Txdragon

As the title says.. Anyone here use an intercooler sprayer? If so, any input? Was it homemade or a bought kit? Summer is coming up and today I saw my highest IAT readings yet. They were well into the hundo zone. Nope, nope, nope. This **** ain't gonna happen. It gets pretty hot where I am and it may not be Death Valley temps, but I don't wanna be worried about intake temps in the hundred+ range. I got to looking into intercooler sprayers and I also don't have ANY motivation whatsoever to spend that kinda cash when I can easily fab something up that'll do the job. So.. If you use one or have used one, I'd like to hear your feedback on them.
Thanks in advance!

LightningTeg

100+ is totally normal. My temps have always been 110-120 typical in the summer time.

Obviously less is more but I wouldnt go nuts about it.

You could easily hook up your windshield washer fluid sprayers to the IC, or go to the junkyard and get another set.

Txdragon

Yeah, I was thinking of a setup just like that. Just reroute my windshield washer to some sprayers mounted in front of the IC, Thinking that normal ranges for hot weather would approach the 120's pretty easy. I like my cool air though lol. It's really not expensive to pull off, just wondered if anyone may actually use them.

TheShodan

iTrader: (14)

You're not going to get much cooler than that without actually changing the cooler itself, eventually. (Bell, Garrett, ETS, etc).

But I did hook up sprayers by using a secondary nozzle sprayer to the back of the intercooler, for some time attack days (I run a 800hp Garrett Core). My friend did the actual wiring so that the rear wiper sprayer (Integra) now works as the intercooler sprayer.
It really doesn't help that much except for temporary relief after a hard session.

100-130*F is normal even with a sprayer. You're not going to get 80* and less IATs for a street car. You're fine at the 100-130, and should be fortunate that it's not worse.

2x0

Aradin

If you really want IAT reduction look into running water/meth injection. Even running a small jet size like 250cc or similar you will see big reductions in IATs while in boost. Currently I'm using a 250cc jet and log 90-100F IATs(or less, depending on speed/airflow to intercooler) on a hot, humid(90F+) summer day. I have run up to 500cc in the past with great results as well. It's neat to watch in the logs. If you're cruising and give it just enough throttle to kick the pump in you can watch your IATs literally plummet.

Txdragon

I am looking at other IC options currently. I think I found the end of the road for this CX racing unit. I am about halfway through my tune with phearable and the car feels like it's being held back. Feels REALLY good when boost begins, but sluggish on the top end when it's registering highest. I am set at 12.5 psi and see an occasional spike to 13. I suppose even the Hallman MBC is prone to the boost spikes. The GOOD side is that boost is pretty stable for the most part. Nice, even climb and plateau. Only thing that would make sense to me now is at my current peak boost, the IC flow is faultering. Thoughts?

For the sprayer, I did a little test today with my water hose lol. I just came back from a datalog session and sprayed the IC down with the mist nozzle for the garden. IAT was registering 105 when I pulled into my driveway and 130 when I left (good ol' heatsoak). As I got about a mile down the road, temps had dropped into mid 80's, outside temp at that time was 88. That is a considerable drop. Prior runs throughout the day, IAT would drop down to high 90's, low 100's without spraying.


But.. I'm cheap!! lol Really, it's got great airflow where it sits. I won't argue with the idea of maybe needing a new one, primarily for reasons I mentioned above


This may not be AS effective as water/meth injection, but a great alternative that is seemingly budget-friendly. 50% of something is better than 100% of nothing! I've personally seen temps drop by 40 degrees today with a simple water spray. Water/meth is like shooting a mouse with a shotgun. My way of thinking is that particular method would be better suited to a track car and though effective, extremely excessive for a street car.

TheShodan

iTrader: (14)

That Hallman is a bleed style ball & spring.. It can't create boost spikes, sir.

Txdragon

What's causing them? They are occasional. Not super frequent, but certainly existent. More than once a day. I actually logged 3 today.

TheShodan

iTrader: (14)

Ignition... Read up on bleed style manual boost controllers.. You'll know what I mean as to why it doesn't happen in those

2x0

Txdragon

ok. I got it now.. Mechanically: boost pressure through the inlet port pushes the ball against the spring until such time as it closes the port venting the excess pressure, thus sending it through the outgoing port to open the wg? Turning the **** adjusts essentially how much air is getting bled off; kinda like closing a window? The stronger the spring, the more boost it takes to push the ball to the top, the lighter, the easier.
Or have I not drank enough this evening?

