Re: Inercooler cooling

[Brett Dikeman <quattro@arthur.malebolge.com>]

>Arryn Milne wrote:
>"...it occured to me that the intercooler provides a nice boost to HP...but
>that only happens while the car is moving.  In city traffic the intercooler
>would seem to be pretty
>useless."
>
>More horse power for a car that's not moving?  If you need more power to sit
>in traffic, try an electric car....maximum torque instantly, from 1 to 10,000
>rpm's.  =)
>Bryan Carter

moving _slowly_.
Efficiency when airflow through the IC goes from 5 to 10mph jumps
incredibly; 5 to 20, almost two-fold.

At highways speeds, IC efficiency is at its best, but most driving is
city(under 40) where the IC isn't quite as efficient.

There are thin fans that could be put in back of the IC to draw air through
it; if run all the time, I don't see it hurting airflow.  Front-grille is
supposedly the worst place to put an IC because it's often(but not in the
case of Audis since the radiator gets 1/3 the front grille pickup area)
blocked by air having to also go through a radiator.  Under-bumper(like
where the Aux radiator on 200's, the brake ducts and oil cooler pickup) is
where the best location is supposedly.

I'm not sure how true all of that is, but I'd be very interested to see
some speed numbers if anyone has wind-measuring equipment.  It may be that
a fan would dramatically improve efficiency and lower underhood temps to
boot.

Brett

------
Brett Dikeman
brett@pdikeman.ne.mediaone.net
~)-|
Hostes alienigeni me abduxerunt.  Qui annus est?
Te audire non possum.  Musa sapientum fixa est in aure.
Ita, scio hunc 'sig file' veterem fieri.
------