intercooler good enought for 20psi?

[92awdbird]

i got this cx racing intercooler. hope the pic came out. but im having knock issues as some have seen on other threads. im wondering if this is not big enough for what im trying to get out of this setup.cx racing 16g at 20psi. any ideas would help. Thanks!

 

[Colt4G63 also]

According to this data from an Audi forum, they are junk:

Re: CXracing Intercoolers $399? Anybody have them?
Ok then...

I installed CX Racing Side Mounted ICs and I must say that they are a disappointment on performance front.

Before I delve into details, here are the charts:

Stock ICs:

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CX Racing ICs:

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The charts represent few 4000-6500rpms runs on third gear, then the car is allowed to slow down still in the gear and the process is repeated.

Car used was Allroad with K04s and APR Stage 1 93 octane (I know, I know) program. The runs were performed on the same stretch of highway after heating up the engine with several cycles of 4000-6500 acceleration phases and then letting the RPMs fall down by taking foot off the pedal. The warm up phase was done on about 2-3 mile distance, then I took an exit and did the same on my way back, this time logging the result.

The important thing to point out is that I was lucky to have almost exact same ambient temp, 52 deg for factory and 53 for CXs, otherwise same humidity.

So, looking at the graphs, first thing that strikes me is that the IATs were 10C higher to begin on CXs, due to them heat soaking on the highway... This gets even worse when you look at the deg delta between acceleration-deceleration phase. Stocks attained something to the tune 7-8C delta while CX Racings shot up to 10C and the baseline temp kept on creeping up. I hit 50C on CXes while stocks plateaued at 30C... World of a difference.

Now, on to my theory why CXs suck so bad even though they look like they should obliterate stocks.

1. Even though CXs end are polished aluminum, I noticed that core area is painted with some crap silverish paint that easily chips off and is easy to scratch. This definitely kills heat tranfser.
2. Cooling fins are made of such thin aluminum foil that Walmart wouldn't sell to wrap your foods in as it would rip way to easily.
3. NOT PROVEN by scratching, but inside of IC seems to be painted with the same crap silver paint. Again, another heat transfer problem.

Something that might have contributed to CXs abysmal performance is that
my factory shrouds were not modified, perhaps it would help if the shrouds were cut a bit so that they don't supply air to only about 50% of IC but let the air "fan out" a bit before hitting the IC core. But, I don't think it would help tremendously it attaining or more so beating stock ICs.

Anybody wants to buy an used set of CX Racing ICs???

This doesn't suprize me at all because I did similar testing on a JDM Sport FMIC and got similar results. Basically, you may as well run a piece of pipe with a kink in it instead.

 

[toofast82]

What kind of timing table are you running?

 

[jpmxrider489]

If its 400, what made you go with cx racing and not pr or vrsf? That's not a common setup for us.

 

[1990TalonFast]

Get a VRSF, I ordered one for my evo 3 16g running 21lbs of boost. Works great.

 

[92awdbird]

so this is why i went with this setup....

#1: had intercooler piping laying around from other installs i have done to the car because of front end collisions.

#2: did not see that there was a problem with the way i thought up the intercooler piping idea. infact i thought a short route was a good idea untill this cx raxing junk was discovered.

#3: had no idea that there was a proven consept for 400 hp intercooler ideas. heres some pics to see my install.

 

[agentorange313]

so this is why i went with this setup....

#1: had intercooler piping laying around from other installs i have done to the car because of front end collisions.

#2: did not see that there was a problem with the way i thought up the intercooler piping idea. infact i thought a short route was a good idea untill this cx raxing junk was discovered.

#3: had no idea that there was a proven consept for 400 hp intercooler ideas. heres some pics to see my install.

There is no problem with your piping concept. You need to focus on the intercooler core. The quality of the core is what matter, how well it can dissipate the heat from the charged air.

I would look for a core that is worth using.

Here are a couple intercooler that fit that routing style:

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TRV185 Series Intercooler- TREADSTONE PERFORMANCE

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RRE's Eclipse Intake and Exhaust Upgrades

 

[92awdbird]

would that be able to handle 400hp or so?

 

[agentorange313]

would that be able to handle 400hp or so?

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how about you click the links and read
I dont feel like spoon feeding anyone tonight

 

[92awdbird]

yup thanks pal. seen the link........im sure you were spoon fed a few times but no worrys. sorry its been a long day. i dident need that remark...

 

[crazytsiawd]

yeah that thing is a pos

 

[92awdbird]

would a big 16g be too much for the tr185 at 22psi? don't want to get this treadstone performance ic and have the same problem as i got right now. i have looked all over and found nothing about proven results with this tr185. Or would the 1859 be the better option? thanks!

 

[92awdbird]

well im going to take the dive and buy the trv1859 tonight. hope it works out good.

 

[NHerron]

You should keep this updated with the results!

 

[re-rx7]

I have a Hahn Big Smic and it Works probbal just as well as those intercoolers.

 

[Tfitch90]

Damn those things are ugly.

 

[92awdbird]

you got it NHerron! if this is the issue i have been needing to adderss for a while iwill never buy a cx racing i/c ever again! (still probably wont) but i will need to start my tune all over again to find the sweet spot so i can get this thing to the track. not sure if i know of anyone using this ic but it seems like it will do the job for me. if not i guess i will sell it and go horizontal like all the rest. keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[ENICKB]

Go with the largest core possible that you can afford.

 

[Colt4G63 also]

I'm sure you'll get the results you're looking for; those cheap IC's just don't cool the air charge worth a damn.

 

[92awdbird]

i had a turbo xs intercooler that worked well till i nailed a fence post. it worked well but it was a giant intercooler. im liking my route that i have gone with but the ic got to go. you think anyone would buy that old one from me?

the trv 1859 seems like it should work a lot better jut from looks of the design and size when compared to the cx racing that was supposed to be good to 400 hp.....i think its bull shit that its advertised to hold that amount of power, but they never said anything about how long till it heat soaked. it would probably work well at 200mph+