Temperature drop across intercooler

[Jimster]

This is not really a question to do with RT, but you all seem to be a knowledgeable helpful lot so I thought I'd ask anyway.

After looking at my data logging, I have found out that my air charge temp before my intercooler is around 127 degrees, and after is around 65 degrees. (Ambient air temp around 19 degrees).

I would like my air charge temps to be a lot closer to ambient air temp. Would you have though that the intercooler would have made more difference, or is bringing the air temp down by 60 degrees quite good?

Or is my turbo just super heating the air?

Cheers

Jim

[tristancliffe]

Your turbo is barely heating the air (I'd have though over 200 would be a lowish temp), and your intercooler is working beautifully.

You obviously have quite a small turbo.

[Jimster]

it's only a 1312cc engine (a series) in a mini, running around 20psi boost. Yes the turbo is quite small, but love the quick spool up on it.

At the moment my ACT are sapping power as my ecu is retarding ignition timing when the ACT's rise.

[Turby]

Are you using thermocouple's to measure your air temps ? If not you'll find the normal IAT sensors are very slow to respond and you will loose lots of useful data.

FWIW my turbo car uses a charge cooler and on one sample run I recorded a peak before cooler temp of 127.7 deg C, post cooler temp of 78.5 deg C, ambient around 22 deg C. At that point the IAT sensor recorded a temp of 55.2 deg C.

[Jimster]

I'm not using thermcouples, but the air temp sensors I'm using are not the solid type (which I found to be a lot slower)

This is the type I'm using

[Jimster]

has anyone else recored there ACT before and after their IC?

[felix]

I'm looking to do this on a 911 turbo but have only measured post intercooler temps so far by tapping into the factory IAT sensor.

Your temps are all in C, right? 65 dec C must be promoting knock I would have thought - in similar ambient temps I see less than 45 deg C unless running under prolonged high speeds with boost near 1 bar above ambient air pressure.

[boxheadmr]

if you ambient temp is only 19 deg then 65deg after the cooler is quiet high, i am usually seeing around 50deg or under even on hotter days

[stevieturbo]

Anything over 40deg, and really there is room for improvement.

Ive never monitored before/after....


But most turbo cars Ive worked on, generally stay well below 40deg on all but the hottest of days, or being abused heavily.

Are these logs during a drive, or after sitting up ? No chance of heat soak ? Although the type of thermistor you are using should have decent response ok.

[Jimster]

Thanks for the advice guys.

These readings where taken whilst on the track, and these readings where consistant in the same place on the track each lap, so it's not heat soak.

My intercooler endcap is not the best design in the world, I'll get the grinder on it tonight and get a new one made up.