Maybe a dumb Q. about intercoolers

[Guest zthang43]

This may be a really dumb question, but what about using an extra radiator as an intercooler? Granted, I doubt there are many radiators in existence that would flow well enough for a V8, but with a smaller motor, it seems that a radiator could be made to work as a cheap IC. Even if it meant running two of them together in parallel to get enough flow.

Anybody heard or thought about doing this before?

[Guest Anonymous]

don't worry man there is no such thing as a stupid question. i really wouldn't want to try it but hey if you think it will work go for it. give it a shot and see what happens just post the results so we now what to expect.

 

in my opinion though i wouldnb't think it would be very well suited for use as a IC. it was designed for fluid flow not airflow and if it was even halfway decent i'm sure we would have heard about "trick" like that a long time ago. just my .02

[Guest zthang43]

yes, a radiator was designed for fluid flow, but for design purposes air is also a fluid, just a little less viscous than engine coolant.

I dont have a turbo or blower right now anyway, but I was just curious. Maybe I'll try it someday.

[SleeperZ]

It may, in fact, work, but here is what might happen. Your efficiency will be very low, and your air charge will not cool down. The coolant was designed to go through at a very low velocity, so there is not much surface area to dump heat to. You may not get much pressure drop, but I bet you get very little cooling.