Sprayin water on to intercooler?

[4g63telantra]

Just wanted to know if Sprayin water on to intercooler would help out in anyway when racing?

I know a few people who have the washrer bottle full of cold ater and the nozzle jets from the window washer spraying water into the intercooler.

 

[robs90tsi]

Just wanted to know if Sprayin water on to intercooler would keep out in anyway when racing?

I know a few people who have the washrer bottle full of cold ater and the nozzle jets from the window washer spraying water into the intercooler.

Ok, Im not sure what you mean, because it doesnt make sense, but Im assuming that you want to know if you can spray water onto your intercooler would be ok to do when your racing???? Correct me if Im wrong, but, I dont see why not??? What kind of racing, if at a track with rules, ask someone who knows the rules, anywhere else without rules, go for it.
EDIT
Ahhhh, HELP, ok, well, Im going to have to say yes, if it cools down the intercooler, then that in turn will cool down the incoming air, but other methods like foggers help significantly, you just have to find a practical and effective way to cool your intercooler at high speeds, the water might just blow right off, Ive never personally tested this method.

 

[4g63telantra]

Sorry, what I ment is filling the washer bottle with cold water and have the nozzles infront of the intercooler to spray on it

 

[1gcrazy]

Yes, It would help to spray the intercooler with cold water. Hell even warm water would eventually get cool after a little bit od driving(probably wont be as effective though). Cooler air=more power(because the air is more dense). Warm air is rushing into the intercooler and of coarse the intercooler will cool it off but if you spray it down it will actually help the air become even colder. It's like spraying your left hand with the hose and keeping your right hand dry. Now wave them in the air. Which one is colder? The answer is obvious.

 

[robs90tsi]

Yes, It would help to spray the intercooler with cold water. Hell even warm water would eventually get cool after a little bit od driving(probably wont be as effective though). Cooler air=more power(because the air is more dense). Warm air is rushing into the intercooler and of coarse the intercooler will cool it off but if you spray it down it will actually help the air become even colder. It's like spraying your left hand with the hose and keeping your right hand dry. Now wave them in the air. Which one is colder? The answer is obvious.

Hmm, well said.

 

[ChvyKc]

Don't the EVO VIII's and the STi WRX's have this set-up from the factory?

 

[daren_p]

I don't know how much of an effect cool water will have towards the total cooling of your intake charge. When you think about an ic is lowering the inlet temps hundreds of degrees. No you have a bottle of cold water, how are you going to keep this cold, with the canister in the engine compartment it will heat up rather quickly, then your just spraying hot water. Even if you keep it away from engine temps you'll still end up with out side air temps fairly quickly. Only use I could see is if you filled it up with freezing water right before a race, is this the plan? If you compare they have those CO2 & nitrous foggers to spray the ic core that probably spray gas at a hundred or so less temp then freezing water, how effective are they? I could be totally wrong but I don't see how this will lower the intake temps that much when you look at the "big" picture.

 

[Nonrml4]

Don't the EVO VIII's and the STi WRX's have this set-up from the factory?

Yes they do

 

[4g63telantra]

I don't know how much of an effect cool water will have towards the total cooling of your intake charge. When you think about an ic is lowering the inlet temps hundreds of degrees. No you have a bottle of cold water, how are you going to keep this cold, with the canister in the engine compartment it will heat up rather quickly, then your just spraying hot water. Even if you keep it away from engine temps you'll still end up with out side air temps fairly quickly. Only use I could see is if you filled it up with freezing water right before a race, is this the plan? If you compare they have those CO2 & nitrous foggers to spray the ic core that probably spray gas at a hundred or so less temp then freezing water, how effective are they? I could be totally wrong but I don't see how this will lower the intake temps that much when you look at the "big" picture.

Well its not like Ill be driving with it, Ill add the ice cold water at the track for a 1/4mile run.

This set-up wont be for a everyday drive.

 

[wret]

You get more bang for the buck spraying water into the pipes rather than onto them.

 

[carl5463729]

When i went to the track, i'm sure it's like this for everyone. they tell you to turn off the a/c. i'm pretty sure this is because they do not want any fluids to get on the track. I'm not totally sure but i thought that was the reason. I don't think they would want you to be spraying the intercooler while you are driving down the track. I don't think the water would evaporate off of the intercooler fast enough that no water would come off.

 

[pooya]

if you get a real good mist on the intercooler, it will significantly reduce the intake temperature. Personally I would go with no2 or Co2 because water WILL leave corrosion or lime deposits on your intercooler whick will lower the efficiency of it.
If you absolutely have to use water, make sure you use distilled water.

 

[pooya]

When i went to the track, i'm sure it's like this for everyone. they tell you to turn off the a/c. i'm pretty sure this is because they do not want any fluids to get on the track. I'm not totally sure but i thought that was the reason. I don't think they would want you to be spraying the intercooler while you are driving down the track. I don't think the water would evaporate off of the intercooler fast enough that no water would come off.

1. why would you keep your AC on anyways? it will slow down your car, and keep it running hotter.
2. IC sprayer dont leak on the track, unless it is VERY poorly made. it will mist, and evaporate very quickly on the intercooler.

