Chargecooler: How cold should it be?

[karmavore]

I wonder if mine is not working and robbing me of power. When I touch it after a run it is bet classified as warmish. Its' not hot like everything else in the engine bay, but it's not cold either.

Luke.

[lotusguy]

karmavore said:

I wonder if mine is not working and robbing me of power. When I touch it after a run it is bet classified as warmish. Its' not hot like everything else in the engine bay, but it's not cold either. Luke.

Luke,

Should be somewhat cold to the touch. Flush and/or bleed the system, if that doesn't work, time to change the impellor. Happy Motoring! ...Jim'85TE

[karmavore]

I take it the impeller moves coolant through the system..?

Thank you!

[lotusguy]

karmavore said:

I take it the impeller moves coolant through the system..? Thank you!

Luke,

Yup, it lives on and is driven by the Aux. shaft which used to run the distributor. Not too bad a repair, definitely a one man job, removal of three small bolts and gasket, fill re-bleed the system, maybe 1.5 hrs. Just take care not to counter spin the Aux. shaft ever! Not even one little bit. It is guaranteed to destroy the impeller. Happy Motoring! ...Jim'85TE

[karmavore]

Now that I have the service notes I need to start answering my own questions. Looks like an easy job.

Luke.

[bojangles]

for sure not easy... you need small hands and some long extensions..
I just did the job and suggest the following.. remove plug wires and air cleaner you will get much better access... oo and also there is a sensor there with a black wire... unplug that too.
You will probably drop things a few times so may as well take the under engine cover off too. makes it less frustrating ...

the one screw to remove is not so bad with the right socket and extensions.. wiggling the pump out is the hard part.. I suggest to take a few digital pics when you start.. like which way the hose clamps are on. there is not much room to do it any differently that as it is when you start...

Bruce
S4s

[Paula&Marcus]

Hi All,
The c/cooler system used in our beloved 4-Cyl. Esprits is a passive-heat-exchange-system. This means that the c/cooler itself cannot get colder than ambient temp. If its warm outside it will feel a bit warm ... however in winter you will notice that it feels pretty cold ... ;o))

Cheers
Marcus (www.PUKesprit.de)

[karmavore]

That's helpful Marcus. Mine is for sure coler than the rest of the engine, but it is not "cold"

Luke.

[rlearp]

It won't be cold. I've measured the top of mine with a IR pyrometer and it is typically around 100-105F. Sharp contrast to the 450-550F of the turbocharger turbine side!!!!

[Mark91SE]

"Cold to the touch."... what an absolutely unscientific method... and yet... that is exactly how it should feel. Colder than ambient temps... noticeable but not freezing and not just 'not as warm as the engine below it'!

One key test is if you do a hi-boost run, full throttle, and it only peaks for a few seconds, then falls back.

Here are some pics of my cc pump rebuild and what happens to the impeller bits when it fails and hasn't been adressed for a long time.

www.voicecrystal.com/Esprit/Chargecooler/Pump/

Lots of pulverized rubber in the system;

www.voicecrystal.com/Esprit/Chargecooler/Flushing/

I did this two years ago. Now that it's summertime, I'm afraid the rebuild didn't last that long. It's still cooling a bit, but not like it was. I am going for an electric pump soon.

- Mark

[Mark91SE]

Marcus said:

This means that the c/cooler itself cannot get colder than ambient temp.

Hmmm... I'd have to recall what the days were like when I rebuilt mine and felt it after a run... but I could have sworn it was cooler than the air around me. Then again, you are an an expert! It's very hot now, and I haven't noticed the cc box being 'cool to the touch'. Maybe I should check my flow rate again. The car sure boosts nicer on cooler days though.
- Mark91SE

>> Edited by Mark91SE on Thursday 1st July 08:13

>> Edited by Mark91SE on Thursday 1st July 08:14

[igreenrover]

As said, it's only going to feel cool "in comparison" to the air and components that surround it in the Engine bay, because ambient temperature is the lowest temperature the system encounters.
The cooling fluid will never reach ambient temperature so there will aways be a difference between the cooled water leaving the radiator and the ambient air passing through it.

If you feel the c/cooler body by hand (straight after stopping) and than compare its temperature to that of the air passage from the turbo to the c/cooler body that will tell you if the circuit is working. The hot compressed air from the Turbo should heat the body of the passage(and also the area where it enters the c/cooler), and then be cooled in the charge cooler, so this is where you will notice the temperature differential by touch.

Gareth