Intercooler and charge cooler on a S3

[Andrew@A.L.D]

Has it been done?

Would there be any gains on a slightly modified S3 running about 20psi on the K04 Turbo?

 

[ianysm]

Whats a charge cooler do?

You'll definately get gains from an uprated Front mounted intercooler. More reliable boost thats not affected by temperature

 

[MintyS3]

Chargecooler is another form of cooling. I believe it uses some kind of coolant or just water. So water cooled instead of air cooled.

 

[Andrew@A.L.D]

A charge cooler is a water to air cooler a intercooler is a air to air so you get the idea

I have already got a Ebay FMIC and just wanted to know if a charge cooler has been used as well as a inter cooler

 

[badger5]

would you want to add more pipework? as opposed get an fmic effecient

 

[Andrew@A.L.D]

There wouldn't be that much more pipe work with this chargecooler i've seen

 

[Prawn]

it's not so much that it hasn't been done because it's hard or costly, but more because it's not really needed.

For the power/flow, and heat generated by the KO4 on the S3, most large sized FMIC cores are more than capable of keeping charge temps very low without any extra aid.

I guess the only possible benefit from a charge cooler would be a shorter pipe run, decreasing lag, and increasing throttle response slightly, although I think this would be marginal, and certainly not the case if a charge cooler were used alongside an FMIC

 

[badger5]

get water methanol. chemical cooling

 

[<tuffty/>]

I concur... seen some impressive results with this and its on my list of additions to mine

<tuffty/>

 

[badger5]

There wouldn't be that much more pipe work with this chargecooler i've seen

what temps do you log now with whatever intercooler you run?

 

[Andrew@A.L.D]

what temps do you log now with whatever intercooler you run?

Not done a test yet with what i've got but its something i might try when i go down the BT road? but as the engine is standard-ish i don't thing i'll do it just yet.

Will also try water/meth inj

 

[Westy]

I thought a Big turbo setup didn't require as much cooling due to the turbo not having to work as hard as a small K04! So surely your FMIC would still be as efficient, if not better with a BT setup?

 

[<tuffty/>]

Mine seems to run cooler with the BT on. Was logging the other night, car at 90 degrees, 9 degrees outside, 18 degrees IAT's peaking to 25 degrees from a 2nd to 3rd redline logging test and dropped back to 18 degrees. I do also have a phenolic insulator which reduces heat transfer from the engine quite a lot...

<tuffty/>

 

[MintyS3]

Pretty decent. I was running logs while giving it some "spirited" driving round my race track and saw a peak of 30c with an ambient temp of 12c. Mostly hovered round mid 20's with the Forge t'intercooler.

 

[Ess_Three]

You only need a decent FMIC...no doubt a Charge Cooler will do...but why re-invent the wheel?
At 20ish PSI you'll pretty much get away with standard ICs...and a FMIC will solve the cooling issues right there.

Can't see the need...especially when the S3 is plumbed for ICs to start with.

It'll only be an issue on a K04 car anyway...by the time you get to decent sized turbos, they are operating on their efficiency curve and not adding much heat...whereas a K04 quickly goes outside it's efficiency range and into 'heat pump' mode when you crank up the boost....and if a FMIC will rectify that, why over complicate things?

 

[Ess_Three]

Pretty decent. I was running logs while giving it some "spirited" driving round my race track and saw a peak of 30c with an ambient temp of 12c. Mostly hovered round mid 20's with the Forge t'intercooler.

I never saw more than 30 degrees inlet temps with my set up, summer or winter, despite running 1.85+ bar of boost.
The average was in the 20s....even on the dyno.
At 1.6 bar I was seeing 78 degrees inlet temps, after the standard ICs and before the FMIC upgrade.

 

[ianysm]

Really need to get myself an FMIC me thinks!

Soooo expensive though!

 

[1animal1]

yeah tis my next job, there always seems something better to spend the money on though, this weeks prject...fitted wardrobes

 

[Ess_Three]

yeah tis my next job, there always seems something better to spend the money on though, this weeks prject...fitted wardrobes

Livin' the Rock 'n' Roll highlife there, I see...
Fitted wardrobes, yeah baby!

 

[1animal1]

it's the future Glen..... :icon_thumright:

next job the 2 yr old kitchen needs refitting as the Pyrenean pup has pretty much chewed every corner

eventually i will fork out for my half respray, FMEC and various other bits.....on my ever depreciating lump of metal

 

[<tuffty/>]

Really need to get myself an FMIC me thinks!

Soooo expensive though!

The AH one is gonna be the best value for money one mate... work out less than £400 if you do it right and dead easy to fit yourself with the minimum of tools. £400 does seem a lot be well worth it to get the best out of a remapped S3

<tuffty/>

 

[1animal1]

dats da bad boy i is goin for init maaaaan

 

[Westy]

I have the money now for an AH fmic but the other half wants to go on holiday before xmas

 

[MintyS3]

I have the money now for an AH fmic but the other half wants to go on holiday before xmas

I hear Birminghams lovely this time of year.

 

[Westy]

I hear Birminghams lovely this time of year.

I've already managed to downgrade Lanzarote to the Algarve but I think Birmingham might be a step too far!

 

[1animal1]

apparently all the stars go to Benidorm...... luuurvely