Which Intercooler

Okies

I've had a good look round at the threads and understand the pro's and con's of adding a bigger intercooler to my 300Tdi 90. I have seen IC's mentioned from Jeremy Fearns, Twisted and Allisport.

The JF unit is most expensive but no bad rep at all. The Twisted is les expensive but what I've read doesn't make me want to get my wallet out. The Allisport has had some negative rep on here and the response from Allisport wasn't what I would have expected.

Are there any other manufacturers anyone has used and can comment on?


The alternative is getting a big IC from a scrappers but it's the fuelling changes afterwards that I'm totally unsure of.

what are the pros and cons of fitting a bigger IC?

id have thought alli or twisted were the most renouned and trusted. not sure what you have heard, but for the 1 or 2 negatives, there are bound to be a fair few more happy customers... just a thought.

the chap from allisport is usually on here now and again.

G

Griffdowg said:

what are the pros and cons of fitting a bigger IC?

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Hey Griffdowg. From what I have read...and it is only read...a larger IC can /will provide a larger volume of significantly cooler air to the turbo. The larger volume of air will allow, with tweaking, a larger charge of air/fuel mix into the cylinders and a bigger bang, so more power and torque. The cooler air will also be better oxygenated, so I've read, and therefore there will be a better and more complete combustion...so greater power and torque.

The downside is that the extra power can accelerate wear on the engine and drivetrain and that fuelling tweaks could reduce the economy of the vehicle.

If anyone has another view I'd be very happy to hear...I'm in sponge mode at the moment.

Martin i was thinkin of goin down the bigger intercooler route a while ago but didn't, my reason for not was after goin greenlanin with "durty" in his 300 disco that has a full width inter with the ip turned up, he had no low down torque for long climbs so had to be in a lower gear all the time which causes wheel spin and loss of traction, the power is certainly increased but only higher up the rev range when the turbo has been spinning more. The black clouds out of the exhaust have to be seen to be believed when the turbo kicks in.

Hi Stig

Thanks for the response. I hadn't really considered about the turbo needing to spin up to proper boost pressure first and if you make the fuelling a little richer for when it does I guess you would get a lot of smoke!! I guess it could also reduce performance when the turbo is not spun up as the mixture would be too rich.

Hmmmm...nobody had mentioned that one.

I know "durty's" one drinks fuel compared to mine and will definately have trouble come mot time (tis nothing to do with his engine as it is all new as is the ip)

Interesting...

Been doing a little more mooching and better understand why there is a larger charge of oxygen in the cooler air from a better IC. It's because there is more air as it is cooler and therefore more dense. D'oh!
Another thing I've picked up is that, as you may expect, a larger IC, being sat between the turbo and the intake manifold, will take a longer time to "charge" to boost pressure and so an increase in lag can be experienced. How noticeable this is...I dunno...but could again explain some of the downsides Stig has mentioned.
Some more, and quite detailed, info here Intercooler Theory

I bought a alli one, and it rocks.

Badlands said:

I bought a alli one, and it rocks.

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S'good to hear Badlands. What is it actually like in the running vehicle though? Notice any further lag or had any fuelling problems, MOT worries...owt like that??

Or does it just give a shed-load more grunt?!

Shed load more grunt, which is what one wants, never noticed the fuel, but what a beast it is now (I mean my Landy)

So...a simple drop-in upgrade for a shed-load of grunt?! Cooler than a Gucci freezer!!

Badlands. Did Allisport tweak the fuelling for you, fiddle with the boost or anything...or did you fit it yourself? Just wondering how difficult the job is too as I'm a hike from most tuners.

Martin,

take a look at this:

STEVES SITE

the dude is on here from time to time and ive also seen him towing a caravan with that orange 90 down in cornwall!

G

Cheers for that Griffdowg!

and if your still unsure:

Land Rover Owner :: View topic - 200/300tdi pump adjustment for +25 BHP

and check this:

Allard Turbo Sport

S'looking good. Cheers agin Griffdowg. Been mooching for a boost gauge on Fleabay just to see what's going on...and have noticed a Nissan Skyline IC going fer £150.

I wonder if it'd fit???

£150! was so special about it? you need to make sure you get the "range" right. or it will be pointless.

G

Range! Not sure what you mean there Griffdowg...that's nowt new though.

I thought that with the Nissan Skyline being one of them sooper fast cars with a turbo that you can alter from inside the cabin and deliver up to 3 bar boost...would have an IC that was about as efficient as you could get. I think somoene off LZ got one from a Supra...similar kinda thing...but the Skyline is more modern.

Just a thought.

i mean as in 0-100 or 0-200 psi or whatever. if your landy only produces a 5th of the pressure a skyline does the gauge will hardly read anything and it will be so small you wont see it very well. am i making this stuff up? it seems kind of right in my head. i doubt all cars have the range. worth looking into?

G