Ideal Intercooler Volume?
Turbo Mini Forums

I have an intercooler from a 2002 WRX. It is deemed too small for a 2.0L motor (WRX in the USA), so my buddy pitched it in favor of a larger one (hence my acquisition). We figured that it was probably a good fit for a 1.3L motor. Another friend saw it, and said, "Whoa! That's WAAAAY too big for a 1300!"

So, is there an ideal intercooler volume for a 1300cc motor? Is there a way to tell the volume of an intercooler (short of filling it with water)?

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1967 Cooper 's' Turbo build @ www.drjing.com

not sure on this, but guess it will be heavily tied into the airflow the turbo can produce, and what the engine can comsume? need some expert advice or someone with a good reference book!

what is the size of the IC you have?

Alex

AlexF

To be quite honest, going oversize isn't a bad thing. IMO.

The way I see it is that you are probably going to be using a different dT to the car it was designed for anyway. That makes the original design criteria go awol. If it was for a bigger engine with less dT and greater flow, using more dT and less flow equates approximately to using the same area, which I think is a key rating point in the spec of these things.

Don't know much about actual intercoolers but I have designed a few heat exchangers (a few years ago)

Bugger off, I'm getting there.

Hi Alex, I don't know the size, but I could measure. That might give a rough idea as to capacity, maybe?

Hedgemonkey, the larger the intercooler is, the more air you have to compress to get into the cylinder. This will contribute to lag, since it increases the time from spool-up to feeling it in your seat (unless I mis-understand the way a turbo works). What is dT? Sounds like "delta Temperature" to me, so you can see I'm coming from a different angle... :)

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1967 Cooper 's' Turbo build @ www.drjing.com

i am using one off a 911 turbo,it is not a large
intercooler ,so maybe its not all about size more about quality and spec.

Mine has NASA written on it , so i would think it`s the best .........

Everyone knows that instructions only have to be read if the thing doesn't work....

mark,did it hurt.lol

sauber 200, I tend to agree. A more efficient intercooler, placed properly, is better than a bigger one! Though I can't do a front-mount, I'll be putting mine in the inner wing area, making a panel to block air from flowing around it. This will help the radiator get air, as well as the intercooler. However, my worry is that I might have too large an intercooler. I think I'd prefer the entire intake system to be one long intercooler, and skip the extra "box" needed for cooling. That seems like it would be the best, most efficient system. Anyone designed something like that, yet? :)

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1967 Cooper 's' Turbo build @ www.drjing.com

NASA= Not All that Suitable for Air!

Sounds pretty daft IMO.

Edited by Vegard on 22nd Dec, 2004.

Naturally Asperate Small Aseries

AlexF

Bugger off, I'm getting there.

Lag...

please don't bore me!!

Ever seen my car lagging out of corners or up the strip??

Drive it properly!!!!!!!

i agree daddy no lag on mine,just give it some grief and hold on tight.(i must stop watching porn)lol