Thread: Intercooler Flow???

Originally Posted by 02BlueGT

I'm not intercooled so this is a question for those of you that are;

On a cars cooling system the thermostat not only functions to aid in warming up the engine, but with its restriction to flow, it assists the heat transfer from the block to the coolant(by slowing flow) this is proved by the overheating problems from running no therm.

So is there any controlled orifice or anything like that that you guys use on the intercooler to slow flow, and maximize heat transfer, or is the flow slow enough to not worry about this??

~Dave

to the best of my knowledge, they have the pumps sort of matched to the system you are running. As in you are not supposed to run a GM pump on the SSIC because it flow too fast to be efficient, however have you seen this?
ZZ Performance

IMO and from what PRJ said, you want maximum flow 24/7. Why have it pump slow when cruising (which will heat up the core and make the air hot) then punch it suddenly and not have the cool core you could of had with the pump running max and get KR? Its like pissing in the wind IMO, its downgrading your system. Anybody that knows anything about intercoolers will tell you the same.

If your really worried about pump life, and have a Full Sized IC setup, spend the money in the right place the first time and get a GM Bosch Style pump from the dealer. It'll outlast most of the other pumps out there and its very efficent. For $110 your set. I ran mine on a DD for 2 years @ about 45,000 miles w/ straight distilled water in the summer, and 50/50 Peak in the winter and its still running fine to this day. Money well spent.

To add to the above... The most efficent IC systems will be running 3/4" lines, no restictions, full pump power/speed 24/7, and be pressurized w/ a res or a filler T w/ a 5-7psi cap.

If the coolant flows too quickly it doesn't spend enough time in the FMHE. Not enough time in the FMHE, the hotter the temps will climb. This is why it's important to not just randomly pick a pump.

Too slow of flow will do the same thing.

You want flow more than anything. Some will even say the more the better but I think that depends on the setup. A GM pump and a Full Size IC is a perfect combo...

Originally Posted by 02BlueGT

I didn;t mean a thermostat to heat up the fluid, I was just wondering about flow, and if there was a too-fast/much flow problem that people have, thanks for all the input

Did you see the link to ZZP's new IC pump controller?

As mentioned the GM pump and fullsized IC if a pretty good match, although adding the IC controller seems to improve that combo.

readers digest on the flow:

Too fast - FHME doesn't have time to disipate the heat
Too slow - the fluid super heats before it leaves the core.

Has anyone ever mounted an IAT after the intercooler to measure temps while cruising? I was curious about the control of flow as well, and wondered if the temps remained constant as you drive around normal, or if they fluctuate a lot. The next time I have my LIM out, I want to tap for a 0-5v IAT sensor and run that to the HPT so I can log.

Also, what is the consensus on a sealed vs. open IC system? I have the ZZP Stage 2 kit, which came as an open non-pressure system. I've read some blurbs about going sealed. What are the pros/cons?

You cant really pump "too fast". although it will be harder for the FMHE to cool the liquid that just went through the core, so much water will have passed through the core so fast that the heat from the SC will be dissipated across a large volume of water.

Theres always water in the core, regardless of how fast its moving. If its going slower, then a specific area of the water would absorb more heat, which means it would have to release more as well. If it was going faster, a larger area would be absorbing the same amount of heat as the slower water, but would have to release less per ml.
I dont see how that is a drawback at all. Either way the same amount of heat was transferred, except the faster moving water is colder overall, which means it would be less apt to boil.
Although a specific "area" of the water is absorbing/releasing less heat, overall the same amount is transferred. The water cant pass "too fast" through the core, because water is always present. If you eventually ran out of liquid during your run or something, i could see how that would apply, but i dont as of now.

Originally Posted by silvermistGT

For the reasons Fish and Koop just stated, this is the whole reason it is important to choose the right pump for your system. With the SSIC my flojet did what it was designed to, and was matched well for the core, lines and radiator size. When you are getting a much larger radiator and core, as well as moving up to 3/4" lines you are definitely going to need the extra flow to compensate for that. I was looking into that IC controller as well (Fish it looks like we are going towards the same setup) I just need to decide on a pump. Is there more than one GM pump? Someone mentioned one for $110, but buying from zzp it runs something like $140.

IIRC it only works for the GM pump. You can wire it for another one but it comes OTB for the GM. GMPD has the pumps for $100. That was the cheapest place I found.

Koop, since you wont believe me, how about others?

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We both have been looking at it all wrong. The fresh coolant/water in the rad will be shooting up to the IC when you go WOT. Slowing it down makes it stay in the rad alot longer getting it close to if not ambient temps. Having it go through too fast wont disperse as much heat.

Its no so much as i don't believe you, its just i don't have any facts to prove myself wrong. All im talking about is WOT by the way, im not worried about cruising. Obviously at cruise, a slower pump speed would be beneficial, since less air passes over the FMHE in a given amount of time, which adversely affects its ability to cool the water. fastest pump possible when the most air is available to pass over the FMHE makes sense, and is why lightning/cobra guys see such badass gains with the addition of high flow pumps.

But wait- are you talking about a variable speed pump, controlled by an outside source? If so, are you saying the pump would basically be almost "off" at idle and cruise, to allow water to "pool" in the fmhe? Thus cooling the piss out of that specific area that will then go to the core the instant you go wot?