Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Well it is a little bit premi. cause I am not 100 % sure if I am going to get the vehicle yet but it should be good info anyway.

As the topic states what do people think is the best type of intercooler for a turbo diesel (in this case gq Nissan patrol)????

I have been thinking that a water/air one will be the go but could be swayed if given good reason. The water/air ones are more $ and prolly more to go wrong in worst case scenario but......Do they work better?

as long as you have enough air flow (ie big electric fan) i think air to air is better.

onroad front mount air to air is better because the flow is there, look at all the RX7's and supras and stuff. plus you dont need a water pump.

air to air are more simple, less pipes going around. my mates GQ turbo diesel has a front mount air to air cooler and after a long drive when its working hard you touch the inlet pipe on the cooler and its burning hot, then you touch the outlet and its ice cold.

id go for the front mount air to air. its cheaper and you get to replace the grill on the GQ with a bling aluminium cooler.

MaccA

oh and id hate to see if you sprung a leak where the water leaked into the air, specially in a diesel.

and you dont need to carry around as much spare water containers.

also i heard if you setup a spray system onto your front mount it works a treat.

MaccA

apparently up to about 60 or 70k's a liquid to air is better, then the big front mount air2air takes over....so i'm told..but i've gone for the liquid 2 air cos there's nothing to big out front to try and fit behind the winch, cop a load of mud and maybe get damaged.

DATTO wrote:apparently up to about 60 or 70k's a liquid to air is better, then the big front mount air2air takes over....so i'm told..but i've gone for the liquid 2 air cos there's nothing to big out front to try and fit behind the winch, cop a load of mud and maybe get damaged.

In low range you won't be getting up to 60 or 70kms very often i'd imagine. Perhaps this is another good point for the water to air intercoolers?

I'm in the process of getting a water to air I/C made up at the moment for the turbo conversion on my V6 4Runner. I reckon they are a much better option for 4x4's, even if they are a bit more complex. The inlet temps on a water/air I/C will be a lot more stable than just an Air/Air, specially in low raneg stuff and soft sand.

There is some alright info on water/air units on these two sites.

http://www.are.com.au/Inter/air_to_water.htm

http://www.autospeed.com/cms/A_0090/article.html?popularArticle