Lately I have been hearing a ton of people claiming to have big gains by simply bolting on a new intercooler. I road race my car a few times a year and after each lapping session I feel my coldside IC pipes and they feel cool to the touch.

Are these people seeing gains from a higher flow FMIC or is it just fluff?

I need to know!

 

What does Vishnu think?

Maybe all of us XEDE/XFlash users should get braclets that read "WWSD." That's short for "What Would Shiv Do?"

Based upon what I have heard come out of Shiv's mouth, he is not a fan of "large" or "oversize" intercoolers. Something about the turbolators (sp?) only needing to be so long to get the air in and out and cooled enough to get back in the engine ASAP. He seems to like the stocker, and of the aftermarket ones I think he prefers the AMS (non-race) unit.

Things may be different if you're on the track a lot and need a big heat sink.l

 

On a stockish turbo, I think it is mostly fluff.
I had a well known aftermarket FMIC on my car when I had a TME and gained zip on the dyno. I did lose spool up time, though, because the larger core took longer to charge.

I've since gone back to the stocker (even with a bigger turbo) and could not be happier.

 

Gots to have a pretty sizable turbo to make it worth while I think.... but what do I know.

 

I dont think its a good idea to get an upgraded intercooler on a stock turbo. The extra lag you would pick up is not worth it in my opinion. My car is 2-300 rpm laggier after i added my new fmic.

 

I just keep hearing stuff like this:

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...&postcount=156

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...&postcount=158

.....posted by knowledgeable fellas and it makes me wonder.


Original thread: https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=181187

 

No offense to those posters, but I disagree based on tests I've done on the dyno. FWIW, I did not have a BR IC, I had a different brand. But on a 16g car, its a total waste of funds IMO, unless you're doing it for groundwork for a big turbo car.

 

Spot on...

 

Az3ar is #1 Vishnu fanboy!

 

I think you answered your own question. I think people can be a little quick to over analyze (or they just want that big intercooler look, not that theres anything wrong with that ). The intercool cools charged air. Bigger intercooler means more cooling, but contains more space to ''charge.'' Every degree may make a small difference, but is it worth the loss of boost response? You gotta find the balance, but probably not with a small turbo.

 

you mean pain in his ***?

you are the fany boy.

 

Well, I actually took DB's advice and picked up a bigger FMIC. I didn't do before and after dyno's so I cannot really comment on power gains. Most people that simply bolt on a bigger FMIC and dyno do pick up some power but its from better flow and not better cooling. If you retune with the bigger FMIC you should be able to run more boost and that should definately increase power.

I did pick up a couple hundred RPM of lag but in the big picture thats only a fraction of a second. This might be due to the fact that I have the biggest FMIC you can fit behind the OEM bumper. Going with a midsized upgrade might be a happy middleground. I road race the hell out of my car often on days with temps in the high 90s so I think in those situations the larger heat exchanger will help more than it will hurt.

For simple drag racing I would go with alchy before a bigger FMIC.

http://webpages.charter.net/jeffjeske/pics/evofmic

 

IMO the bigger IC makes sense in only two applications:

1.) Bigger turbo on your car
2.) You're severely overspinning your stock turbo (e.g. 26+ psi on meth or racegas)

l8r)

 

Hot inlet air helps induce knock.

If you can reduce the plenum temps, for any turbo, on pump gas, then you will pick up power if the ignition mapped is tuned for it.

I have trouble believing all these varying in/out i/c air temp differences being posted.

Especially when the same stock i/c in/out temps are different too from test to test for the same stock i/c! Some testers make the stock i/c look good & other make it look bad.