Forced Induction Superchargers | Turbochargers | Intercoolers

air to water intercoolers

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Old May 2, 2012 | 04:55 PM
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Default air to water intercoolers

sorry if this is a stupid question but how do air to water intercools work?
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Old May 2, 2012 | 05:45 PM
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A quick google search would net ya the answer on that one but Ill chime in for you.
A Water to Air Intercooler setup uses water passing through the core of the intercooler instead of air which is responsible for drawing the heat out of the intake air.
Hope that helped..
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Old May 2, 2012 | 06:36 PM
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if running a air to water intercooler you also have to have a heat exchanger, water tank, scavange pump... pumping water and cooling it off as it flows through the intercooler. its a cool setup if you got a big tank you can use ice water and it will cool your intake temps down
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Old May 2, 2012 | 07:01 PM
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Air to water Intercoolers work well for short runs, like drag racing.
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Old May 2, 2012 | 09:09 PM
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Im setting up a air to water setup on my car now. seems to work well
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Old May 2, 2012 | 10:21 PM
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thanks boostit thats what i was trying to find out. and fox you say its good for short runs does that mean it shouldnt be used on the street?
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Old May 3, 2012 | 02:03 AM
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Ive been told an air to water is actually more efficient for the street, but alot of people dont use then, cus of the added cost
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Old May 3, 2012 | 06:43 AM
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It might be worth noting that alot of cars actually run air to water coolers as standard. BMWs M5 now uses them and the merc guys have run them for years with both Supercharged and turboed setups. It helps keep the intake piping nice and short and enables the mnafuactures to put the coolers where they want rather than having to have them at the front of the car in the cool air flow.

Aitr to air is better unless you are drag racing (where you can 'ice' the tank(s)) in my opinion, assuming you can get a big enough and efficent enough core in the space you have. If you cant look at air to water!
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Old May 3, 2012 | 09:19 AM
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Originally Posted by 4U2BNVS
Ive been told an air to water is actually more efficient for the street, but alot of people dont use then, cus of the added cost

also another factor is added weight.. imo i think its all preference you can go air to air and use a cryo kit and get just as cold intake temps, or run a icy air/water setup and be just as cool. a buddy of mine had a air to water intercooler on his turbo vr6 jetta and it had ice cicles coming off it..
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Old May 3, 2012 | 05:57 PM
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I have just short of 150,000 miles on my truck with air to water, it has worked well. I have a relatively small heat exchanger (6 inch tall, 20 inch wide, 3/4 thick) that is in front of everything with no specific fan, but in the main airflow. I have Autometer inlet air temp gauge that normally shows ambient to 20F above ambient when driving. I originally used it because I did not have enough space for the size air to air I needed for my power requirements. I have never put ice in it as I just have about a quart container under the hood where I fill it. The first Bosch electric water pump failed around 100,000 miles/7 years old. Still have all the other parts at 10 years old now, still working well.

Kurt
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Old May 3, 2012 | 06:32 PM
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think i might go with a setup like that in my 5.3 truck^^
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Old May 4, 2012 | 12:22 AM
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okay next 2 questions how much more weight does the air to water add? and anyone know the cheapest place to get one for a tt setup?
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Old May 4, 2012 | 02:38 AM
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The Syclones and Typhoons used ATW with great success. Cheapest place would be ebay, but I don't know how durable and well built it would be.
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Old May 4, 2012 | 03:18 AM
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Originally Posted by boostit5.3
think i might go with a setup like that in my 5.3 truck^^
I've got a heat exchanger and intercooler for sale if you're interested

In all honesty, A2W>A2A for track, A2W<A2A for street. Air to water is great for cooling air below ambient, with ice, etc. Lot more potential there. But you're not going to be constantly filling a reservoir full of ice on the street, thats track only. You'd be hard pressed to find an A2W setup that outperforms a well designed A2A intercooler without help from ice or some other supplement.
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Old May 4, 2012 | 11:00 AM
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Originally Posted by smokeshow
I've got a heat exchanger and intercooler for sale if you're interested

In all honesty, A2W>A2A for track, A2W<A2A for street. Air to water is great for cooling air below ambient, with ice, etc. Lot more potential there. But you're not going to be constantly filling a reservoir full of ice on the street, thats track only. You'd be hard pressed to find an A2W setup that outperforms a well designed A2A intercooler without help from ice or some other supplement.
That may be the case in AZ but the OP is in Maryland, IMO go for the A2W I did and have no regrets.
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Old May 4, 2012 | 03:16 PM
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I've got a Chiseled Perf 1500hp A/W intercooler for sale. $850
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Old May 4, 2012 | 03:44 PM
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Originally Posted by 68 SS
That may be the case in AZ but the OP is in Maryland, IMO go for the A2W I did and have no regrets.
What would be the difference? Both systems rely on air to pull heat away, notwithstanding weather, elevation, etc.
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Old May 4, 2012 | 08:11 PM
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My point is I have been to Arizona and I have been to Maryland both in the summer the temp difference is huge. The A2W relays on water to pull the heat away not air.
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Old May 4, 2012 | 09:24 PM
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Originally Posted by 68 SS
My point is I have been to Arizona and I have been to Maryland both in the summer the temp difference is huge. The A2W relays on water to pull the heat away not air.
It has to get to air eventually.....
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Old May 7, 2012 | 01:21 AM
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should i def run water or would anti freeze keep it cooler?
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