Current best intercooler for track use?

[Rhorn]

What's this tell you

Seems like unless you need that increase in PSI for more power or a better turbo the OEM is fine right?

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[Backmarker]

What's this tell you

It depends on the conditions of the test and what the definitions are of the measurements. If it is sustained over 20 minutes of hard use AND the peak is indicative of the broader curve that could be insightful. Can you elaborate pretty please?

 

[Cueyo]

What's this tell you

Honestly nothing lol, I don't know what I'm looking for, or rather what the use case would be.

Wouldn't you ideally always want the temperature delta to be low? Or does a high delta show that the fmic is good at cooling? If the fmic gets to some outrageously high number, but then rapidly goes down, is that better than having lower temps at peak and normal temps once it goes down (hence a smaller delta)? Ideally the temperature would never shift, which makes me think the latter option would always be better since it's more consistent, but it also implies that if there is significant heat, it won't be able to cool as efficiently.

There's also the matter of if the fmic temps are only lower because they're not having all the heat transferred efficiently.

In any case I'm shooting in the dark.

 

[Tougefl5]

It depends on the conditions of the test and what the definitions are of the measurements. If it is sustained over 20 minutes of hard use AND the peak is indicative of the broader curve that could be insightful. Can you elaborate pretty please?

Don't tell me shit been looking at it a few days. They only thing pwr really say about it is ''F1 tech'' this is the data We are the best .

 

[Rhorn]

Honestly nothing lol, I don't know what I'm looking for, or rather what the use case would be.

Wouldn't you ideally always want the temperature delta to be low? Or does a high delta show that the fmic is good at cooling? If the fmic gets to some outrageously high number, but then rapidly goes down, is that better than having lower temps at peak and normal temps once it goes down (hence a smaller delta)? Ideally the temperature would never shift, which makes me think the latter option would always be better since it's more consistent, but it also implies that if there is significant heat, it won't be able to cool as efficiently.

There's also the matter of if the fmic temps are only lower because they're not having all the heat transferred efficiently.

In any case I'm shooting in the dark.

I doubt any aftermarket company is going to provide that intensive testing. The most I've seen is just a graph that just shows the lower temps, but nothing about speed or time sustained, and even then its not really conclusive.

Its crazy but I feel like alot of these products fall into the 'trust me bro' thing and just lean on theory for why they work. Thats why I only look at whats on the DE5 ITS TCX and the FK8 TC because those cars are the really the closest to a street car. Never done aftermarket development so I don't really know how it is behind the scenes but it would be nice to see the better data.

For what its worth there are FL5 race cars that still use the stock IC. I never ran into a problem with the overheating yet, but thats all driver skill and track dependent. When it starts to get hot here in Florida it probably will become an issue for sure. Tbh Im more worried about how to handle the coolant and oil temps since thats what will actually blow up my engine

 

[Two Step Performance]

Good intercooler data is VERY hard to find. People love to throw numbers out but their testing was done in a inconsistent manner leaving you with apples to oranges like data. The "all intercoolers suck thread" is a bit comical at this point, reader beware for sure.

We at TSP LOVE good data and refuse to be associated with data that is anything less. I don't believe we are equipped to provide strong intercooler data that we can stand behind, so we do not publish any.

If you wanted the best track intercooler today based on assumptions based on it's composition, I'd say PWR. Yes, you will pay for it.

More cost efficient options for the track are coming.

 

[svvitch]

@Two Step Performance just casually dropping an installed RV6 intercooler photo hurry up and take my money already.

 

[simpleisbest]

For what its worth there are FL5 race cars that still use the stock IC.

You mean the "stock" IC that is V-mounted? I don't think that's a good comparison.

 

[BigBird]

HKS 6 month wait. Then was Tired of waiting for RV6. Hopefully people get their one when they want it.

It was a loop of we have boxes and o-rings, but no paint. and then we have paint, but then trying another color. no we don't know when, and no you can't pre-order.

I'm exhausted ...hello Wagner Wall

 

[optronix]

It's part of a system. The stock intercooler, operating on the street as designed is fine. On track, it heat soaks, timing is pulled, power is reduced. How is this a hypothesis? Tuning shows this. I don't need to datalog and prove it to myself, other stock setup cars have. I can rely on their data. My car is the same.

