Do any of you use the intercooler sprayer? Does it really do anything for the intercooler besides getting water on it? Would throwing in some cold water or ice cubes in it help out getting the IC colder??

 

Probably, but very slightly. I mean the tank is in the engine bay, so I guess the ice isn't going to have a long lasting effect.

Anyway, I have found that even on a _hot_ day, mine doens't spray in auto mode. don't know why...

 

^ yeah, mine doesn't seem to spray in auto mode either. wierd.

 

when i go drag racing what i use is co2 a friend usually sprays it to my intercooler and i use also the automode and manual mode just before i launch it!

 

the intercooler sprayer is just for getting the track wet and then getting yelled at....

 

I even took the tank, hoses and sprayers out to make more room.

 

I don't think there is even an auto switch, my friend always sprays it while we're at a light or somthing lol.

 

Is there anything that stays cooler than water? Rubbing alcohol or something?

 

Windshield washer fluid, which is water and alcohol... That's what you should be putting in there; It's not as likely to freeze and will cool slightly better than straight water.

 

Do you run a cat? I have a test-pipe (and mine doesn't spray jack in auto mode). Perhaps that's the reason. I think the ECU takes the exhaust temp or something and works out if it needs to spray or not.

The auto mode on my Sti sprays virtually every time I get on the throttle. As I mentioned, on the evo it doesn't seem to happen. Strange, very strange.

 

Well they deleted that option with the 05 so I guess it really doesnt work. They needed that space for the ACD resivior and pump

 

I use it at the track only.

Also, how do you guys know if it's spraying or not in auto mode?

 

Dealership told me that the IC Sprayer sprays when the wastegate is activated. So I guess when the turbo starts to pack maximum PSI and the wastegate opens to moderate the turbo, it cools off the incoming charge to make it more dense, since you aren't going to get any more PSI out of the turbo.

The liquid on the intercooler fins probably doesn't do much in itself. Its probably more so the evaporation of the liquid that leaves the fins cooler to the touch, and thus in turn cools off the incoming air charge. That whole thermodynamics thing. So, alcohol cooling is probably better due to the whole evaporation thing going on.

But, ya, the larger the temperature difference, the larger the cooling effect, I would figure, because it would take more energy to warm up the cooler liquid to the temperature of the intercooler fins. And then you have the whole wind blowing by action taking place. Wind doesn't actually help it get cooler, that's just how it feels on your skin, and the car really doesn't feel. Wind will help cool it off to the point of the temperature of the passing air. But the wind will probably be happy to blow the water off the fins anyways. So maybe it helps more at slower speeds under high torque applications?

Dealership told me that the absense of the "Auto/Manual" button on the '06 MR means that the IC sprayer is still there, its just set for Automatic full time.

Ahh, but what do I know. Its just my 2 cents.

 

tcollins-your on it bro... I did my homework, thinking the same thing about the whole IC sprayer thingy.. It's a salesman's dream.. Meaning, its used only as a selling tool for the EVO, like it needed it, but really, it doesn't have much of a use.. In fact, you would lose nearly anything on the cooling of your IC or be a positive effect on performance.. But good luck to all.. I know how people get set in there ways...

 

Pretty much never use it.