EGT's down) to keep your motor happy.
It doesn't give you power, it allows your engine to run at higher power without such a melting risk.

Thanks for all the input.

The other question I had was about silicone hoses.

I know what they are, but how do the improve the performance of a vehicle?

And again, is the $200 - $300 spent on them worth it? (These sorts of amounts will get past the minister of domestic & financial affairs. Much over, and I have to submit a 15 page report detailing the benefits to her... )