Also, I'm not waiting for my engine to go boom before saying gee, I'm glad that happened so now I know I really need to do something to resolve 235+ degree water temps or 300+ degree oil temps (calculated or not).

No. That's a cop out. "Tuning shows this". I call bullshit. So far I've only seen/heard from people who "drive real hard"... but also are modified in at least one way, most often including an intercooler. I'm not saying there isn't evidence, I'm just saying I haven't seen any, and am asking for it. Go find me some actual evidence of "it heat soaks, timing is pulled, power is reduced" from a stock FL5 OR DE5, and I'll stand down.

Seriously, I track my DE5 mostly stock and want to know. I'm not being combative.

And not from an LLM. Lol.

What's this tell you

This is actually great data, truthfully. To me, at least.

I'm paying attention to the inlet temps. It's fucking HIGHER for the aftermarket intercoolers!!! From just this data alone I can extract two pretty compelling hypotheses:

1) The delta is influenced by the higher inlet temp, thus implying higher efficiency
2) The inlet temperature is influenced by the HIGHER AMBIENT TEMPS IN THE ENGINE BAY, which if I were to guess, may in fact be CREATED BY THE INTERCOOLER.

Otherwise, data looks good that the outlet temps would be substantially cooler, leading to an overall increase in peak boost pressure. All this makes sense and is the expected outcome for what you'd expect an intercooler to actually accomplish, in lowering the temperature of the air going into the turbo. So for guys chasing big power, an intercooler is probably necessary.

But that's not what we're talking about here, we're specifically talking about overheating on track.

So if having an aftermarket intercooler (especially bar and plate...) results in higher ambient temps (reflected in the honestly pretty dramtically higher inlet temperatures), then I'm feeling pretty good about my theory that an intercooler ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTES TO OVERHEATING.

Somebody tell me I'm wrong! Seriously, I feel like I'm on my own here and I just don't understand why I'm the only one fighting this battle.

For what its worth there are FL5 race cars that still use the stock IC. I never ran into a problem with the overheating yet, but thats all driver skill and track dependent. When it starts to get hot here in Florida it probably will become an issue for sure. Tbh Im more worried about how to handle the coolant and oil temps since thats what will actually blow up my engine

Bonus points- if you can tell me the source of this gif we will ACTUALLY become best friends.

 

[Tougefl5]

HKS 6 month wait. Then was Tired of waiting for RV6. Hopefully people get theirs when they want it.

It was a loop of we have boxes and o-rings, but no paint. and then we have paint, but then trying another color. no we don't know when, and no you can't pre-order.

I'm exhausted ...hello Wagner Wall

I have a line on hks intercoolers that are on schedule to be here in April. I too lost hopes on rv6 I believe only prototypes are on people's cars for testing.

 

[Tougefl5]

Forgot to add this information about the data that I posted. This is also something to take into consideration.

 

[blueroadster]

FYSA regarding the intercooler that I ordered through BHJ three weeks ago:

"We would like to inform you that the J'S RACING HYPER INTERCOOLER FOR HONDA CIVIC FL5 ICR-L5 is order-made and it will take about 1~2 months to manufacture the product."

They promptly sent me that information the day after ordering. I'm looking forward to receiving the shipment.

 

[Tougefl5]

FYSA regarding the intercooler that I ordered through BHJ three weeks ago:

"We would like to inform you that the J'S RACING HYPER INTERCOOLER FOR HONDA CIVIC FL5 ICR-L5 is order-made and it will take about 1~2 months to manufacture the product."

They promptly sent me that information the day after ordering. I'm looking forward to receiving the shipment.

So in reality it you could be waiting 4-6 months before you get your part ?

 

[svvitch]

No. That's a cop out. "Tuning shows this". I call bullshit. So far I've only seen/heard from people who "drive real hard"... but also are modified in at least one way, most often including an intercooler. I'm not saying there isn't evidence, I'm just saying I haven't seen any, and am asking for it. Go find me some actual evidence of "it heat soaks, timing is pulled, power is reduced" from a stock FL5 OR DE5, and I'll stand down.

No, I don't want to I've said my opinion I'm moving on. My car is stock, except for Hondata and flexfuel.

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