Darkside Chargecooler

[Roodedoo]

Has anyone had any experience using an aftermarket chargecooler radiator, such as Darkside's?
I nearly cobbled one together for my old Hilux, but never got around to it.

I can see how bigger intercoolers can give more hp, but the chargecoolers don't have as much scope for up-sizing.

 

[The Bear78]

I can see how bigger intercoolers can give more hp, but the chargecoolers don't have as much scope for up-sizing.

It's all about cooling and increasing the density of the charge air. Larger intercoolers have more surface area to cool the charge air more effectively.
The Darkside chargecooler radiator allegedly has 50% more surface area so it should provide cooler fluid to the chargecooler core. This, in turn, should enable the same size chargecooler to cool the charge air more.

 

[Roodedoo]

Well yes, that's how they work.
I was wondering if the relatively small gain in size with the chargecooler mod led to any meaningful gain in power.
There's far more scope with an intercooler.

 

[The Bear78]

Point taken...
I was trying to convey the similarity between having a larger surface area (upgraded intercooler) or a cooler heat exchanger.

 

[Roodedoo]

No worries at all!
My point is the degree to which you're limited with a charge cooler mod/upgrade.
50% more surface area compared with the scope of an intercooler, which could be 100-200% seeing potential gains of 10hp

 

[Roodedoo]

I have a feeling I could source a bigger one (from a Pajero or something similar) than Darkside's outrageously expensive one and just plumb it in.
The Pajero's have a bonnet scoop with radiator sealed to it from the underneath when the bonnet is closed, if I remember correctly.

 

[The Bear78]

It kind of circles back to your original question of the unknown!..
Would a 100% larger intercooler cool the charge air more than a chargecooler supplied with water from a 100% larger radiator? I know that the DD kit is 50%, but just for arguments sake.
Intercoolers are certainly more popular but they're also smaller, cheaper, lighter and about 10 times easier to engineer!!

 

[Roodedoo]

It kind of circles back to your original question of the unknown!..
Would a 100% larger intercooler cool the charge air more than a chargecooler supplied with water from a 100% larger radiator? I know that the DD kit is 50%, but just for arguments sake.
Intercoolers are certainly more popular but they're also smaller, cheaper, lighter and about 10 times easier to engineer!!

Yep. Life would be much easier if I had an intercooler!

 

[Roodedoo]

When I have time, I'll experiment with a larger charge radiator. Larger than the darkside one is.
It's very simple (and crazy they want £1000 for it)

 

[JumpShip]

I bought a darkside intercooler and the build quality was pants! Wasnt even close to fitting , must have been a friday afternoon job.

 

[Roodedoo]

I bought a darkside intercooler and the build quality was pants! Wasnt even close to fitting , must have been a friday afternoon job.

Was that their intercooler or charge cooler radiator? - just double checking

 

[JumpShip]

Intercooler , ended up buying an airtec

 

[Roodedoo]

Looking at their chargecooler radiator, it's nothing special. Just the convenience of them having worked out the pipes already

 

[Roodedoo]

It's all about cooling and increasing the density of the charge air. Larger intercoolers have more surface area to cool the charge air more effectively.
The Darkside chargecooler radiator allegedly has 50% more surface area so it should provide cooler fluid to the chargecooler core. This, in turn, should enable the same size chargecooler to cool the charge air more.

Would I be correct in assuming I only have a charge cooler and not an intercooler in addition?
I have a single-turbo engine.