Intercoolers?

[Shabs]

I am looking to supercharge my 2zz-ge Elise. The main concern I have is around engine reliability and my thoughts around this are to make as many cooling mods as possible - the constraint is of course cash

So the question is what do intercoolers actually do. I am happy with the power delivery of the normal non intercooled Ronin/Katana kit, but am thinking of investing the additional £1500 for the intercooled kit just from a reliability perspective. Is this sensible or am I better off spending my cash on oil coolers, upgraded radiators and lower thermostats?

Much appreciated

Marty

[stevieturbo]

intercooling isnt about cooling the engine.

It's about cooling the compressed air for more performance, and less risk of detonation.

As to whether you need it or not, depends on style of forced induction and how much boost you intend to use. As well as how the engine is built, and what compression ration you are using, including what fuel.

The oil/water cooling would be more relating to how you intend to use the vehicle. For road, or track use. For track use, then yes additional cooling may have benefits. For the road, maybe not

[chuntington101]

Looking at the kit it looks well worth getting the intercooeld version. Roots blower do make a fiar bit of heat! so its always a good idea to look into ways to get rid of it.

Chris.

[Shabs]

Thanks for the advice, it is sort of the hunch I had. Now the real question, if the IC version cost 1.5K more, would you not oilcool instead of IC?

[Magic919]

Re-read the posts above and digest.

[chuntington101]

Shabs said:

Thanks for the advice, it is sort of the hunch I had. Now the real question, if the IC version cost 1.5K more, would you not oilcool instead of IC?

can you not stick the oil cooler in the other side pod??............

[turbonutter]

As mentioned above Intercoolers & oil coolers do a different job & one is not a replacement for the other in any way.

If it was my car I would intercool & oil cool - Especially if you intend to go near a track.

Cheers
Neil

[dblack1]

Id go after a intercooled setup, but you could probly buy an intercooler and piping for way cheaper.

Edit: but as said previously, the intercooler will not make your cooling system any more efficient.

Edited by dblack1 on Monday 20th December 07:00

[Shabs]

cool - I am going to get the VF Stage 1 kit which has a A/A IC and then upgrade the radiator and add twin oil coolers. Power seems easy, it's reliability that is proving problematic

[JontyR]

Why not go for a centrifugal charger instead of a roots? They generate less heat and so you might not need a cooler.

Also I really don't think, despite a number of people stating it, that you are understanding the reason you are looking to add the cooling. It isn't to cool the engine, that is a by-product of sorts, it is to cool the charge. Yes if you are running more power you might need to look at uprating the oil coolers and water coolers.....but that wont prevent pre-ignition.

Have you thought about charge cooling? If packaging is compromised, especially as it is mid engined, then I would have thought that the better idea?