Disadvantages of a bigger intercooler

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Disadvantages of a bigger intercooler

Post by Bird87_ZA »

So the bug has bitten. Fek me right?

I want to get a bigger intercooler. Been looking at this one. It's as wide as the current IC, a bit taller and a bit deeper. It should be plug and play.

However, what are the disadvantages? I'm hearing turbo lag and so forth, but surely it should be so little that I shouldn't notice it? On the 9n3 I did not notice it at all...

Any help?
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Re: Disadvantages of a bigger intercooler

Post by Sinbad »

There are no disadvantages.
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Re: Disadvantages of a bigger intercooler

Post by ruan9n »

None. Like a medium rare rump steak it can only be good for you.
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Re: Disadvantages of a bigger intercooler

Post by PoLonY »

as per Sinbad and Ruan
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Re: Disadvantages of a bigger intercooler

Post by Crawler »

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Re: Disadvantages of a bigger intercooler

Post by Neuk »

DarkRanger wrote:So the bug has bitten. Fek me right?

I want to get a bigger intercooler. Been looking at this one. It's as wide as the current IC, a bit taller and a bit deeper. It should be plug and play.

However, what are the disadvantages? I'm hearing turbo lag and so forth, but surely it should be so little that I shouldn't notice it? On the 9n3 I did not notice it at all...

Any help?
Please ask the person that told you this to provide the following...

1. Definition of turbo lag
2. How a larger intercooler afffects turbo lag

Kthnxbyebyenow :grin:
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Re: Disadvantages of a bigger intercooler

Post by Bird87_ZA »

I have sent him the link...
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Re: Disadvantages of a bigger intercooler

Post by PoLonY »

DarkRanger wrote:I have sent him the link...
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Re: Disadvantages of a bigger intercooler

Post by Neuk »

PoLonY wrote:
DarkRanger wrote:I have sent him the link...
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Re: Disadvantages of a bigger intercooler

Post by Vinnige Fanie »

It weighs more :grin:
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Re: Disadvantages of a bigger intercooler

Post by joggiep »

By the time a bigger intercooler creates real boost lag issues you would have created so mutch drag and would have added so mutch weight that the exstra power is worthless...

Something like this comes to mind.
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Re: Disadvantages of a bigger intercooler

Post by PoLonY »

Neuk wrote:
PoLonY wrote:
DarkRanger wrote:I have sent him the link...
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Re: Disadvantages of a bigger intercooler

Post by MeanTdi »

Cons:
More chance of a boost leak.
Need to make up your own fitting for the MAF.

Well that is what is stopping me.
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Re: Disadvantages of a bigger intercooler

Post by Impi »

Hi
The disadvantage of running a larger intercooler is that you have to pressurise a larger volume of space thus needing more compressed air this in turn will make the effects of turbo lag more noticable as it take longer for this too happen. Obviously if there is more cooling of the charge and you get a cooler dense charge you might get a llitle more air into the engine which on its own could net a fraction more power (the biggest plus here is a cooler running engine and possibly more engine life - Trade off is that you might cool down to such an extent that your exhaust gasses are too cool to work the turbo efficeintly which then costs power. I am talking extremes here though) Reason why this is not so noticable on std turbo cars is that the turbos are generally on the small side and starts to boost relatively low on the rev range thus keeping some pressure in the system at all times thus making it easier to fit a larger intercooler with little or no feelable effect. But go large turbo and large intercooler and the difference can be felt and seen in acc times. If the rest of the car is std I doubt if the change to a larger intercooler will make much of a difference. If you plan on upgrading the rest the its as good a place to start as any.
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Re: Disadvantages of a bigger intercooler

Post by Sinbad »

Impi wrote:Hi
The disadvantage of running a larger intercooler is that you have to pressurise a larger volume of space thus needing more compressed air this in turn will make the effects of turbo lag more noticable as it take longer for this too happen. Obviously if there is more cooling of the charge and you get a cooler dense charge you might get a llitle more air into the engine which on its own could net a fraction more power (the biggest plus here is a cooler running engine and possibly more engine life - Trade off is that you might cool down to such an extent that your exhaust gasses are too cool to work the turbo efficeintly which then costs power. I am talking extremes here though) Reason why this is not so noticable on std turbo cars is that the turbos are generally on the small side and starts to boost relatively low on the rev range thus keeping some pressure in the system at all times thus making it easier to fit a larger intercooler with little or no feelable effect. But go large turbo and large intercooler and the difference can be felt and seen in acc times. If the rest of the car is std I doubt if the change to a larger intercooler will make much of a difference. If you plan on upgrading the rest the its as good a place to start as any.
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****.
Pressure increase travels at the speed of sound. The intercooler isn't a balloon you need to blow up before the engine sees extra pressure.
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Re: Disadvantages of a bigger intercooler

Post by Yakuza Racer »

Impi wrote:Hi
The disadvantage of running a larger intercooler is that you have to pressurise a larger volume of space thus needing more compressed air this in turn will make the effects of turbo lag more noticable as it take longer for this too happen. Obviously if there is more cooling of the charge and you get a cooler dense charge you might get a llitle more air into the engine which on its own could net a fraction more power (the biggest plus here is a cooler running engine and possibly more engine life - Trade off is that you might cool down to such an extent that your exhaust gasses are too cool to work the turbo efficeintly which then costs power. I am talking extremes here though) Reason why this is not so noticable on std turbo cars is that the turbos are generally on the small side and starts to boost relatively low on the rev range thus keeping some pressure in the system at all times thus making it easier to fit a larger intercooler with little or no feelable effect. But go large turbo and large intercooler and the difference can be felt and seen in acc times. If the rest of the car is std I doubt if the change to a larger intercooler will make much of a difference. If you plan on upgrading the rest the its as good a place to start as any.
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Re: Disadvantages of a bigger intercooler

