Intercooler Cores

[frank c]

Been doing a wee search about Intercooler cores and I was wondering which was best..

So... what's the difference between Tube & Fin compared to Bar and Plate , Is one better than the other ?

Cheers

[AlanG]

Google your own question and this is what comes up on search results.

[fai17]

Google your own question and this is what comes up on search results.

Very interesting m8

[frank c]

Google your own question and this is what comes up on search results.

Well there you are then........... kind of says it all really

Cheers Alan.

[AlanG]

I would tend to go with intercoolers who's cores have the turbulator (sp) fins inside. IIRC 8mm cores are pretty good but don't quote me on it.

[frank c]

I would tend to go with intercoolers who's cores have the turbulator (sp) fins inside. IIRC 8mm cores are pretty good but don't quote me on it.

Turbulator Fins....something else to look into .

Ta.

[AlanG]

And you thought intercoolers were straightforward to.

This'll keep you busy on a cold wet Friday night Frank. Bet you wish you'd never asked!

Edited October 26, 2007 by AlanG

[frank c]

A friday night !! That'll take the best part of a week to read...never mind understand it

Thankfully it's not for me so i might just pass on the deatails/links

[andrew_forrest]

Interesting link that Alan, I first read it a few years back but it has been updated considerably since then. The cheap import section makes interesting reading.

I prefer tube/fin at the moment but there are new cores of both types coming out all the time.

Andy

[AlanG]

Just goes to show you don't always get what you pay for, but if you want a (termed loosely) *bargain*....

[harvey_smith]

Because the tube and fin is lighter ie less aluminium mass it does not have the same heat sink properties. However if the core is sufficiently large to control the charge temperature adequately it has a number of advantages.

1)Less pressure drop. Abig advantage.

2) Less weight.

If you compare FMIC cores currently on the market you will find that the bar and plate and tube and fin are usually similar dimensions but the tube anf fin are noticably lighter.

Having experienced both bar and plate and tube and fin on the same car I have absolutely no doubt that an efficient tube and fin is the way to go. It also happens to be the core chosen by Paul Blamire for his Zen car with proven results.

I suspect the article above from MRT is quite old and does not take account of recent developments and the pressure drop inherent on a tube and fin set up.