TO INTERCOOL OR NOT TO INTERCOOL!

Submitted: Sunday, Sep 19, 2004 at 13:31

ThreadID: 16389 Views:2819 Replies:7 FollowUps:6

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Ruffstuff

Hi all,
Ive been baffled with BS and need some non-sales feedback from the experienced folk out there.
I am considering fitting a turbo to my 96 80 series 1HZwith 160,000 on the clock.

I am fairly keen on getting the turbo but not so sure about shelling out the extra dollars for an intercooler as it is a fair outllay of cash in one hit, not to mention getting approval from swmbo .

I do a fair bit of long distance driving and most of my trips are up the northern part of the country(kimberley ,NT cape york etc) where the temperature is a little higher than here in Perth WA.

I dont want to jeprodise the reliability of my 80, and i am unsure if not having one will put extra stress on the motor leading to a shortened engine life.
I am intending on setting the boost around the 8 to 10psi range

There are also the differing opinions of front versus top mounted.

Ive heard that the top mounted as well as being a heat soak can also make general engine servicing more difficult- is this correct?

any feed back would be aprreciated, especially from those who have done a bit of travelling up north with a turbo fitted to their vehicle.
( i have checked the archives )

Thanks

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Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Sunday, Sep 19, 2004 at 14:48

Sunday, Sep 19, 2004 at 14:48

Yes top mount does suffer from heat soak, the heat rises.
It COULD make servicing more expensive depending whats below the intercooler.

Front mount can suffer from rock damage etc..

www.are.com.au for some good info on turbos etc.

good luck

AnswerID: 77021

Reply By: NissanofOld - Sunday, Sep 19, 2004 at 15:33

Sunday, Sep 19, 2004 at 15:33

The top mounted intercoolers only really fall down in performance in slow driving (low range), in hot conditions. With highway cruising you won’t see much of a performance drop. A top mounted intercooler may also be a lot easier to fit, as you don't have to try an sort out a lot of plumbing issues getting past the radiator, aircon condenser etc.

Adding an intercooler to the front of the radiator (where is should be placed) will increase the loads on the radiator, aircon condenser and even oil cooler, if you have an auto and one fitted. With the top mounted intercooler, only the efficiency of the intercooler is affected in slow driving.

Fitting of an intercooler is not just a bolt on affair, it must be matched to the turbo, injectors may have to be replaced and fuelling will need to be altered. Everything has to be able to work together as one, else you may be wasting money.

AnswerID: 77025

Follow Up By: Ruffstuff - Sunday, Sep 19, 2004 at 20:26

Sunday, Sep 19, 2004 at 20:26

Thanks for the feedback so far, its good to get other opinions based on actual experience.
cheers

FollowupID: 336728

Reply By: Member - Ivan (ACT) - Sunday, Sep 19, 2004 at 19:52

Sunday, Sep 19, 2004 at 19:52

Mate,

jump on the 80 series list at www.lcool.org You can't beat this forum for general advice, but for vehicle specific advantages/disadvantages I'd be off to lcool (and for any other Toyota's out there, there is one for 80, 90, 100 and 120 series

Member
My Profile My Position Send Message

AnswerID: 77056

Follow Up By: Ruffstuff - Sunday, Sep 19, 2004 at 20:27

Sunday, Sep 19, 2004 at 20:27

Thanks Ivan,
i'll check that out.

FollowupID: 336729

Reply By: Rossco100series - Sunday, Sep 19, 2004 at 23:03

Sunday, Sep 19, 2004 at 23:03

intercool is the way to go but you can also make your own. I'm currently making a water to air intercooler for a GU 4.2 TD a bit more involved but better heat reduction compared to air to air. And you can place the intercooler any where the only cooler that needs to be placed in the air flow is a little radiator to keep the water cool. But intercooling either way is the way to go.

Rossco

AnswerID: 77076

Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Monday, Sep 20, 2004 at 12:02

Monday, Sep 20, 2004 at 12:02

How big is the radiator and water capacity for the intercooler system going to be?

FollowupID: 336763

Follow Up By: Oskar - Saturday, Sep 25, 2004 at 13:21

Saturday, Sep 25, 2004 at 13:21

Rossco
Re: water to air intercooling.

The "ARE.com.au" site mentions the danger of thin wall heat exchangers in intercoolers. The danger being that if the tubing fractures (vibration etc.) then the water goes into the induction system and BANG, there goes your donk.
They say they use a heavier walled tubing to prevent this.

It made me reconsider as I'm thinking along the same lines as yourself.

I would be very interested to know how you go as I am a big "DIYer".

Cheers
Oskar

FollowupID: 337385

Reply By: Kiwi Ray - Monday, Sep 20, 2004 at 14:31

Monday, Sep 20, 2004 at 14:31

Hi Rossco
Yhat sounds like an interesting project
Keep me posted
I am playing with the idea of using the air con as the cooling agent
Ray

AnswerID: 77127

Reply By: Rossco100series - Tuesday, Sep 21, 2004 at 19:50

Tuesday, Sep 21, 2004 at 19:50

To Truckster & Ruffstuff

To keep the mixture of water and coolant ( 50:50 ) that I will be using in the system I will be using a large auto cooler that will fix at least a 10" thermo fan. So even in of road at slow speeds the system will keep ur turbo boast cool. The pump is a whale pump from a marine shop and using a aluminium tank as a reserve with 1.5lt capacity.

Rossco

AnswerID: 77320

Reply By: Member - Reece S (QLD) - Wednesday, Sep 22, 2004 at 09:33

Wednesday, Sep 22, 2004 at 09:33

The "are.com.au" site was very interesting but a bit confusing when they mix farenheit and celsius temps in the one article.
They talk about pre-IC temps of up to 140dC and next paragraph they say 150dF for a 600HP banger.
My non-IC turbo diesel intake plenum doesn't get very hot at all and I can easily hold my hand on it, so what's the go with the temps they are talking about (140dC)???
In fact I can hold my hand on the compressor side of the turbo without discomfort.
If the the water temps (in an a water-air system) are so high (140dC), surely you need a really big radiator to the vent the heat to the atmosphere.

Will someone please explain?? Or is "secret intercoolers business" LOL

Cheers
Oskar

AnswerID: 77397

Follow Up By: Rossco100series - Saturday, Sep 25, 2004 at 15:36

Saturday, Sep 25, 2004 at 15:36

Howdy Oskar

The water to air intercooler project is doing well up to pressure testing this will be a destruction test to see how much leeway I have to play on the boast and being safe. Then I will another and fit and do actual efficiency tests to see how it performs.

Rossco

FollowupID: 337395