 

[robs90tsi]

You get more bang for the buck spraying water into the pipes rather than onto them.

Wait, how would that be good? Water + engine internals = a no no, so I dont understand this method, will the water just end up evaporating before it reaches the motor????

 

[pooya]

Wait, how would that be good? Water + engine internals = a no no, so I dont understand this method, will the water just end up evaporating before it reaches the motor????

The water completely evaporates.
and actually, alky injection into the intercooler would be the best bang for the buck.

 

[luvmygst]

The water completely evaporates.
and actually, alky injection into the intercooler would be the best bang for the buck.

on a water or alky injection system it is never before the intercooler. A water injection system injects a mist of water before the throttle body, it lowers intake temp to make more power( a VERY simplified explanation).

 

[pooya]

on a water or alky injection system it is never before the intercooler. A water injection system injects a mist of water before the throttle body, it lowers intake temp to make more power( a VERY simplified explanation).

right.
sorry, i should have clarified intercooler PIPES...not intercooler. I got lazy.

 

[baldbull]

This all sounds like a myth. Like someone did it because they thought it would be cool to run a window washer line down to their intercooler. Having said this, they may be thinking that they are getting the same benefit as people icing down their intake manifolds or having alcohol injection, which I have seeen run from the washer canister (though not to the IC). Having liquid sprayed anywhere externally near or on an IC sounds like a waste of time -- how'd the guy who did it run? Maybe I'm wrong.

 

[pooya]

This all sounds like a myth. Like someone did it because they thought it would be cool to run a window washer line down to their intercooler. Having said this, they may be thinking that they are getting the same benefit as people icing down their intake manifolds or having alcohol injection, which I have seeen run from the washer canister (though not to the IC). Having liquid sprayed anywhere externally near or on an IC sounds like a waste of time -- how'd the guy who did it run? Maybe I'm wrong.

wrong.
there are LOTS of people that have done this...and it is proven.
theres no mysterious physics involved. evaporation takes away all the heat in the surrounding area. thus, the more evaporation occurs, the better the cooling effect.

 

[mobythevan]

grab your physics book from high school or college and look up "the latent heat of phase change". Evaporating water on the intercooler has the ability to remove more heat from the intercooler than just water or just air touching it/flowing over it.

 

[kronus]

grab your physics book from high school or college and look up "the latent heat of phase change". Evaporating water on the intercooler has the ability to remove more heat from the intercooler than just water or just air touching it/flowing over it.

Correct. Sure, water spray may not be as effective as a fogger, but the simple fact that the water will remove some heat from the IC is enough if you're looking for a little boost. And even if it didn't lower intake temps any, it would combat heat sink in the IC. Not a bad idea for a DSM'r on a budget.

-Kevin-

 

[ericbev]

You get more bang for the buck spraying water into the pipes rather than onto them.

This is correct. For the money you would have wrapped up in spraying it on your intercooler you could slap together a DIY injection system with much better results.

As stated above the STI and EVO have a intercooler water sprayer from the factory. It can help combat heatsoak on those toasty days and make sure you intercooler is doing its job. It is not a myth, it works.

I am not sure what kind of rules racing sanctioning bodies have against this. Ill see if I can find something on it.

Here are a bunch of FAQs etc. I went on a search rampage for information regarding this stuff last year and have them all in my favorites still. Everything you need to know is in there so read away. How it works, why it works, whats involved, what and how to use it, DIYs and right on down the line.

http://www.automotosports.com/magazine_articles3.asp
http://www.geocities.com/rad87gn/tech/alcohol.html
http://www.smcenterprises.com/faq's.htm
http://www.turbomirage.com/water.html
http://home.att.net/~alkycontrol/page8.htm
http://www.snowperformance.net/faq.asp
http://www.rbracing-rsr.com/waterinjection.html
http://www.turbofast.com.au/racefuel2.html
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/farmmgt/05010.html

Glad I could help.

 

[DSMBen]

I would have to say yes. Being that water is a much better conductor then ANYTHING else, it will pull heat out faster.

So in theroy, yes if you fill your windershield washer tank with ICE COLD water, and aimed the sprayer nozzles at the intercooler it could work.

 

[iboostdoyou]

This is correct. For the money you would have wrapped up in spraying it on your intercooler you could slap together a DIY injection system with much better results.

If you read the original post, he mainly was looking to hook up the windshield washers to the ic core to spray water on it which costs nothing. And in the newbie forum, I would highly suggest against recommending them to make a DIY injection system. Something as minor as a clogged nozzle can lock the motor in a water injection, let alone a newbie trying to fab up a DIY kit. To answer the original question, yes, it will help, like stated, it is simply physics. However, the argument that the water would oxidize the ic is rediculous. Have you ever driven your car when its raining out? Water is hitting the core at all times, not just in 5 second bursts (here in jersey rain water is also much more corrosive then tap water ). Go ahead, mount up those nozzle lines and spray away. The hardest part is going to be hooking up a switch to get it to spray without the wipers turning on

 

[pooya]

http://www.rbracing-rsr.com/waterinjection.html

this was a great read.