ETS 3.5" intercooler gains
Jul 7, 2011, 10:54 AM
#1
ETS 3.5" intercooler gains
I bought a 3.5" thick ETS intercooler and installed it last week. Here's a couple pics of it.
Here's a comparison of the power differences, before and after upgrading intercooler (both completely tuned at 24psi). Keep in mind that I did not increase boost at all, and it's still holding 24psi. Absolutely no additional lag as shown in the power graph! Power gains everywhere (about 20-25whp) from 4700rpm til redline.
Check out how the new intercooler was able to provide more air flow from midrange to top. The MAF sensor read about 50hz more up top. You can see that at the 300whp level, that's when the oem intercooler starts to fall behind and then chokes at higher rpms. Also note that the airflow doesn't surpass the old intercooler until about 5700rpms, but I gained power much earlier starting at 4700rpms. That tells me that the added airflow is not the only gain here. The new intercooler is able to cool much better from 4700rpms and beyond. The cooler charge allowed more timing, which produced more power. I was able to add a lot of timing in the midrange. It used to peak at 5-6 degrees of timing in the midrange, now I run 8*. I was also able to add one more degree at 7000rpms to 14*.
(blue = new intercooler, red = oem intercooler)
Overall I'm very pleased with the power results. I'm now ready to keep turning the boost up and see what the BBK-Full is all about. 400whp is not too far away!
.
I did have a lot of fitment problems that I wish ETS would have warned me about. The 3.5" unit is advertised to fit without bumper modifications. I called Michael and he told me that some cars will have problems, but had I known that, I most likely would have gone with the 3" since I have no plans to push it to crazy hp levels. I had to do just about all the bumper modifications to get it to fit, and it still rubs in 3 areas (and I can hear it rub every now and then when I drive). I think some of it has to do with my older 2003 car though.
Here's a comparison of the power differences, before and after upgrading intercooler (both completely tuned at 24psi). Keep in mind that I did not increase boost at all, and it's still holding 24psi. Absolutely no additional lag as shown in the power graph! Power gains everywhere (about 20-25whp) from 4700rpm til redline.
Check out how the new intercooler was able to provide more air flow from midrange to top. The MAF sensor read about 50hz more up top. You can see that at the 300whp level, that's when the oem intercooler starts to fall behind and then chokes at higher rpms. Also note that the airflow doesn't surpass the old intercooler until about 5700rpms, but I gained power much earlier starting at 4700rpms. That tells me that the added airflow is not the only gain here. The new intercooler is able to cool much better from 4700rpms and beyond. The cooler charge allowed more timing, which produced more power. I was able to add a lot of timing in the midrange. It used to peak at 5-6 degrees of timing in the midrange, now I run 8*. I was also able to add one more degree at 7000rpms to 14*.
(blue = new intercooler, red = oem intercooler)
Overall I'm very pleased with the power results. I'm now ready to keep turning the boost up and see what the BBK-Full is all about. 400whp is not too far away!
.I did have a lot of fitment problems that I wish ETS would have warned me about. The 3.5" unit is advertised to fit without bumper modifications. I called Michael and he told me that some cars will have problems, but had I known that, I most likely would have gone with the 3" since I have no plans to push it to crazy hp levels. I had to do just about all the bumper modifications to get it to fit, and it still rubs in 3 areas (and I can hear it rub every now and then when I drive). I think some of it has to do with my older 2003 car though.
Last edited by Thoe99; Jul 9, 2011 at 05:30 PM.
Jul 7, 2011, 11:09 AM
#3
Thanks for posting up the graphs. 
I'm sorry about the little fitment issues, it seems every now and then we get a car that is different from the rest. We easily get 50+ good to 1 not fitting correctly. I'm glad you got it resolved and the car looks like its going to hit 400whp in no time
Michael
I'm sorry about the little fitment issues, it seems every now and then we get a car that is different from the rest. We easily get 50+ good to 1 not fitting correctly. I'm glad you got it resolved and the car looks like its going to hit 400whp in no time Michael
Jul 7, 2011, 11:42 AM
#5
Evolving Member
Nice review and congrats on the results, I just bought the same intercooler for my Evo V RS, will be replacing an ebay 3" Delta-fin intercooler. It would be awsome to get results similar to yours! Just hope the trimming doesn´t need to be extreme...
Cheers,
Ricardo
Cheers,
Ricardo
Jul 7, 2011, 11:51 AM
#6
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Very informative... Thanks for taking the time and sharing
I have the ets 3inch. Never thought I need bigger on the stock turbo. Wish I bought the 4inch in the begining
I have the ets 3inch. Never thought I need bigger on the stock turbo. Wish I bought the 4inch in the begining
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Jul 7, 2011, 03:41 PM
#13
I perfer the ETS 3.5" over your perrin. The Perrin is known to have thick inlet/outlet pipes, which can cause restrictions in flow. Even without the thick outlet issue, I still would choose the ETS, as I like the quality of their parts and their company as a whole.
I have never liked Perrin parts on EVOs, but my Suby is littered with them.
I have never liked Perrin parts on EVOs, but my Suby is littered with them.
Jul 7, 2011, 03:48 PM
#14
I perfer the ETS 3.5" over your perrin. The Perrin is known to have thick inlet/outlet pipes, which can cause restrictions in flow. Even without the thick outlet issue, I still would choose the ETS, as I like the quality of their parts and their company as a whole.
I have never liked Perrin parts on EVOs, but my Suby is littered with them.
I have never liked Perrin parts on EVOs, but my Suby is littered with them.
Michael