Txdragon

I've looked over my engine bay and see that I could certainly shorten my WG line. It's only a half psi spike also, I don't think I should worry. (I feel weird saying that). If it were several lbs, I'd probably **** a brick. Boost is pretty smooth as it builds up and maxes. Nice even line throughout.

The turbo is from CX racing. It has been determined it may be a copy from an older Garrett 60 trim. TheShodan knows more of the tech specs. It starts spooling about 4500 and really digs in around 5500-5800.

I **may** crank it to 14 and see how it feels, but I see your point on the efficiency deal.

LightningTeg

I would start with a better IC core. But at 14psi you really shouldn't be pushing it unless its a small core.

Tread-stone makes a good middle of the road intercooler core and they've gotten better overtime from what I've seen.

Garrett makes some real nice ones but you're going to pay probably double for those.

Txdragon

It may be restrictive, it may not. I'm still in the tuning process and we may just need to start tweaking the timing a bit. **shrug** As for the IC, I am twiddling back and forth between Vibrant and Mishimoto currently. Price points seem pretty close, from what I've seen, and both are supposed to be pretty good for the price vs some random ebay crap or a top shelf item like Garrett, etc..

Chance EG

Not sure if I'm reading this right, but I wouldn't advise using unfiltered water anywhere in the car, including as a spray.

Better IC core as stated is the best and most proper fix. Alcohol/Water/Meth injection immediately after the intercooler on the cold side pipe would be the best place for proper installation, not pre-intercooler. Water will help lower IAT more than alcohol or meth.

Txdragon

Yessir, you read it wrong. I'm talking about spraying the outside of the intercooler. Evaporative cooling effect. Not adding anything in the engine, just to clarify.

Chance EG

Ah. Well disregard everything I said then lol.

TheShodan

iTrader: (14)

6 of one, half-dozen of the other when it comes to those two companies for intercooler. See the intercooler sticky at the top of the FI thread to see what I'm getting at..

Balor_Gr

I would see it work if you have the water tank in the trunk.
Other than that you have to spray and wait it to evap to cool down the surface.
Id use 2-3-4 VERY fine big degree nozles for making this process quicker.

Txdragon

If I dropped some ice into the washer bottle for the trip. I'm sure on a hot day it won't last too long, but it'll still be nice and cool for a bit. Spraying on the highway, the evap process would take place even faster.

On the whole idea of upgrading to a more efficient IC; something like a sprayer would work for both, regardless of its cooling efficiency. Obviously, results would vary based solely on that efficiency, but still.

Balor_Gr

If your cooler is untouchably hot itsprobably because of radiated heat. Is everything heat wrapped?

2x0

But the whole idea of a sprayer is just a bandaid and not addressing the root cause of the problem. A problem which, it doesn't even sound like you really have, because your IAT's are normal....

Txdragon

It's not untouchable or anything. It gets fairly warm, yeah. The DP is right behind it, but meh. I haven't heat wrapped anything yet, but it is on my to-do list!


I'm realizing now the IAT is within an acceptable range. I've owned 3 turbo vehicles in my lifetime, 2 of which I did not have any form of data-viewing software on. The first was an 89 probe gt, next was a fully built badass of a CA18DET swapped 240sx BUT, that was tuned by Jim Wolf Technology and I didn't monitor that in any way, and finally, the little EG that could lol

I'm trying to imagine how a larger core IC will cool better if the fact that no more surface area would be exposed to the incoming air.


Older pic, but this is where it sits. Good exposure within the ridiculous bumper. **shrug** Anything larger would be covered more by the bumper. I AM planning on another IC anyways, but i'm just trying to imagine how it'll be cooler. (not that IAT is a big problem, as pointed out lol)

AZ_CIVIC

iTrader: (1)

I've run a few intercoolers over time and will say Garrett has some nice cores but they will cost you. I've also ran treadstone intercoolers and those have worked just fine for me and would have no problem in recommending those.

However I am currently using a 6 inch thick Vibrant Intercooler core with custom end tanks and have not had any issues at all. Now if you are looking a good middle ground intercooler that works good Treadstone does make some good stuff but then again I have no issues with vibrant either. If you have a good amount of money go with Garrett.