Intercooler + Fan?
 

First, I would like to thank this site, and all of you guys posting, so fucken much for the help it has given me. I made me go out and turbo my car, told me what parts i needed and where the hell to get them... Hell yes! Thanx!!! I've been reading the forum, every post and question, and i'm only on page 8 outta like 23... I'm also a big fan of the 'search' button.

Now to the question... i have a 95 civic ex (d16z6) and I’m on my way to boostin' the bitch. i just need a few more, well a lot more, stuff here and there. Like most of you already know, the 5th gen. civic's have an a.c. condenser on the driver side of the vehicle. I plan on putting an intercooler (1st gen dsm, all i could get my hands on w/ the money i got) in that spot. I was wondering if i could somehow use that fan on the condenser to my advantage by placing it on the posterior (facing the turbo) side in order to aid cooling. Also I was thinking of putting some kind of heat shield behind that in order to segregate it from the turbo. Is this gonna help in any way, or is it just a waste of time? I've searched the site about this and found nothing so far... Well, thanks for the time, and sorry 'bout this long ass post. thanx.

dan

Re:Intercooler + Fan?
 

Sure.. just make sure its getting a nice cool flow of air, and yes you will get a benifit..

Re:Intercooler + Fan?
 

I think it is a waste of time... the fan will only help when you are sitting still.. when you dont need it... and I am not familiar with how big that fan is, but it can reduce flow on the highway, because air can not travel through the intercooler where the center of the fan is..

Re:Intercooler + Fan?
 

I agree with PheonixGSR. I think its useless once you start rolling. Just like your rad fan never comes on while cruising or moving, only at lights. ALso, the heat sheild might just get in the way of air trying to passthrough.

Re:Intercooler + Fan?
 

Waste... the fan won't be able to keep up with the air rushing into your grill when your cruising and would hinder the air flow. And unlike a radiator, your IC won't have super hot liquid or air going through it when your sitting at a stop light.

Re:Intercooler + Fan?
 

ya, the reason we need a IC is to cool the air.
Air is only heated when compressed hense, at idle the turbo isn't compressing air therefore not needed.

Re:Intercooler + Fan?
 

uh guys. if you put the fan on the back of the intercooler air will flow fine when u are on the highway. and it will work great when sitting still...

Re:Intercooler + Fan?
 

no matter which side it is on air wont be able to pass through the fans motor.. (which on the dsm intercooler represents a significant % of surface area) I think that is the point everyone is trying to make

Re:Intercooler + Fan?
 

Yeah, u guys are right, it will hinder the airflow... well, I have a new plan. I figure if I put this in the original ac condenser spot, I will also get heated and restricted by the turbo itself, which is only a few inches away…. so.... what about this intercooler setup on ... http://yota1man.tripod.com/vtecwagon/id2.html? This looks like great spot since there is a lot of room there. I would try to modify the hood so that there would be a scoop of some kind, or just the intercooler, sticking out (kind of like ram air for the intercooler) to direct flow into the intercooler. Also, there would be constant airflow into the turbo w/out the intercooler in the way to sort of cool that a bit. Would this be a better, or should I stick to mounting it in front w/out the fan? I appreciate the help so far. Thanx.

Re:Intercooler + Fan?
 

i dount the ic in that pic is getting much flow at all...in my opinion, your first idea will work. The turbo, even at idle, is hot as hell and makes the air hot too, even if it is not compressing it. And the motor of the fan will not block the air much, just because it is in the way doesnt mean air wont go around it...its not sealed up against the ic...just my opinion though