Intercoolers increase the efficiency of the induction system by reducing induction air heat created by the supercharger or turbocharger and promoting more thorough combustion. This removes the heat of compression (i.e., the temperature rise) that occurs in any gas when its pressure is raised or its unit mass per unit volume (density) is increased.
A decrease in intake air charge temperature sustains use of a denser intake charge into the engine, as a result of forced induction. The lowering of the intake charge air temperature also eliminates the danger of pre-detonation (knock) of the fuel/air charge prior to a timed spark ignition. This preserves the benefits of more fuel/air burn per engine cycle, increasing the output of the engine.
Turbochargers and superchargers are engineered to force more air mass (and thus more oxygen molecules) into an engine’s intake manifold and combustion chamber. Intercooling is a method used to compensate for heating caused by supercharging or turbocharging, a natural byproduct of the semi-adiabatic compression process. Increased air pressure can result in an excessively hot intake charge, significantly reducing the performance gains of supercharging or turbocharging due to decreased density. Increased intake charge temperature can also increase the cylinder combustion temperature, causing detonation, excessive wear, or heat damage to an engine block or pistons.
Passing a compressed and heated intake charge through an intercooler reduces its temperature (due to heat rejection) and pressure (due to flow restriction of fins). If the device is properly engineered, the relative decrease in temperature is greater than the relative loss in pressure, resulting in a net increase in density. This increases system performance by recovering some losses of the inefficient compression process by rejecting heat to the atmosphere.
Intercoolers that exchange their heat directly with the atmosphere are designed to be mounted in areas of an automobile with maximum air flow. These types are mainly mounted in front mounted systems (FMIC) in line with the car’s radiator.
Many turbo-charged cars use air-to-air top mounted intercoolers (TMIC) located on top of the engine. Air is directed through the intercooler through the use of a hood scoop. In some cases, the air flows through the grille above the front bumper, then through under-hood ducting. Top mounted intercoolers sometimes suffer from heat diffusion due to proximity with the engine, warming them and reducing their overall efficiency.
Because (FMIC) and (TMIC) systems require open air design for optimal performance, the entire system is vulnerable to debris. Some engineers choose other mount locations due to this reliability concern.
SRW® Screens has designed a removable aftermarket intercooler screen for the 70 series V8 Landcruiser (SRW®-LCi70) that protects the intercooler from blockage and damage caused by insects and debris.
SRW® Screens has extensively tested the (SRW®-LCi70) screen over a 4 year period and travelling more than 100,000km’s in Australia’s harshest conditions, ranging from extreme 4wd tracks in Victoria’s high country and Cape York to numerous 8,000km+ trips around and through Australia fully loaded and towing big trailers in temperatures of up to 47 degrees Celsius with no increase to intake air temperatures.
SRW® Screens experience and testing has shown:
- Dyno tests show no increase to air intake temperatures from standard or with a (SRW®-LCi70) screen.
- The additional thickness added to the top of the intercooler after a (SRW®-LCi70) screen is installed provides a tighter seal between the rubber bonnet gasket and the intercooler ensuring optimum air flow through the intercooler.
- A clean undamaged intercooler is far more efficient than even a slightly blocked or damaged intercooler.
- Have you purchased a NEW Landcruiser only to do your first trip and you open the bonnet and 10-30% of your intercoolers fins are bent?
- NEVER WORRY ABOUT CLEANING OR DAMAGING YOUR INTERCOOLER AGAIN