The bigger the better?
Turbo Mini Forums

Im on about intercoolers by the way...

As I said a while ago, I busted my intercooler while fitting it, so I willl have a new one made up. While Im at it, Im thinking of getting a bigger one, as I read somwhere that bigger is better when it comes to intercoolers.

What do you think, shall I get a bigger one or just get the same again?

Its only a bit of metal. If it blows it blows!

http://www.putfile.com/mini300bhp

that intercooler looks great!

i would stick with that one did you get any specs regarding pressure drop & efficiencies ?

Turbo Daves the man on intercoolers.

Edited by BENROSS on 30th Nov, 2005.

sorry, no specs.

Its only a bit of metal. If it blows it blows!

http://www.putfile.com/mini300bhp

Yep, Get one the size of the car.






I think i'm the only person in the world who in't impressed by huge intercoolers. Mine is there to do a job - which it does - to keep the act's below 40 degrees C or therabouts. And it does. And it's 1/3 of the size of that one above.


Over-engineering stuff is fine, but there is a differnce between over-engineering and overkill.
Just my opinion...

See what your saying, but......

running at 10psi boost, the intake end of my intercooler feels very hot (by touch). in the middle somwhere it feels worm. At the end, it feels cold (about the same as the car bodywork, ambiant).

not very technical but, but it gives me an idia that its doing its job, and that by going smaller the end would be a bit wormer. Thats at 10psi when rr, planning to run quite a bit more, probably round about 30ish. (hahahahahaah!!!!)

Thanx

Its only a bit of metal. If it blows it blows!

http://www.putfile.com/mini300bhp

Well that suggests to me that you've reduced the airspeed through your core so much (as it's a way larger internal area than a 1275 mini needs) that you're actually just getting heat to soak into the core because the air is hanging around...
End result is that it's still doing the job - but it's still overkill at the end of the day - a unit that takes half the size would probably be just as efficient.
A 'hand test' is not the way to do it either. You need two probes before and after the intercooler that you can connect pressure sensors to (or a simple u-tube manometer) to meaure the drop, and air-temp sensors before and after.

Sounds like you want a larger one - so just get one as tall, wide and thick as you 'need'.

Edited by turbodave16v on 30th Nov, 2005.

as the old cliche goes ....

what are you over compensating for mate? :p

NO LONGER A <3 lover of BOLT-ON plastic <3 .... (and DOUBLE proud of it)

Its the bottom row thats knackered, so I could remove it and shorten the end tanks and save £300, what ya reckon? Thanx for the info....

Its only a bit of metal. If it blows it blows!

http://www.putfile.com/mini300bhp

Another point to consider, as you make the volume of the inlet tract larger, it will take longer to compress the air within that volume, hence compounding turbo-lag.

that sounds like a much better option than shelling out from scratch... I know which I'd do!

If that intercoolers got a decent/efficient core then there's no way you'll need to go any bigger. My intercooler looks to be about the same depth as yours, but it's nowhere near as wide. Running 12 psi this summer i was seeing intake temps of no higher than 20deg, and as the weather got cooler i've been seeing around 5 deg. It seems to be doing it's job.

Phil.

WWW.TURBO-MINI.COM

Thanx dave.

When I spoke to pace, they said you don't want end thanks too small as it buggers flow or somthing???

Its only a bit of metal. If it blows it blows!

http://www.putfile.com/mini300bhp

the way to go is T. Daves way

and toms got a great valid point !

imho i would ditch the route from the inlet side over the radiator

this is an insane approach if you don’t mind criticism & shorten that end of the cooler & re-route the inlet site between the rocker cover and stat housing there is enough room just!

the bonnet shuts ok

more work i know but.... you’ve gone this far and you want it right don’t you?

get them to place the inlet on the cooler to the top to make it easier to couple just under & forward of the altinator

also the inlet suction to the turbo is not optimal!

remember heat is the problem with the turbo!

eradicate it at POINTS! and you are nearly there .

if you fit a temp sensor in the intake that will talk volumes.

then you will see how efective it is, especially when you boost up the engine over longer runs.

my rs one works well for its size but the power runs along the duel carrage way the intake temp does heat up quiet quick under full chat weres one your size should work better under these conditions.

in my opion try and see what happens

always looking for them bigger bunches of bannanas

what do you use for temp senders and what do you measure them with?

jim was telling me about something from maplins and a multimeter? i want to see what my temps are

I bought one of these the other day. Its a bit rude boy I know in blue backlighting, but should do the job?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1

MW knows someone who can make up a nice little digital guage and the sensor is put into a boost hose (which is on the end of 2 thin wires)

-MINI CLUBMAN 1380 TURBO-

Did'nt see above post, these are the guages i mean.

-MINI CLUBMAN 1380 TURBO-

my understanding with intercoolers was that the should be short and deep. If you go too tall it slows the air down to much and causes flow issues when it goes back in to a little pipe again.

And it should be deeps so that the air is passing through it longer. Hope that kind of makes sense.

So basically, big intercoolers look very pretty, but a cheap cossie cooler is the best option as it's short and deep.

big isn't always best is it?

I'd like to see you drive it around on a very cold day lol.

Best 1/4 mile 13.2 seconds @116 mph
First 5 port miniturbo to make over 200 bhp on a carb?
First 5 port miniturbo to make over 200 bhp on Injection?

http://www.mattwoodsphotography.com

cheers tom and hoggy, i shall have to see about one of those next year

What about a product like this.

http://www.componentsuk.co.uk/catalog/prod...&products_id=64

It runs on 12 volts and has a small probe that im sure could be adapted to fit into a pipe no problem.

Its only a fiver too!

Bollocks. That is the exact same thing as I bought, except £20 cheaper.

Arse biscuits.

Will Display (+) Temperatures up to 70c

No good for the compressor side of the intercooler then!

If you buy ANYTHING like this, check the calibration yourself in a pan of water on the stove with a thermometer...

I am planning to use it after the intercooler to see what the charge temps are. Fecked off that the other website has it £20 cheaper!