Neuspeed/Eurocustoms FMIC thoughts.. possible group buy

[IanPGonzaga]

would this be suitable for an audi s3 '02? or would the piping be incompatible?

[h100vw]

would this be suitable for an audi s3 '02? or would the piping be incompatible?

Throttle body is on the other side on an S3 and I doubt the FMIC would be a great deal of an improvement over the sidemounts.

Go back in the Audi Quarter and look at my S3 intercooler fit.

Gavin

[persabi2]

I'm also interested. I guess it all depends on the amount of discount and cost of further shipping to Perth.
Thanks for doing all the work chief!

[Sirocco20348]

Update:

The following core structures are available:

Microsoft OneDrive - Access files anywhere. Create docs with free Office Online.

Note: bar and plate options are an additional $15AUD.

Additional Information:

Tube and Fin

Pros:
Generally weighs about half as much as a bar and plate core of similar dimensions
Generally less expensive
Generally less flow restriction within the core than bar and plate designs
Less flow restriction through the exterior allowing better flow to the rear of the core and to a radiator, AC condenser, tranny or oil cooler, etc. which may be behind it

Cons:
Those with less flow restriction than bar and plate cores offer less heat rejection
Generally have more fins which means they're more likely to be damaged by rocks/debris which cuts down on cooling efficiency
Charge air entry extends beyond core wall making it more difficult for air to enter the core cleanly

Bar and Plate

Pros:
Generally offer greater heat rejection than tube and fin design
Those with turbulators offer even greater heat rejection
Offered in tons of varying shapes and sizes
Less likely to be damaged by rocks and debris
Charge air entry sits flush with core allowing for cleaner entry

Cons:*
Weighs about twice as much as a similarly size tube and fin core
More expensive
Blocks more airflow to radiators, etc. which may be behind it
Those with turbulators have greater flow resistance to charge air

Turbulators are curved pieces of sheet metal seen on both the inside and outside of intercooler cores between the fins. They do much to increase drag, but much more too increase heat transfer. Their job is to separate the air charge (as well as the cooling medium) into even smaller units, forcing virtually all of the two fluids to do their part in heat exchange. The more turbulators there are, the better the heat exchange, but the greater the flow restriction as well. Therefore, in an application with lots of internal flow area, more turbulators can be reasonably employed, while in an application with less internal flow area the reverse is the case.

Remember that there's a balancing act between cooling and airflow restriction within the core. The more densely packed turbulators are within a bar and plate core the more cooling will be done as the air passes through, but the greater flow is restricted.

There are many crappy cores for sale on Ebay and they are now becoming a common item at so called performance shops. In the product images they show the cores and you can see right down them because there are no turbulators present. Without these all you have is big chunk of metal with poor cooling. People are always saying the ebay ICs flow great. Sure they do, straight pipes with no restrictions do flow nicely.

Info borrowed from following links:
Intercooling 101

Tech: Bar & Plate vs. Tube & Fin Intercoolers - Subaru Impreza WRX STI Forums: IWSTI.com

[Sirocco20348]

Need Gavs expert opinion

Gav what do you think of this intercooler?

Also, since the size of the intercooler is smaller than the wellycooler, which core do you think would be optimal?

I'll favoring the bar and plate double fin due to better heat dispersion, but would the core be working our little turbo overtime to maintain requested psi due to additional pressure?

[h100vw]

ARE Cooling

Hard to say without testing, it's a bit of a lottery. This is one place when it is better to buy known quantities. Not because the price is cheap.

You're right that the pressure drop if excessive would make the turbo work harder. Only testing before and after intercooler pressures would tell that story.

Gavin

[Sirocco20348]

Just in case you cant see the core designs:

[Sirocco20348]

For the people that are interested.. what are you thoughts on intercooler cores?

Pretty much bar and plate is the way to go... it jsut depends if you want 'single fin' or 'double fin'.

At the moment for 5 kits all black in bar and plate... I have them down to $340AUD a kit delivered.

I am still working on the price thou.

[shami]

I'm curious to know if this is an effective upgrade? Is this something to consider if going K04 and upwards. The most I'd do is a k03s.

Perhaps a well made, thicker side mount might be a better option?

[Sirocco20348]

If your going to go k04, then I would skip this intercooler and go for the wellycooler with 2.5" piping. But good luck because it looks like a pita.

The only well made side mount intercooler is the tyrolsport and it's very expensive.

All other side mounts are useless. Surface area is not increased, only core size.

This intercooler increases the core size and most importantly the surface area exposed to cool air.