Intercoolers?

[PS]

Hi,

Have any of you guys with turbo experience noticed a difference with using an intercooler? I assume that you had 8-11 psi boost, which doesn't really need an intercooler, especially if your around 8-9 psi. But since the restrictor is there, the intake charge after the compressor would have high temperatures. Do you think an intercooler is worth it?

PS

[James Waltman]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by PS:
I assume that you had 8-11 psi boost, which doesn't really need an intercooler, especially if your around 8-9 psi.
PS<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Why do you assume 8-11 psi of boost?

James Waltman
waltmaj@cc.wwu.edu
http://dot.etec.wwu.edu/fsae/
Formula SAE
Vehicle Research Institute at
Western Washington University

[PS]

James,

Because that's how much other people who used turbos in FSAE were getting.

[Matt Gignac]

McGill used a turbo and we were seeing 5-6 psi, and still would have used an intercooler had it not been for ethanol

[Wildcat13]

What do you mean by "had it not been for ethanol" ?

[Charlie]

Of course, he means that ethanol is expensive, and once they bought the ethanol they barely had enough cash left for a McGriddle and hash brown. http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Or it could be that ethanol has some cooling effects on the air charge... http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

-Charlie Ping
Auburn University FSAE (http://eng.auburn.edu/organizations/SAE/AUFSAE)
5th Overall Detroit 2003
? Overall Aussie 2003. http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Ryan Schoffer]

There is no question of an improvement in charge air temperature (lower), and probably a little more power as a result, if you tune properly.

The real question is one of weight - intercoolers are heavy, especially in a light car like a FSAE, and you need to be able to make enough extra power to offset that.

If you dont use one, and arent comfortable with running a high compression 'hot' charge (worried about EGT temps) then dont use as much boost!

Vehicle electronics leader

www.ucalgary.ca/fsae (http://www.ucalgary.ca/fsae)