T6 intercooler conversion
- Thread starter evo6lee
- Start date
Next question is “what do I need”?….do I use the intercooler and pipework off a different model?…mines a 102
Curious what's the reasoning behind?
I'm afraid it's not exactly plug&play type of thing as there are a couple sensors ECU is monitoring as well as an associated coolant circulating pump. Would expect some innovative mapping is needed to keep the ECU happy.
Perhaps you could do some measurements about turbo lag before and after the mod. I guess there would be a change as the volume to be pressurized between turbo and engine would be larger.
Perhaps you could do some measurements about turbo lag before and after the mod. I guess there would be a change as the volume to be pressurized between turbo and engine would be larger.
Size for size a charge cooler is significantly more efficient than an intercooler. It's also more compact and lighter - including the plumbing - of the size of intercooler required to achieve equal cooling effect, and temperatures under hard use or in hot weather are more stable.
An intercooler is simple in the sense that it is one solid part and that's it. However, as mmi mentions, the water plumbing is still there, albeit with the coolant circuit in a closed loop, so you're not achieving any NET saving in it's likely to torpedo reliability.
On a standard or lightly tuned engine it's difficult to justify the change in terms of either expense or thermodynamic efficiency.
And then there is the issue of lag with a large volume of air to compress, which may or may not be problematic and you won't know until you've spent the money trying it.
I'm not saying don't do it, but I am suggesting caution and urging some proper analysis. For normal use, even with moderate tuning, the standard set up is the superior performer. Furthermore, tinkering with charge temps at one end will affect combustion and have an effect on the exhaust side, and with things such as the EGR and DPF downstream there is always the opportunity for unintended consequences - probably not, but that's probably and not definitely.
An intercooler is simple in the sense that it is one solid part and that's it. However, as mmi mentions, the water plumbing is still there, albeit with the coolant circuit in a closed loop, so you're not achieving any NET saving in it's likely to torpedo reliability.
On a standard or lightly tuned engine it's difficult to justify the change in terms of either expense or thermodynamic efficiency.
And then there is the issue of lag with a large volume of air to compress, which may or may not be problematic and you won't know until you've spent the money trying it.
I'm not saying don't do it, but I am suggesting caution and urging some proper analysis. For normal use, even with moderate tuning, the standard set up is the superior performer. Furthermore, tinkering with charge temps at one end will affect combustion and have an effect on the exhaust side, and with things such as the EGR and DPF downstream there is always the opportunity for unintended consequences - probably not, but that's probably and not definitely.
Oh 100% agree, lag could be an issue and it would definitely need a custom map, your the guy I need to talk to lol, oh why did they fit the charge cooler to some and intercooler to others? What’s the difference in van spec
Where a chargecooler can reasonably be used there are good packaging, perfomance and thermal stability reasons for doing so. My best guess is the sub-optimal installation of an intercooler was substituted where one of those requirements stepped too far in one direction and made a chargecooler too much of a compromise.
But that's just a guess. Strangely enough VW never consulted me when developing these vehicles.
Nevertheless, we can be sure they didn't choose the more complicated and expensive charge cooler option because they enjoy spending excess cash or making lives difficult for themselves - there were undoubtedly overriding suitability imperatives that had them go down that road.
But that's just a guess. Strangely enough VW never consulted me when developing these vehicles.
Nevertheless, we can be sure they didn't choose the more complicated and expensive charge cooler option because they enjoy spending excess cash or making lives difficult for themselves - there were undoubtedly overriding suitability imperatives that had them go down that road.
