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Would it be possible to run both types of intercoolers on a vehicle? I probably wont do this, but could I run a air to air and then a water to air after that that comes out of the cold side of the radiator, or will this just take away from the heat loss of the air to air? I ask this because I have both highway and stop and got traffic, and my vehicle, not being a Ford, is still turbocharged, but not intercooled. Also, is an intercooler not even worth it on a mechanical diesel injection motor? I have been told that it will be a lot less efficient than that of one on a electric fuel injection. Please help!
Use either one but not both.
And air to water are separate from the coolant because even the cool side of the radiator is 120+.
The type of injection does not effect the efficiency of an intercooler.
Air to air are simple... uh more simple and work real good are more efficient and a little lighter, but only cool to ambeit temp.
Air to water have less piping so spool up is faster and ice can be added to the water allowing it to cool below ambeit temp.
google "water injection"
you can get a powerstroke intercooler for about $400 from ford brand new.
Last edited by F150daniel; Oct 16, 2004 at 02:28 PM.
Air to water systems have two "radiators", a reservoir, a pump and some hoses.
It works a lot like the cooling system for the engine.
The water flows through a pump then the intercooler then to a radiator then through a reservoir then back through the pump.
One of these radiators is mounted in front of the engines radiator cools the water.
The other "radiator" an called an intercooler (see pic at bottom) it adsorbs the heat from the intake charge.
The pump pumps the water though the system.
The reservoir tank holds extra water for the system. Ice can be put in the tank to cool the water below ambient temp usually cooling the intake charge below ambient temp.
If you're not going to race the truck, but rather use it for towing, highway hauling, or just brisk acceleration on the roadways, consider a water to air intercooler, and use the existing cooling system.
Trust me, it works, if you upgrade your water pump and radiator core. I've done it
Its actually going into a diesel car, and I will mosly be doing around town driving, and I'm not sure the are to air to air will work too well with not much air being pushed passed it. I know that there are fans on it, but I need to see if they are always on.