CAR MAD GAZ

HI.

What do people think of Airtec front mounted intercoolers. Are they any good and is anyone using one on their s2?

Thanks.

Turbocabbie

I would get a GRS, best intercooler about imho

stuart collins

iTrader: (7)

they work really well , the new single pass for the s2 is as good as the grs i had if not better

CAR MAD GAZ

stuart, when you say the single pass one, is that the one with the removable side plate and the fans to the rear?

Thanks.

Gaz.

Chris69

I'm interested by that comment aswell, do you have to specify for a single pass and do you need a modded charge carrier for it? just havn't seen much about it

Raj B

can some explain what a single pass ic is? does it meal the charge carrier is reversed so it going into one end og the intercooler then exist the opposit side? ie header tank side to metering unit side? Sorry to tap into this thread

Puss2

iTrader: (5)

Here is Twin and single pass

http://www.grsmotorsport.co.uk/ersts2intercoolers.html

Chris69

Is the airtec one of similar design though?? pretty sure thats a GRS in the link

CAR MAD GAZ

I'm unsure which Aitec one to get. Do I go for the large one with fans on the front (not sure if single or twin pass). Or do I go for the slightly smaller one (single pass) with its fans behind it and a side deflector plate to allow air past the intercooler onto the radiator ?

What are the differences between single or twin pass?

The thing is , I like the look of the large one. But with fans at the front does this reduce air flow. If so, can the fans be placed at the rear. Or do I go for the slightly smaller one ?

Any help would be great.

Thanks.

Gaz.

Shep_Cobain

http://www.proalloy.co.uk/cgi-bin/si...55&id=proalloy

Been recommended one of these by a mate who has an S2 and races it.

Turbocabbie

With Twin pass air goes through the intercooler twice with a single pass unit air goes from one side of the intercooler to the other.. thus air is passed though the intercooler once (single pass)

I would get a GRS twin pass, with twin front mount fans, I get no problem with water temps of air charge temps.

Raj B

which is best single or twin pass???

gus

iTrader: (1)

the pro alloy ones do not like large amounts of boost

can not cool the air quick enough, so depending on your power level think wisely

Puss2

iTrader: (5)

I never said it was a airtec one just a couple of pics to show the difference

CAR MAD GAZ

The thing that draws me to Airtec, is the cost and ease of fitting . I'm just not sure which of the two to choose. Do I go for the larger one with fans on the front, or the new slightly smaller, single pass, with fans to the rear and a side air deflector plate to help cooling ? I don't know which is the better of the two. Any ideas?

Thanks

Gaz.

Raj B

fan on the front act as a barrier at speed, this has been proved, onyl helpful when in traffic, which isnt very useful as the intercooler takes no time at all to cool down once at speed

Turbocabbie

I run two fans and do not have a problem with temperatures at low or high speed or even when stationary playing with my anti-lag for short periods of time
My car runs high boost with mapped air injectors.

from my opinion the biggest issues with twin fans are people buying cheap and poor quality fans.

kevbnicpp

I've fitted the full twinpass airtec one. works sound but if you want to fit it with the fans behind be prepared to be modifing the mounting brackets and slightly angling the intercooler also shaving the back side of the bumper. all of which the guys at airtec said it was easily done on a 90 spec (mine is 90 spec) running 18psi peak. Good value tho

Andy_R

iTrader: (3)

Are these the bar and plate design IC's?

Raj B

thats a valid point, but if you get chance though, do a test with the car stationary for a minute, then go for a spin and monitor the act temps using a gauge. Then take the fans off (actually remove them) and do the same test. I think you may be supprised at the results ( my mates and I where) You may not have a problem now, sounds like you have a good setup, all my point is that you would have even lower temps by relocating the fans to the rad

CAR MAD GAZ

How would you attach the fans to the rad and does it damage the rad?

Thanks.

Gaz.

Turbocabbie

I have done previously as you suggested out of curiosity as other people have stated this also and found that my water temps temps were higher when the fans were relocated to the rad as with the size of the core I have the only way to do this realistically is to move the rad further into the engine bay, thus increasing heat soak from the exhaust and turbo. When the car was moving I had no real noticeable increase, with a gain of a couple of degree's of ACT temperature.
I would suspect that your mates were surprised at the results when you did this if your fans were not sufficient to blow through both the intercooler and rad.

My test was not conducted with a gauge it was tested by my collins monitor and I ran anti-lag during this test to assist with high temperatures in the engine bay.

I do not have an open mouth grill, although the bumper is hollowed out in front of the fans to allow air to move round it, my car can sit stationary for a long period of time and still not get temperature concerns.
My car now runs a solid bonnet as such does not have vents to allow air out of the top to add to the problem of heat.

My simple advice would be to try fans fitted both ways and see what works with your setup only then will you know, all I can say if that from experience I think the GRS is well up to the job, and I doubt many people run very high boost with air injectors and anti-lag without a vented bonnet as such I think its good enough for most solutions

Turbocabbie

The airtec seems great value as it comes with fans until you realise the most positive thing they can say about these are the fact they are 'Italian made' A quality fan such as Kenlow will be able to provide technical information and performance details such as airflow to enable you to make the right choice for your solution

http://www.kenlowe.co.uk/fans/consumers/

Performance costs money, its a simple fact... some people are happy to make do bit I am not, I want to know the performance of the product Im buying and could not care less about where the hell they were made.

Simple question here.. how many cars that have put out a genuine 250+ BHP and can prove it are you aware of that have the airtec intercooler?

Raj B

fair doo's mate, i had my fans mounted on the front of the intercooler, but was going to relocate them in between the rad and ic . I have already cut the fromnt of the bumper off to aid cooling. I think my fans are cheap ones, certainly not kenlowe, really dont know what to do now.lol