SiFlyBy

Almost every supercharged vehicle with an intercooler is an air to water unit. You, sir, are fucked in the head if you think that they are not ok for daily use. Ford Lightnings, SVT Mustangs, Chevy Cobalts to name a few.

whiteflash

Keyword: SUPERCHARGER, they are run by pulleys off the engine. Oh wait, turbos are run by exhuast gases. Granted the air being sucked through the intake is not quite as hot as the exhaust gases, when they pass through the compressor housing the air get pretty hot. Have you ever felt an intercooler pipe pre-intercooler? It's pretty hot. Now think if the water in the in the air to water intercooler gets hot, what's going to happen when the car goes into boost? Pulled timing and detonation. So you're cruising around town, going to work, with boiling water in your intercooler? haha get real dude....

Talk to anyone running a air to water IC with a turbo, and see how they like added ice all the time to keep it cool. Most people who run Air to Water intercoolers have track ONLY cars, and guess what? they add ice and have to change the water after every pass.

I'm not gonna lie, I don't know all that much about SVT mustangs, but I can't see an intercooler in this pic. Care to explain?
http://fogel.ca/img/mustang_engine.jpg

SiFlyBy

Its there. I have had those engines apart, as well as the Lightning trucks. Its under the supercharger, before the air enters the lower intake manifold.

I think you are missing a big point of air to water intercoolers. The water doesnt just sit in the intercooler. There is a pump that circulates the water throught the intercooler where the heat exchange is made with compressed, hot intake air. Then it is circulated to another heat exchanger in the front of the car where it gives up the heat absorbed from the hot intake air through a water to air heat exchanger, much like a small radiator. Think engine cooling system, except the only goal is to cool intake air. Ever seen pictures for, say, a Vortech supercharger for a 96-00 civic. The optional aftercooler as they call it has small fittings on it to accommodate the water lines that will be used for water circulation, thus an exchange of heat. Its dumb ***** like you who think they know everything ------ing misinformation around on sites like these. Try to know what the ---- you're talking about before you start making claims.

How the compressor is driven has no effect on its efficiency if thats what your first paragraph is about.

As for the second paragraph, I don't know anyone who is running a air to water intercooler with a turbo. The point being that it is cheaper and easier to go air to air if its a custom setup.

dot communist

Just to add my 2 cents, air water intercoolers used on a daily driver will eventually suffer from heatsoak and the water will not cool down fast enough to cool the air. it can be done but it is way easy to go air/air

SiFlyBy

Why dont you explain the intricate details of this 'heatsoak' then, instead of jumping in and making unfounded claims?

I believe what you boys are thinking of is something more like a one-shot intercooler, which I would agree is just for drag racing. They have no cooling water being pumped through and then to another heat exchanger. They are loaded with ice water before a pass and emptied and refiiled before the next pass.


NOT ALL AIR TO WATER INTERCOOLERS ARE THIS WAY!!! Do some ------- research and come back enlightened. Pick up a book such as Maximum boost or one of the other great turbocharging manuals. Read it 10 times. Then you might have an idea of what the ---- you are talking about.