Intercooler As Cai???
04-07-2005, 11:53 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Just kicking this around! Not sure if it is possible or would be worth the effort, BUT....
I am thinking about boosting my car in the not so close but not to far future (within the next two years) and was pondering the idea of getting an intercooler NOW and using it as my CAI. Seems to me that it would be more efficeint in getting colder air than just a simple CAI, but I am not sure if it would create negative pressure (since there is no turbo pushing air through it) resulting in lost performance. Also, more piping may yield more restriction. Damn, am I answering my own question???
Let me know what you think, this might be something us N/A guys could borrow from the boosted world! B)
I am thinking about boosting my car in the not so close but not to far future (within the next two years) and was pondering the idea of getting an intercooler NOW and using it as my CAI. Seems to me that it would be more efficeint in getting colder air than just a simple CAI, but I am not sure if it would create negative pressure (since there is no turbo pushing air through it) resulting in lost performance. Also, more piping may yield more restriction. Damn, am I answering my own question???
Let me know what you think, this might be something us N/A guys could borrow from the boosted world! B)
04-07-2005, 11:57 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,264
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Vehicle: 2000 Hyundai Tiburon
I dont really know about this, but if it worked, they would probabally be selling IC kits for na cars and it would have been well known by now I would think??? But who knows
04-08-2005, 12:00 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,061
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Vehicle: 2001 Hyundai Tiburon
You answered your own questions mang smile.gif. The added pipe/bends would be restrictive and would not flow as well. The idea behind a good CAI is 1 cold air and 2 straightest pipes possible.
04-08-2005, 12:02 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Posts: 910
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No, it won't work on a N/A car.
WIth a N/A car, you are sucking in outside air. You can't cool 75 degree air by running more 75 degree air over it. It will alwasy be....75 degrees.
Now, if you used a water/air intercooler, and used colder than ambient (in above example, 75 degrees) water, then yes, it would have an effect (not much, but an effect).
With a turbocharger or supercharger, you are compressing the air. Anytime you compress the air, you heat it. You use an intercooler to remove that heat.
WIth a N/A car, you are sucking in outside air. You can't cool 75 degree air by running more 75 degree air over it. It will alwasy be....75 degrees.
Now, if you used a water/air intercooler, and used colder than ambient (in above example, 75 degrees) water, then yes, it would have an effect (not much, but an effect).
With a turbocharger or supercharger, you are compressing the air. Anytime you compress the air, you heat it. You use an intercooler to remove that heat.
04-08-2005, 12:06 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Fort Erie, Ontario
Posts: 3,832
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Vehicle: 2004 Acura TL
Yup not only that but the air is moving a bit faster too.
Just get one of those ricey intakes that came out for the honda first. You guys know what ones I'm talking about. LOL
Just get one of those ricey intakes that came out for the honda first. You guys know what ones I'm talking about. LOL
04-30-2005, 02:22 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 381
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i just wanted to bring this back from the dead real quick.
it would'nt hurt you if you did this, i did it for about 2 weeks on a 99 eclipse prior to adding the turbo kit. just make sure you pit a filter on the other side of the inner cooler so you dont suck up dust and dirt.
the thing about cooling 75 degree air with 75 degree air is a little wrong. when the car is moving and air is slicing through the fins of the inner cooler, it is actually cooler than 75 degrees so it would cool a little.
as for the gains, you would see a better gain than stock but not as good of a gain with a aem or injen cai.
if you are going turbo and already have the fmic and want to throw it on and use if as a cai, it wont hurt your car unless you drive through a mud puddle or heavy rain because the filter will be a lot lower than a regular cai
some people may pull the rice card and blah blah blah but hey, i am a ricer anyway.
it would'nt hurt you if you did this, i did it for about 2 weeks on a 99 eclipse prior to adding the turbo kit. just make sure you pit a filter on the other side of the inner cooler so you dont suck up dust and dirt.
the thing about cooling 75 degree air with 75 degree air is a little wrong. when the car is moving and air is slicing through the fins of the inner cooler, it is actually cooler than 75 degrees so it would cool a little.
as for the gains, you would see a better gain than stock but not as good of a gain with a aem or injen cai.
if you are going turbo and already have the fmic and want to throw it on and use if as a cai, it wont hurt your car unless you drive through a mud puddle or heavy rain because the filter will be a lot lower than a regular cai
some people may pull the rice card and blah blah blah but hey, i am a ricer anyway.
04-30-2005, 03:42 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
QUOTE (djalkyd @ Apr 30 2005, 08:22 PM)
the thing about cooling 75 degree air with 75 degree air is a little wrong. when the car is moving and air is slicing through the fins of the inner cooler, it is actually cooler than 75 degrees so it would cool a little.
Sorry, but that defies the laws of physics.