In an attempt to minimize/optimize spool on the car I am considering placing a small(600hp capable) water to air intercooler in the engine bay with a nice sized cooling radiator up front and eliminating all the intercooler track, not to mention the big front mount which adds to the volume of the system. This will also allow me to route cold air to the turbo because the intake hole that is used to route the piping now will be exposed.

The car is running on ethanol now and I have seen people run no intercooler at all on ethanol so it sounds like a good idea. The goal is to make the most of the spool characteristics of the turbo without compromising power(going smaller on the A/R). I cannot change manifold design as easily as you guys can because it is an RX-8 and the current manifold is as good as its going to get. I am looking to be in the 500whp range.

Does anyone have experience with water to air intercoolers here?

Thanks

Chris

 

Anyone?

I searched and found a few very short threads with no conclusion.

Thanks.

Chris

 

I run a pwr cylinder in engine bay heat exchanger on front, pump and reservoir
in back. I see well below ambient when running ice.70 someting on a 100 degree day. I think I run a little hotter than my front mount after a long jaunt around town but I also run my turbo water thru there. I'm installing a much larger exchanger and re routing turbo water to cooling system as we speak. Btw
it does spool alot quicker than my front mount did. Car runs mid/low 11s on
15psi. Couldn't run more boost b/c car spun thru 1st and 2nd - with 11.5 et streets. You can see my set up in the post your set up section- search for xcentric.

 

Oh wow. Nice!

Wait a minute, you run the water for your watercooled turbo thorough the water to air system instead of your stock cooling system? Please confirm.

My turbo is oil cooled so this will not be a problem. But I would like to know.

Thanks.

Chris

 

Btw I'm on the 17 th page of the post your single turbo set up. Yes I do run
the turbo water thru there b/c we had gotten rid of the stock nipples- used to run
oil only. My to4z has a water cooled center, and its a street car. I'm sure this adds tremendous heat so I'm re routing it. I hear alot of guys say you should stay
around ambient if it's setup properly.

 

Im running water to air and air to air. Im using a bosch water pump and a stock oil cooler in front for the heat exchanger. I also have the capability to chill the water/glycol via the cool can
here is a pic I have done several pulls but no tracking(yet) and Im right about ambiant.

 

Right about ambient without adding ice?

 

yes. Im also using water/meth inj

 

I made a lil discovery yesterday..that kind of shocked me some what. I turned on my car without intercooler attached and let it idle for a while..so the inlet air going to the engine was just ambient air..engine bay air at worst case... coming thru the greddy elbow to the TB. My ait went up to around 66C with ambient being around 27-30c. i think my temps were so hot because the exhaust being so close (in fact touching my lim). All this time i though it was the intercooler getting heat soaked from the radiator below in my unfinished (i.e. no ducting or separtor) v-mount setup. I think I have to some how attack that lim and exhuast interaction. I think ppl tend to overlook that side of things.

 

The air temp sensor is located in the UIM, most likley heat soak into the manifold and factory sensor.

you deff need to get some seperation from the turbo and LIM, also need to get ducting to the IC. your cooking with a recipie for disaster.

 

The ducting is going in this weekend..as for the separation from the lim and exhaust...gotta take a look at is and see what i can do..would the heat wrap (the flat cord belt type work to keep the insulation between the contact point and aluminium sheeting for the othe areas as a heat sheild?

 

yes you should make a LIM heat shield and use exhaust wrap to help, then move your AIT to the greddy elbow instead of under the UIM, that iwll give a more accurate reading.

 

I have a ait sender on the turbo side of the innercooler and one on the greddy elbow. I can toggle between the two to check differential temp Also my ait is on the greddy elbow it will heat soak after about 30 to 45 min. But I can cool it down by boosting and making the water inj come on. My ait for the microtech is in stock location. I need to do some sheilding also

Johny

 

Just wondering if anyone had pictures of Rotary powered cars set up with Water to Air Intercooler that they could post here. I searched but didn't find any good ones.

Thanks.

Chris

 

I just installed an actual vw radiator as heat exchanger[overkill I know]
and will post a pic in the next few days.

 

for you guys needing a heat exchanger get a m5 oil cooler

superb cooling