Intercooler Preference

[mkpatrol]

OK, I am after in use opinions of peoples intercoolers. I have not had a great deal to do with them because they were not popular at the time I was fiddling with turbos (early 90's). I have forgotten most of what I know.

I do understand how they work so the technical stuff is covered, basically what I am after is:

What set up do you have?
Why did you chose it?
Are you happy with it?
Would you change anything?

A bit more background, Brother in law has just bought a 105 with a 1HZ, he has been to three different shops (Wagga, Berrima & Cooma Diesels). Each use a different system from water to air, air to air to no intercooler at all & all of them were better than the others

I have told him what I think but he was after more opinions as well.

I have looked in the Toyota section (ugh) & the only thread in the bible ended with the bloke selling the vehicle for something better.

Something odd that Berrima said was that he doesnt need to run an intercooler & a water cooled turbo would be enough. I thought this was strange because the water cooling of the turbo is for bearing life rather than cobustion temperatures.

Also, its a tourer & tows a camp trailer. He doesnt want a comp truck, just to be able to tow the trailer easily.

Anyway, please enlighten me.

[ISUZUROVER]

Stay away from whoever said that a water cooled turbo is a substitute for an intercooler!!! Water cooling is unnecessary on a diesel, and does not do the same thing as intercooling.

(edit - fixed mistake )

[bogged]

Stay away from whoever said that a water cooled turbo is a substitute for an intercooler!!! Water cooling is unnecessary on a diesel, and does not do the same thing as turbocharging.

What he said!!!

Also have a word to Denco.. had great results with mine.

[rockcrawler31]

Stay away from whoever said that a water cooled turbo is a substitute for an intercooler!!! Water cooling is unnecessary on a diesel, and does not do the same thing as turbocharging.

Unnecessary perhaps, but in the interests of longevity it certainly would do more good than harm. But i thought the same thing when i read that bit about a water cooled turbo. I would have thought a diesel specialist would know better than a hack like me but obviously not.

Either way, water or air it's going to be better than without. Even if you don't wind up the boost and aren't after power, it's insurance. A 1HZ with lower intake temps is a happier engine for longer IMO. Put it this way, worst case scenario if you put it on is that is does bugger all and cost you money. It certainly wouldn't harm the motor.

I went water to air. Mainly for lack of lag, and not having any room in to put an air cooler. Also, in a 1HZ i didn't want something else in front of the radiator and to give the rad the best chance of controlling coolant temps.

cons - more shyte to go wrong with pumps, hoses etc. and expense.
A2A cons - need a fair bit of room and surface area to be any good. potential for lag, and if FMIC pre heats air to radiator while being a mud magnet and sticks magnet

My uninformed two cents

[mkpatrol]

Stay away from whoever said that a water cooled turbo is a substitute for an intercooler!!! Water cooling is unnecessary on a diesel, and does not do the same thing as turbocharging.

What he said!!!

Also have a word to Denco.. had great results with mine.

Yes, agree totally, one of the kits is Denco (wagga I think). Berrima was the one talking water cooled turbo & no intercooler at all. Scwitzer turbo.
Wholeheartedly assured it would be all was needed, no intercooler & was better than the rest

I told him steer clear.

[pridhac]

I have a factory turbo 91 model 80 series.

I have an air-to-air setup, for the following reasons:

- The core was cheap to buy and looked liked good value
- I was able to design and install the system myself (shedtime = :-))
- I have introduced 0 additional moving parts that are likely to fail
- I had plenty of room for a large air core
- Should some damage occur to the air core I can bypass it and get home

That's all I can think of for now. I am very happy with the results, and enjoyed the exercise entirely. I would recommend this path to any 1HDT owner.

[coxy321]

Stay away from whoever said that a water cooled turbo is a substitute for an intercooler!!! Water cooling is unnecessary on a diesel, and does not do the same thing as turbocharging.

Unnecessary perhaps, but in the interests of longevity it certainly would do more good than harm. But i thought the same thing when i read that bit about a water cooled turbo. I would have thought a diesel specialist would know better than a hack like me but obviously not.

Either way, water or air it's going to be better than without. Even if you don't wind up the boost and aren't after power, it's insurance. A 1HZ with lower intake temps is a happier engine for longer IMO. Put it this way, worst case scenario if you put it on is that is does bugger all and cost you money. It certainly wouldn't harm the motor.

I went water to air. Mainly for lack of lag, and not having any room in to put an air cooler. Also, in a 1HZ i didn't want something else in front of the radiator and to give the rad the best chance of controlling coolant temps.

cons - more shyte to go wrong with pumps, hoses etc. and expense.
A2A cons - need a fair bit of room and surface area to be any good. potential for lag, and if FMIC pre heats air to radiator while being a mud magnet and sticks magnet

My uninformed two cents

x2

Although i currently have no IC. I will be using water to air when i get around to it.

[Andres]

Surely turbo lag isn't a big deal in a touring 4wd? I'd consider the Air to Air for simplicity. Could it be top mounted with a scoop (ala WRX) to keep out the way of the radiator?

Although never thought bonnet scoops on 4WDs seem like a good idea if water crossings are to be expected. I guess they can always be plugged somehow?

[coxy321]

Surely turbo lag isn't a big deal in a touring 4wd? I'd consider the Air to Air for simplicity. Could it be top mounted with a scoop (ala WRX) to keep out the way of the radiator?

Although never thought bonnet scoops on 4WDs seem like a good idea if water crossings are to be expected. I guess they can always be plugged somehow?

From what i've seen, no. And given the amount of static and radiant heat at low speeds, i've never really been able to see how a top mount could work at anything below 40km/h. I don't even think the fan assisted ones were that efficient.

FMIC is the way to go if you want an air-to-air.

[brad-chevlux]

Surely turbo lag isn't a big deal in a touring 4wd? I'd consider the Air to Air for simplicity. Could it be top mounted with a scoop (ala WRX) to keep out the way of the radiator?

Although never thought bonnet scoops on 4WDs seem like a good idea if water crossings are to be expected. I guess they can always be plugged somehow?

From what i've seen, no. And given the amount of static and radiant heat at low speeds, i've never really been able to see how a top mount could work at anything below 40km/h. I don't even think the fan assisted ones were that efficient.

FMIC is the way to go if you want an air-to-air.

even then i'd still be fitting a pair of fans on the front mount.