stock intercooler
19 August 2001, 02:41 AM
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for how much horsepower is the stock intercooler good? the reason I am asking is because I am changing to a bigger turbo, probably a bolt-on hks or apexi. Car is wrx v5
20 August 2001, 08:04 PM
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Hi All!
The question is a bit "open" since it doesn't quantify what "good" is.... for example, if you are prepared to put up with charge temperatures up to 60 degrees C then you should be able to extract 350BHP from a standard intercooler.... BUT you could get the same power for less boost (and less thermal stress) from a better intercooler.
A "magic number" often thrown about is 38 degrees C, as being the optimum intake temperature for maximum power... any hotter and charge density is pretty lame, any cooler and combustion is affected. So I guess that the question should be "can the standard intercooler flow enough air for 350BHP and maintain the outlet temperature at or below 38 degrees C ?". I think the answer to that is an emphatic NO, it cannot.
A good after-market intercooler can improve the situation drastically. It is also worth remembering that is one can lower the charge temperature, it is possible to run more ignition advance and extract more energy from the charge. On one occasion on a chassis dyno a Subaru engine developped an extra 15BHP by advancing the ignition by just 1 degree, for example...
You also need to remember that the discharge temperature from your new turbo should be lower than the existing turbo to start with, so the intercooler has to work "less" to produce the same results. Whatever happens, the most important thing (IMVHO) about an intercooler is that it has low internal flow restiction; if you lose, say, 2psi in the core, then the turbo will have produce that extra 2psi to compensate, and it will generate proportionately higher discharge temperatures, it turns into a game of chasing your own tail...
Hope this wasn't too confusing,
Pat.
[ Summary: Get a better IC if you want it to last
]
The question is a bit "open" since it doesn't quantify what "good" is.... for example, if you are prepared to put up with charge temperatures up to 60 degrees C then you should be able to extract 350BHP from a standard intercooler.... BUT you could get the same power for less boost (and less thermal stress) from a better intercooler.
A "magic number" often thrown about is 38 degrees C, as being the optimum intake temperature for maximum power... any hotter and charge density is pretty lame, any cooler and combustion is affected. So I guess that the question should be "can the standard intercooler flow enough air for 350BHP and maintain the outlet temperature at or below 38 degrees C ?". I think the answer to that is an emphatic NO, it cannot.
A good after-market intercooler can improve the situation drastically. It is also worth remembering that is one can lower the charge temperature, it is possible to run more ignition advance and extract more energy from the charge. On one occasion on a chassis dyno a Subaru engine developped an extra 15BHP by advancing the ignition by just 1 degree, for example...
You also need to remember that the discharge temperature from your new turbo should be lower than the existing turbo to start with, so the intercooler has to work "less" to produce the same results. Whatever happens, the most important thing (IMVHO) about an intercooler is that it has low internal flow restiction; if you lose, say, 2psi in the core, then the turbo will have produce that extra 2psi to compensate, and it will generate proportionately higher discharge temperatures, it turns into a game of chasing your own tail...
Hope this wasn't too confusing,
Pat.
[ Summary: Get a better IC if you want it to last
]
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