I've been wondering for a while about fitting a bigger intercooler, and the problems with blocking the radiator - at the moment we're hovering between 30 and 40 degrees C here in Morocco, and there are some very long climbs, right up to 3,000 metres altitude.
Looking at my 200Tdi, it seems that the top coolant hose, which is carrying hot water straight from the thermostat housing at perhaps a bit over 90 degrees C under high load, is touching both the metal air cleaner housing and the metal pipe from the intercooler to the intake manifold.
This has disturbed me for a while, as when the engine is under full load, this pipe is transfering heat to the intake. Not good for power or reliability.
I was thinking about modifying the pipe runs, but then it struck me...
I'd bought some exhaust insulating thermal tape. Why not wrap the intercooler pipe?
In the end I've wrapped the top coolant hose, as it touches both the intercooler pipe and the air cleaner.
I've zip corded it on.
After a brief run the temperature of the exterior of the top hose was 60 degrees (about where the engine runs when not under high load).
The temperature of the lagged section was 45 degrees C.
I've no idea how much difference this will make, but it certainly can't hurt - and it's cheap!
Looking at my 200Tdi, it seems that the top coolant hose, which is carrying hot water straight from the thermostat housing at perhaps a bit over 90 degrees C under high load, is touching both the metal air cleaner housing and the metal pipe from the intercooler to the intake manifold.
This has disturbed me for a while, as when the engine is under full load, this pipe is transfering heat to the intake. Not good for power or reliability.
I was thinking about modifying the pipe runs, but then it struck me...
I'd bought some exhaust insulating thermal tape. Why not wrap the intercooler pipe?
In the end I've wrapped the top coolant hose, as it touches both the intercooler pipe and the air cleaner.
I've zip corded it on.
After a brief run the temperature of the exterior of the top hose was 60 degrees (about where the engine runs when not under high load).
The temperature of the lagged section was 45 degrees C.
I've no idea how much difference this will make, but it certainly can't hurt - and it's cheap!
