charge cooler Vs intercooler
Turbo Mini Forums

has anybody ever run a cahrgecooler instead of a intercooler. what would the advantages/disadvantages of running one of these?

e.g.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/lotus-turbo-intercoo...A1%7C240%3A1318

or

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WATER-AIR-POLISHED-A...A1%7C240%3A1318

Ive just built a load of these for our prototype tier 4 diesel engines, they run at such a high pressure that we have to have them made out of cast stainless steel weighing in at 145kilos as the alloy cast one just expanded and split even with a stainless ladder rack fitted between the two body halves.

My sister looks like me but with long hair! so save that one for your wank bank i dare you!...

basically a charge cooler (water - air) is better at short periods of boost eg drag stip as it has the ability (fluid dependant) to get down to below ambient temps for a short period of time.

however if boost is sustained for a longer period of time the cooling fluid in the charge cooler system starts to warm up and become less efficient. This is where an intercooler (air - air) becomes more efficient as there is no fluid for the heat transfer into, just a constant stream of fresh air.

It is however alot harder to get an intercooler to below ambient temps. But this can be achieved with an intercooler mist system.

a charge cooler also has the upper hand when the engine bay get tight!.

Edited by James_H on 7th Feb, 2009.

An advantage of an intercooler is that it (generally) has no moving parts to fail.

well intercooler will only cool to ambient temps where as a charge cooler will always go colder!! so if its a hot day at the drap stip u can run a nice cool charge compared to a intercooler!!

but obviously some charge cooler kits come with a pissy resivoir so yes it will warm up after a short period but obviously the more water volume the more time it will take to warm

so fit a decent size resivoir and ull be laffin plus also a nice amount of ice helps too!!

how about both?

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

well both is overkill really!! just put some ice down your resivoir tank and itll be fine!!

plus if you get your intake temperature to cold you loose power!!

Hi,
Escort cossie's had both as factory fit...
Where you'd fit it all in on a mini, I've no idea!
Cheers,
Gavin :)

VEMs Authorised Installer / Re-seller. K head kits now available!

WB/EGT gauges. Click here for customers write-up

Visit www.doyouneedabrain.co.uk

My Mini build diary

yeah but excort cossie was crap because it ran the coolant from a hot engine through it rather than a separate tank of cold water

There is a chap with a red mini, miglia arches, 12" spectrums, at bristol mini day quite often, and was at combe. That was running a charge cooler, and it seemed to work quite well. But thats all i know. Sorry Chaps.

im planning a charge cooler, keep the ideas comming

Yes i moved to the darkside

Instagram @jdm_brett

go chargecooler !!! im planning on going charge cooler with mine eventually

wanna go charge cooler too, was thinking putting the charge cooler rad in the boot with a large header tank of say about to ltrs to keep heat soak at bay

aslong as u can get air to the cooler rad youll be ok, just make some vents i supose!!

john k has got the gold mini with the turbo k head hasnt he?? a nice chargecooler on his! think i mite ask him where he got it!!

i use a chargecooler, no need for holes in the bonnet and its much easier to position than an intercooler

Team Racing

IMO intercooler is best, but depends what you want? for track i/c, for strip, c/c

You can run both, I've seen a few cars run both with very good results.

Lightweight racer coming soon.

i was considering a escort cossie one on my mini but the length becamse a issue as its quite long!!

obviously not running coolant through it though lol

So tell me, how can a charge cooler lower temps below ambient (bar using dry ice etc)?

Edited by Brett on 11th Feb, 2009.

Yes i moved to the darkside

Instagram @jdm_brett

well say its a hot day u will always notice a lack of power compared to when youve got a nice cool day in a car thats running a intercooler where as if you have a charge cooler the water is below ambient temps regardless of how hot the day is...

providing you run a good size radiator for the water to pass through and depending on the volume of water in the system because obviously its gona be like a kettle the more water you have the longer it takes to boil!!

plus when your running around off boost pottering the water is contantly being cooled!!

Cars on track will warm the water, simple.. its only good for short bursts IMO.

Lightweight racer coming soon.

You can't generalise on how the system will perform. It depends on many factors such as the water pump flow and radiator size (to reject heat from the water)
A well setup system should be able to perform on a track at least as well as an air/air intercooler. As previously pointed out, it is also better for short duration boost applications (drag strip) if the temperature of the coolant is below ambient otherwise it will make little or no difference.
Advantages are packaging especially for a mid engine installation such as mine and redcued air volume.
Disadvantage is weight with extra water volume/pump/radiator/jacketing of the core and a header tank.

Edited by matnrach on 13th Feb, 2009.

9.85 @ 145mph
202mph standing mile
speed didn't kill me, but taxation probably will

9.85 @ 145mph
202mph standing mile
speed didn't kill me, but taxation probably will