Do I need intercooler for super charge?

Bimmer4ever · 02-13-2007, 04:41 PM

Hey guys I just want to know do I need to buy intercooler for super charging? and if I do what job does this thing do ? thanks alot!

**SickFinga** · 02-13-2007, 05:08 PM

Do you need it? Depends on how much boost you are running.
Is it recomemneded? YES.

What it does?

It lowers temperature of the air going into your engine from your supercharger.
Cooler air = denser air = more air = more power.
It also allows you to run more boost before your engine explodes. Why? No idea

jeffrie · 02-13-2007, 05:40 PM

You do not need an intercooler till you start to pass about 8PSI with the SC approach.
To add to what Sickfinga said, as air is compressed it generates heat and becomes hotter. As your piston compresses air on the compression stroke as it would normaly do, the air/fuel mixture raised temp as it's compressed but within spec to what it was desighned for, add the new hotter compressed air into the mix = your alot closer to pre-ignition temps AKA "PING".
Too many of theis and your engine goes BOOM!.

fukenricen · 02-13-2007, 07:24 PM

how about u worry about an oil cooler first

JMW · 02-13-2007, 08:15 PM

i dont have either..
my kit doesnt need it stage 1..
stage 2....yes

Bimmer4ever · 02-13-2007, 09:37 PM

oI SEE.. thank you guys !

modifiedm3 · 03-10-2007, 05:13 PM

Better off fitting a charge cooler than an Intercooler..

Jon@Bimmersport · 03-15-2007, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by modifiedm3

Better off fitting a charge cooler than an Intercooler..

My thoughts exactly...

AA uses an intercooler, but also the piping is a lot different than a Vortech unit (used on JMW and Stickyfingas). Both of their kits stage 1 form dont use it due to small boost, 6psi and 8psi. Once stage 2 is introduced they both use an aftercooler (cools after the s/c before the throttle body). Superchargers also suffer from "heat soak". The added cooling at any boost level will help your reliability and also the power.

sloveniaboy · 03-15-2007, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonny_blaze

Superchargers also suffer from "heat soak". The added cooling at any boost level will help your reliability and also the power.

AA superchargers unlike the vortech units, run off their own oil system which include an oil cooler, they are less prone to heat soak

modifiedm3 · 04-04-2007, 04:07 PM

Go for a charge cooler. Well worth fitting.

Steve

PedroBMW · 04-04-2007, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonny_blaze

My thoughts exactly...

Once stage 2 is introduced they both use an aftercooler (cools after the s/c before the throttle body).

an intercooler cools between the s/c and TB too, its just a slang term that Air/Air intercoolers are called "intercooler" because technically its an aftercooler. An intercooler presupercharger would do nothing. I think the reason that most supercharger kits use air/water aftercoolers is because of the packaging issue, there just isn't much space.

notjoe · 04-10-2007, 10:18 AM

The compresson of air creates heat which is why i think it's placed after the blower.

Axxe · 04-10-2007, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PedroBMW

an intercooler cools between the s/c and TB too, its just a slang term that Air/Air intercoolers are called "intercooler" because technically its an aftercooler. An intercooler presupercharger would do nothing. I think the reason that most supercharger kits use air/water aftercoolers is because of the packaging issue, there just isn't much space.

Another benefit to water to air intercoolers is the reduced length of charge pipe. 12" of charge pipe is much better for throttle response tan 6 feet of charge pipe. Also, I've seen the way AA routes their intercooler lines, can't say I'm all that impessed with the low underslung tube (lowest point on the car) and multiple 90* bends. I'm sure it doesn't affect much or else AA wouldn't do that, but it would be the deal breaker for me.

330DTM · 04-10-2007, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Axxe

Another benefit to water to air intercoolers is the reduced length of charge pipe. 12" of charge pipe is much better for throttle response tan 6 feet of charge pipe. Also, I've seen the way AA routes their intercooler lines, can't say I'm all that impessed with the low underslung tube (lowest point on the car) and multiple 90* bends. I'm sure it doesn't affect much or else AA wouldn't do that, but it would be the deal breaker for me.

With regards to the rotrex setup, the blower takes up less space than the vortech units, so there is more room left over to fit a FMIC, and I quesetion if AA did this mainly due to cutting cost to make the kit affordable. Afterall, I believe water-air intercoolers cost more than the FMICs and there's less of a pressure drop than using a FMIC.

To sum it up, use a water-air intercooler for vortech setups.

Furious · 04-10-2007, 01:23 PM

with prices in mind the aftercooler is more expensive but better suited for the vortech system.