Steel vs. Aluminum piping/intercoolers
04-22-2011, 01:21 AM
#1
Steel vs. Aluminum piping/intercoolers I just received a pre-fabbed kit that I purchased, assuming it was aluminum but it turned out to be mild steel piping (I believe) and a steel intercooler.
I was wondering if it makes THAT big of a difference that I should turn around and use this kit or turn around and sell it in hopes of building it in aluminum for a similar price.
The summers in my area get to be an average of about 95-100 degrees and this will be, for the most part, my daily driver.
Lets try and keep this as informative as possible as I'm sure I'm not the only one with these questions, and there wasn't anything useful in SEARCH.
Matt
I was wondering if it makes THAT big of a difference that I should turn around and use this kit or turn around and sell it in hopes of building it in aluminum for a similar price.
The summers in my area get to be an average of about 95-100 degrees and this will be, for the most part, my daily driver.
Lets try and keep this as informative as possible as I'm sure I'm not the only one with these questions, and there wasn't anything useful in SEARCH.
Matt
04-22-2011, 04:02 AM
#2
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i dont know much about forced induction but i do know that aluminum dispates heat better than steel therefore better cooling capabilities. Steel does equal strength though. if your not sure of the material do the magnet check. Iron, cobalt and nickel all respond to the magnet. steel being a product of iron so itll stick, as everyone already knows. lol.
04-22-2011, 09:34 PM
#3
Aluminum: lighter, more corrosion resistant, better looking, more expensive, harder to weld (you most likely need an AC TIG machine)
Steel: cheaper, slightly heavier (get a thinner gauge), you can get it welded up at any muffler shop, ugly, needs paint if you want it to not corrode.
Don't worry about the thermal conductivity because the surface area is in the intercooler, not in the piping. A couple feet of pipe does not a good heatsink make.
Steel: cheaper, slightly heavier (get a thinner gauge), you can get it welded up at any muffler shop, ugly, needs paint if you want it to not corrode.
Don't worry about the thermal conductivity because the surface area is in the intercooler, not in the piping. A couple feet of pipe does not a good heatsink make.
04-23-2011, 07:56 AM
#5
Steel intercooler? Never heard of that. You sure that it's not cast aluminum end tanks?
As far as the plumbing goes. The benefit of mild steel on the cold side is that you can REALLY clamp down the hose clamps to the couplers to help keep things from blowing apart. The down sides have all been stated.
As far as the plumbing goes. The benefit of mild steel on the cold side is that you can REALLY clamp down the hose clamps to the couplers to help keep things from blowing apart. The down sides have all been stated.
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04-23-2011, 02:11 PM
#9
It is still probably aluminum as stated. Can you get some pics up?
I made my cold side out of stainless steel since I already had a bunch from another project and I am unfamiliar with welding aluminum.
I made my cold side out of stainless steel since I already had a bunch from another project and I am unfamiliar with welding aluminum.
04-25-2011, 08:07 PM
#17
If your concerned about weight you can get aluminum tubing fairly cheap to replace the steel pipe. We just replaced about half of the FMIC tubing with aluminum and saved something like 12 pounds. The car has a OFI kit on it.
04-26-2011, 06:23 AM
#20
People really cant tell the difference between aluminum and steel? No offense but isnt that something learned in like 1st grade? With examples like pop cans, pennies for copper, steel nails, nickels....etc. ???
And all the talk on the media on how the education system in this country is a complete failure......
And all the talk on the media on how the education system in this country is a complete failure......