Something to think about
 

Heres something to think about, the 2004 Ford Lightning has one of the most unique engine mods i can think of, its called a Super Cooler, they took the air cond. and routed it to the intake ( think about it, cold air makes ponies) Ford says its like a temporary shot of nitrous, and charges itself back up by just driving the truck. Now what I'm wondering is, have any of you guys out there done this out in the mud, now i know the air cond. pump can rob about 15 horses so most of you just torch the damn thing off, but ford says this design adds 40 horses to the lightning, so if this has been done before i'd like to know how you set it up in an older pickup, i think if this works in an older pickup i could use the 20 extra horses ( -15 horses from pump+40 horses from cold air induction=20 extra horses) Good idea I think. It's good in theory anyways huh?

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A cold intake charge is good for ponies, but I really doubt it adds anywhere near that much. And as far as it being like a shot of laughing gas......well, that has me laughing at those stupid marketing drones who think we're that gullible.

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they said it's something similar to nitrous...because it only comes in at WOT and lasts for less than a minute..they never said anything abou tthe power kick being the same

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However, using any comparison to nitrous has at least the underlaying connection of instant power. At least I'm sure thats what those marketing guys are hoping for. I still say its shady.

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whether its a marketing scam or not, whether you think its a good idea or not, we can all agree that the next lightining is gunna be one fast SOB

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On the lightning, the shot of cold air is shot on the intercooler, and, that it would add 40 horses is reasonable, as the supersharger adds heat when the air is compressed, and a blast of cold air on the intercooler would add the effect of a more efficent intercooler.

On a naturally aspirated vehicle, a blast of cold air might ice up your intake, but, that's about it....
Evan

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Ok lets examine this a bit here. Cool air is more dense than hot air thus there are more O2 molecules for cumbustion. Getting cool air from the outside is important for this reason.

Cool air is also important for another reason. To prevent detonation. Thus the intercooler. It cools the air to enable more boost (either supercharged or turbocharged) without detonation with the same octane fuel.

Once the air has passed through the turbo or blower then cooling it for the purpose of making it more dense is seemingly pointless. The charge of air in the intercooler is already set before the air is cooled. Making it more dense will not create more O2 molecules.

This leaves the other reason. Enabling more boost. Unless the lightening has a blower or turbo with a means of increasing boost rates when this cold air is put through the intercooler to take advantage of it's increased ability then I don't see much benefit to it in this capacity either.

Maybe the timing can be advanced some during this time to create more top end power. This would be possible with computer controlled timing. The knock sensor would register less detonation due to the colder intake charge thus enabling advanced timing.

I doubt if this alone would increase HP by 40. I would be interested to read more about this. Does anyone know of a link detailing how this works?

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here ya go. http://www.classictruckstop.com/news...ews2003-1.html

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The few degrees of difference in intake temperature has no effect on detonation/preignition/dieseling. If it did, you'd have to reset your timing every summer. Spark plug type, ignition timing, octane, & combustion chamber geometry have MUCH more effect on detonation than a couple of degrees in the intake. The intercooler has nothing to do with it.

But making the air charge cooler/denser also reduces the head pressure at the turbo/SC outlet, which allows more flow in the same size pipe, so there's more free space in the engine compartment. And it has to be done after the compression because compression causes some of the heat & temperature that you're trying to get rid of.

The air charge isn't SET by any one part of the intake system - it depends on MANY factors, and reducing the pressure at any point will have a significant effect on total flow.

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Yeah I'm sure the ford engineers know better than me if cooling the air after it's been compressed helps. I was just thinking out loud. You are wrong on this point however.

This is from this page on intercoolers.
http://www.thedodgegarage.com/turbo_intercooling.html



An intercooler can reduce intake air temp by as much as 200 degrees. Not a "few" degrees. They are specifically for running higher boost levels without detonation. This is what they were invented for.

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Cooling the air after the supercharger DOES make a difference. A big one. Compressing air causes the air temp to rise. Add supercharger heat soak to that and you can get an air charge that is 100-250 degrees hotter than ambient.

For perspective, I just sold my 98' Cobra that I had installed a Vortech S-trim. After installing an Aftercooler (Vortech's equivilent of an intercooler) I picked up 75hp at the rear wheels without any other tuning. The Aftercooler let me pull some fuel and add some timing which added another 40hp.

Roots style blowers (such as the one on the Lightning) are notoriously bad about heating up the air charge. A superchargers effeciency in compressing the air without adding heat is called "abdiatic effecincy". Centrifical S/Cs usually throw down the best #s while Roots S/Cs are the worst. This is likely why Ford designed this system. Cooler air going in means you can put more boost to the engine if you want, but even without more boost you will make more power on the same set up.

Supercharged engines are different animals and can't be compared to naturally aspirated engines.

It's a common misconception that stock engines won't hold up under more than 8-10 pounds of boost. With an intercooler and the proper tune most engines will live with say 15psi on pump gas. There are several variables here but in general that's true.

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rrmike
Your quote relates to adding boost MUCH more than incoming air temp. I stand by original statement.

Mudder
The word is "adiabatic", which means "without change in energy (heat)".

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Thanks Steve!! I always screw that word up.