Intercooler-What exactly does it do ?
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Intercooler-What exactly does it do ?
In hope that there is no such thing as a stupid question, what does an intercooler do on a turbo ?
Does it act like a radiator and disperse heat in the same way, or does it somehow inject water mist somewhere ?
Different articles have left me unclear.
If it acts like a radiator, could you recycle a used rad and plumb it in ?
Thanks.
Does it act like a radiator and disperse heat in the same way, or does it somehow inject water mist somewhere ?
Different articles have left me unclear.
If it acts like a radiator, could you recycle a used rad and plumb it in ?
Thanks.
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When air is compressed, which is what a turbo does, it becomes hot. An intercooler removes some of the heat by passing the air through a coil which has coolant running through the inside, the same way a radiator works. This brings the air temp back down to about the same as the coolant temp. Cooler air helps burn fuel more efficiently.
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Thanks,
so, do most turbos have provision to hook up an intercooler (such as receptacles to accept a coolant line), or only some models ?
Could a smallish radiator be utilized instead of one designated as an intercooler ?
so, do most turbos have provision to hook up an intercooler (such as receptacles to accept a coolant line), or only some models ?
Could a smallish radiator be utilized instead of one designated as an intercooler ?
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Most intercoolers are just as explained above. They are to cool the air charge before it enters the turbo. They are installed between the air filter and the inlet of the turbine. If they were installed after the turbo you would have turbo lag problems. They do not use water injection. Water injection is used on some ultra high performance applacations. The ones that I have seen do not have coolant running thru them. Your engine is running at or above 200 degrees F. and if you run coolant to the intercooler it might heat up your air charge. They are designed like a raidator but they have huge flow abilty. Remember all of the air that is going into your motor is running thru the intercooler. If you tried to rig up an old coolant raidiator you would starve your motor for air. Hope this helps.
Happy trials.
Mike
Happy trials.
Mike
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The intercoolers only carry air. The pressure from the turbo is more than in a normal radiator so I dont think you could use a recycled radiator.
On some of the older models, the intercooler was a hard thing to install due to the fan belts being in the way of the connecting tubes. I would imagine a guy could make adapters to get around that problem and have an intercooled system.
On some of the older models, the intercooler was a hard thing to install due to the fan belts being in the way of the connecting tubes. I would imagine a guy could make adapters to get around that problem and have an intercooled system.
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Grasshopper, I see that you have an 88 and that would have the multi belt system. That is the one that causes the problems with running connection tubes from the turbo to the intake. Call ATS and ask them to send infor, but they will tell you it may not work on your truck.
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Thanks for the tip.
Following the turbo thing a bit further....
I have been in contact with an outfir that sells re-manufactured Garrett tc4.
For $500US shipped they include the turbo and wastegate. For an extra $100 they will include the oil plumbery kit.
They tell me I will need to find a 7.3 turbo manifold (Anyone know how much $ ?). What else would I need and any ballpark prices ?
Does this sound like a good deal ?
By contrast on e-bay I see used or removed from wrecks complete units (however they define complete) for $500 and up.
Thanks for any input.
Following the turbo thing a bit further....
I have been in contact with an outfir that sells re-manufactured Garrett tc4.
For $500US shipped they include the turbo and wastegate. For an extra $100 they will include the oil plumbery kit.
They tell me I will need to find a 7.3 turbo manifold (Anyone know how much $ ?). What else would I need and any ballpark prices ?
Does this sound like a good deal ?
By contrast on e-bay I see used or removed from wrecks complete units (however they define complete) for $500 and up.
Thanks for any input.
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I do not think I have ever seen an intercooler before the turbo.
The intercooler is after the turbo, before the intake manifold.
Part of the heat that the intercooler dissapates is from the air being compressed, the rest is transmitted from the exhaust side of the turbo to the intake supply side through the turbo shaft.
The cooling of the air charge makes the air charge denser, so you are actually getting more air in the cylinder at the same pressure.
The fact that more air is in the cylinder is what helps combustion.
The intercooler is after the turbo, before the intake manifold.
Part of the heat that the intercooler dissapates is from the air being compressed, the rest is transmitted from the exhaust side of the turbo to the intake supply side through the turbo shaft.
The cooling of the air charge makes the air charge denser, so you are actually getting more air in the cylinder at the same pressure.
The fact that more air is in the cylinder is what helps combustion.
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