Post by Yakuza Racer »

Sinbad wrote:
Impi wrote:Hi
The disadvantage of running a larger intercooler is that you have to pressurise a larger volume of space thus needing more compressed air this in turn will make the effects of turbo lag more noticable as it take longer for this too happen. Obviously if there is more cooling of the charge and you get a cooler dense charge you might get a llitle more air into the engine which on its own could net a fraction more power (the biggest plus here is a cooler running engine and possibly more engine life - Trade off is that you might cool down to such an extent that your exhaust gasses are too cool to work the turbo efficeintly which then costs power. I am talking extremes here though) Reason why this is not so noticable on std turbo cars is that the turbos are generally on the small side and starts to boost relatively low on the rev range thus keeping some pressure in the system at all times thus making it easier to fit a larger intercooler with little or no feelable effect. But go large turbo and large intercooler and the difference can be felt and seen in acc times. If the rest of the car is std I doubt if the change to a larger intercooler will make much of a difference. If you plan on upgrading the rest the its as good a place to start as any.
Armand
b%&*%$*t.
Pressure increase travels at the speed of sound. The intercooler isn't a balloon you need to blow up before the engine sees extra pressure.
the amount of lag generated is 0000.2% you would need to be awesome to feel the lag :evil:
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Re: Disadvantages of a bigger intercooler

Post by PoLonY »

Sinbad wrote:
Impi wrote:Hi
The disadvantage of running a larger intercooler is that you have to pressurise a larger volume of space thus needing more compressed air this in turn will make the effects of turbo lag more noticable as it take longer for this too happen. Obviously if there is more cooling of the charge and you get a cooler dense charge you might get a llitle more air into the engine which on its own could net a fraction more power (the biggest plus here is a cooler running engine and possibly more engine life - Trade off is that you might cool down to such an extent that your exhaust gasses are too cool to work the turbo efficeintly which then costs power. I am talking extremes here though) Reason why this is not so noticable on std turbo cars is that the turbos are generally on the small side and starts to boost relatively low on the rev range thus keeping some pressure in the system at all times thus making it easier to fit a larger intercooler with little or no feelable effect. But go large turbo and large intercooler and the difference can be felt and seen in acc times. If the rest of the car is std I doubt if the change to a larger intercooler will make much of a difference. If you plan on upgrading the rest the its as good a place to start as any.
Armand
b%&*%$*t.
Pressure increase travels at the speed of sound. The intercooler isn't a balloon you need to blow up before the engine sees extra pressure.
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Re: Disadvantages of a bigger intercooler

Post by Stompie »

OMG,

If mr panic sees this he will **** him self!

:lol:

i went from the stock to a moerse cooler and didnt notice any difference in how the car boosts, still starts boosting at the same RPM.

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Re: Disadvantages of a bigger intercooler

Post by Neuk »

Sinbad wrote:
Impi wrote:Hi
The disadvantage of running a larger intercooler is that you have to pressurise a larger volume of space thus needing more compressed air this in turn will make the effects of turbo lag more noticable as it take longer for this too happen. Obviously if there is more cooling of the charge and you get a cooler dense charge you might get a llitle more air into the engine which on its own could net a fraction more power (the biggest plus here is a cooler running engine and possibly more engine life - Trade off is that you might cool down to such an extent that your exhaust gasses are too cool to work the turbo efficeintly which then costs power. I am talking extremes here though) Reason why this is not so noticable on std turbo cars is that the turbos are generally on the small side and starts to boost relatively low on the rev range thus keeping some pressure in the system at all times thus making it easier to fit a larger intercooler with little or no feelable effect. But go large turbo and large intercooler and the difference can be felt and seen in acc times. If the rest of the car is std I doubt if the change to a larger intercooler will make much of a difference. If you plan on upgrading the rest the its as good a place to start as any.
Armand
b%&*%$*t.
Pressure increase travels at the speed of sound. The intercooler isn't a balloon you need to blow up before the engine sees extra pressure.
Coupled with the fact that intake temperatures have nothing to do with EGT...
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Re: Disadvantages of a bigger intercooler

Post by Impi »

Sorry for being called a bull shitter. As a sort of veteran in engine building for the past 25 years and having turbocharged a few non turbo engines I am entitled to somewhat of an opinion. If you would take the time to read my post I warned about extremes and in the Op's post I felt that it would be of little consequence. Try filling a truck tyre with a bicycle pump and then tell me again this story about "speed of sound" However with small turbos boosting almost all the time it does mask the problem which is what I saidRegards and have a nice day
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Re: Disadvantages of a bigger intercooler

Post by Psycho8v »

But this is where I get confused. I am a complete noob with turbocharging, so please don't go too hard on me. The intercooler is already full of air, right? You're just moving it around and compressing it. A truck tyre has no air in to start with, so you first need to get the air in, and then still compress it, or am I completely wrong here? :???:
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Re: Disadvantages of a bigger intercooler

Post by panic-mechanic »

That the biggest load of horse manure i have ever seen in my life. I think you have wasted 25 years of your life. Go ask for it back.
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Re: Disadvantages of a bigger intercooler

Post by Naku786 »

panic-mechanic wrote:That the biggest load of horse manure i have ever seen in my life. I think you have wasted 25 years of your life. Go ask for it back.
:lol: :lol: :lol:
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Re: Disadvantages of a bigger intercooler

Post by SemiColon »

panic-mechanic wrote:That the biggest load of horse manure i have ever seen in my life. I think you have wasted 25 years of your life. Go ask for it back.
:lol: :lol: :lol:
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