air to water v. air to air ic - Honda Prelude Forum

darknight · 07-04-2002, 11:31 AM

which ic do you guys think is better? Anyone with a air to water if so how is it?

AsianPersuasion · 07-04-2002, 01:16 PM

An air-to-water intercooler would definitely be better. The best way would be to relocate the battery to the trunk and place the air-to-water intercooler in its place. This way, the pipes running from the compressor to the intercooler and to the throttle body will be much shorter. Not to mention the car would look a lot more sleeper since you won't see a front mount in the bumper opening.

The cooling efficiency of the air-to-water is much better than a air-to-air fmic. The reason most people stay away from it is because it's too expensive and generally unnecessary. But i'd still get one if I had money to burn.

darknight · 07-04-2002, 01:34 PM

thanks for the info. i got cheaper prices on air to water then a big air to air ic. Do the water run out often though?

red92si · 07-04-2002, 01:56 PM

For the Air-Water you would either have to have a huge tank of ice water located somewhere in the car to have running through IC to cool the intake charge. Or you would have to buy another smaller radiator and route the IC to flow its fuid through that to cool it back down. The IC's themselves may be cheaper than a FMIC, but you have to buy alot more other stuff.

00G · 07-04-2002, 04:33 PM

I would dare say the air to air is more efficient for daily driving. The air to water is best for drag racing apps. After heating the water during daily driving, it takes longer to cool to ambient (without the use of ice or a/c routing to the sump) and the commonly used radiators aren't very big. Once the water has been warmed from driving, it will take much more time to bring the temps down.

For all out drag racing, a little ice in the reservoir goes a long and powerfull way. The IC is the same material, so efficiency is similar with less surface area in the air/water vs. air/air. Once moving, the air/air cools immediately and the air/water would have to cool the heated water down before the charge air will cool. There are many good versions of air/water ICs, but after plumbing, parts, and work, the costs and (without the use of ice) benefits are near or more expensive with the air/water and a bit more weight...

I'd like an air/water and try some peltiers to keep the water cold.... a science project, hehehe.....

kidkutz · 07-04-2002, 05:27 PM

air to air is a better idea for daily street driving.
air to water is better for drag.
the cost of the actual intercoolers is roughly the same...but the actual components needed to make an air to water intercooler work is where it gets tough. you'll need a water reservoir, a water pump, and a radiator.
i'm running the air to liquid on my car (not installed yet) because i want maximum power at the track.

darknight · 07-04-2002, 06:02 PM

but doesnt the air to water give you alot more power at the same amount of boost levels? Does anyone have any dynos on one w air to air and one on air to water

schwett · 07-05-2002, 02:53 PM

if the intake temp is the same, the power is the same regardless of how it's cooled at any given psi. the question is, which can cool to the ambient temp in various conditions, and which presents a lower pressure drop...

anyone know what the pressure drop across your usual air to water IC is?

Quote:

Originally posted by darknight
but doesnt the air to water give you alot more power at the same amount of boost levels? Does anyone have any dynos on one w air to air and one on air to water

kidkutz · 07-05-2002, 04:36 PM

98turboSH · 07-05-2002, 05:50 PM

Its as simple as this. Air-water if you're drag racing. Air-air if its a street car. Ignore Dyno charts, because they're inaccurate for real-life street driving. On the dyno an air-water filled with ice in the resorvior will run significantly more power than an air-air. But, once you drive for a good number of miles the water temp becomes the same as the air temp causing absolutely no improvement. Yes, if you have a smaller radiator installed for the water also, it will help, but just go air-air on street applications. Proven to work the best, so go with it.

Marcus