Re: Intercooler cooling?

[audidudi@delphi.com (Jeffrey J. Goggin)]

>How effective is the spray of water?

During the summer here in Arizona, I can feel my car slow down noticeably
after 2 or 3 good blasts ... using my cheapo mister system, the loss of
power is no longer noticeable in normal driving.  In my Ur-Q, I have to
spray the intercooler/intake system with ice water after every run on an
autocross course ... the difference in power is surprising! 

>Is the additional cooling from greater heat exchange by a wet intercooler,
or does the water absorb the heat >when it changes to steam?

Same difference ... of course, it's pretty dry out here so I probably
benefit from this a lot more than others living elsewhere might.

>Seems like you'd need a lot of water, and at speed it
>would be difficult to hit the entire intercooler due to wind.

Not at all ... of course, the intercooler in my '89 200q is located in a
different position than in your '91, so maybe this makes a difference.  The
two nozzles sit right behind the grill yet still cover about 80% of the
intercooler with water...
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