Opinions on thermal spacers?

[amdeman]

Hi team,

started researching engine performance add-ons for the Polo and came across a 034 MOTORSPORT VW/AUDI 1.8T SMALL PORT INLET MANIFOLD SPACER 034-108-9000SP, what are the results (the dynos always seem to show an improvement) from people's actual experience?

[sambb]

You could contact the previous owner of sean gti's car. I think he'd fitted one. I reckon they'd work. For instance my throttle body can be cold to touch yet the plenum hot which suggests to me it's heat bleeding up the runners from the head, not inlet air temps causing it. An insulator could help the plenum stay cool but the effect if any on air temp as it moves so quickly through the plenum might be negligible.

[h100vw]

You could contact the previous owner of sean gti's car. I think he'd fitted one. I reckon they'd work. For instance my throttle body can be cold to touch yet the plenum hot which suggests to me it's heat bleeding up the runners from the head, not inlet air temps causing it. An insulator could help the plenum stay cool but the effect if any on air temp as it moves so quickly through the plenum might be negligible.

Marginal gains, buy an intercooler before spending money on the spacer.

Gavin

[amdeman]

Marginal gains, buy an intercooler before spending money on the spacer.

Gavin

Thank you for that. Which intercooler would you suggest?

Airtec 'Seat Sport Style' Upgraded Intercooler Kit for Volkswagen Polo (9N3) 1.8T - Polo 9n3 - Volkswagen - Shop By Car | Awesome GTI?

[h100vw]

Thank you for that. Which intercooler would you suggest?

Airtec 'Seat Sport Style' Upgraded Intercooler Kit for Volkswagen Polo (9N3) 1.8T - Polo 9n3 - Volkswagen - Shop By Car | Awesome GTI?

Darkside Developments - Darkside SeatSport Ibiza Cupra Intercooler for Seat Ibiza / VW Polo & Skoda Fabia

Or the Seat Sport one. You need to get your own pipes though.

Gavin

[amdeman]

Darkside Developments - Darkside SeatSport Ibiza Cupra Intercooler for Seat Ibiza / VW Polo & Skoda Fabia

Or the Seat Sport one. You need to get your own pipes though.

Gavin

Darkside Developments - Upgraded Side Mount Intercooler for 1.9 8v TDi Engines

Bolt in?

[h100vw]

Darkside Developments - Upgraded Side Mount Intercooler for 1.9 8v TDi Engines

Bolt in?

Sorry, don't know. Never heard of anyone fitting one here. I can't see that it would compare to a front mount.

[amdeman]

Sorry, don't know. Never heard of anyone fitting one here. I can't see that it would compare to a front mount.

Go hard, or go home?

[seangti]

I recall 5+yrs ago people on the forum discussing the upgraded sidemounts. They're better than stock, but not comparable to the FMIC. For the effort involved and costs associated, better to go FMIC. There was an argument that the shorter path would make throttle response better when compared to FMIC, but nah, mute point.

[noone]

Seat Sport for tuned. Sidemount is not going to do much.
The little K03 makes a lot of heat and a side mount can't compare for cooling / core size. It has been done, I don't remember seeing detailed results.

Phenolic spacers work, a fair amount of work to install for gains you may not notice.