front or side mount I/C ??

Post Tue Sep 29, 2009 12:21 am

Does it make a difference to power ?
Not BMW, but my golf

.. currently running with side mount cooler, just wondered in general if front mounted will make a difference in power/Torque ?

Post Tue Sep 29, 2009 7:29 am

The things that would make a difference would be the design of the I/C and the amount of air to cool it.

If you put your side mount I/C up front it wouldn't make any difference unless it was getting more airflow and/or cooler air going through it.

If you can fit a better I/C upfront and give it more and cooler air it could make a big diffence depending on the current design.

Post Tue Sep 29, 2009 6:48 pm

blingsta wrote:Does it make a difference to power ?
Not BMW, but my golf .. currently running with side mount cooler, just wondered in general if front mounted will make a difference in power/Torque ?

Anything that helps to cool the air inducted into your engine will make a difference. At any given boost pressure, the lower the temperature of the air, the greater the density of the air, and thus the greater the mass of air inducted into each combustion chamber on each stroke. So long as your ECU maitains the correct AFR, this situation will always equate to more power!

Unfortunately you can't do anything about the temperature of the air passing over your intercooler (it will always be at ambient), but you can do a lot to get more air to flow over it by positioning it to receive maximum flow and minimising obstructions in front of and behind the intercooler. If moving your intercooler from the side to the front improves this situation, then you could potentially make more power. However, I would first be sure that you side mounted intercooler is not doing what it is intended to do (by measuring the temperature of the air coming out of the intercooler outlet) before you go to all the trouble of moving it to the front (or by fitting a larger more efficient intercooler).

Post Wed Sep 30, 2009 2:56 am

thanks for the reply guys, but i think im gonna keep her as she is, im not gonna start tinkering with cars again !! this was bought as a family car and the looks and modifications already done is a bonus..

plus i had a huge grin on my face on my way home 2nite when the clock showed 140mph !!

Best to just leave it as it is

Post Wed Sep 30, 2009 3:04 am

a re map is enough to make it very lively and fun to drive, and combine that with standard fit upgraded intercooler, Job Done

Post Wed Sep 30, 2009 4:12 am

spot on mate, thats exactly what mines already had done ! its got a Forge side mount cooler and stage 2 re-map with a KO3S turbo, 255bhp and a pleasure to drive

i take it youve had one before Kos ?

Post Thu Oct 01, 2009 12:55 pm

not had one, but a friends have had them over the years. i cant deal with the torque steer that comes in hand with FWD cars

as it is right now its best left alone. forge motorsport do some decent stuff, and 255bhp is plently. i bet its got a lot of torque too. is that the turbo of the 225bhp TT's ?

Post Fri Oct 02, 2009 2:46 am

still in the learning process mate, the turbo is what they call a KO3S turbo, and yeah, i know what you mean about the torque steer..

.. gave me a big surprise when it happened.. torque wise, its 280LB torque, so pretty nippy !

Post Fri Oct 02, 2009 11:53 am

blingsta wrote:still in the learning process mate, the turbo is what they call a KO3S turbo, and yeah, i know what you mean about the torque steer.. .. gave me a big surprise when it happened.. torque wise, its 280LB torque, so pretty nippy !

I have same problem with a Megane Sport 2.0l turbo. Fitting a Torsen type (not ZF clutch type) LSD makes a big difference to torque steer on FWD cars and helps keep that annoying traction control light off.