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Air-To-Air
Intercooler:65-80% Effectiveness |
Typical Air-To-Water System (two-Step): 64% Intercooler Effectiveness
and 41% Radiator Effectiveness
Produces 44% System Effectiveness |
After 5 years of debate, others are now following ATI's leadership and the truth about the numerous benefits of intercooling is clear. And for automotive street use, air-to-air technology is always preferred over air-to-water, assuming you have space to mount the intercooler. In addition to concerns such as installation complexity, battery relocation and tuning, air-to-water intercoolers are inherently inefficient when used when used to with water alone. Air-to-water intercooler systems require a secondary heat exchanger (radiator) to cool the water, in addition to the intercooler itself. The heat created from the supercharger compressing air (Boyle's Gas Law) is first removed by the water circulating through the intercooler. This heated water must then be pumped through a radiator located in a fresh airflow stream (typically at the front of the car, where air-to-air intercoolers are mounted), and then the water is returned to a tank, into which water and/or ice is added. The overall system effectiveness is greatly "watered down" because this effectiveness is a function of the individual effectiveness of the two heat exchangers. For example, 60% (intercooler effectiveness) and 35% (radiator effectiveness) produce a system effectiveness of only 38%. This "two-step" cooling is, by design, inherently inefficient. |
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Air/Air Intercooled
Supercharger System* |
Air/Water Intercooled
Supercharger System* |
Reliable HP Gains 50-100%*. Significantly cooler intake temperatures, greater mass airflow and more ignition timing produce the greatest supercharger system efficiency and the largest horsepower gains.
Engine Intake Air Temperature**: 25-40 degrees. Discharge temperatures from gear and belt-driven centrifugal superchargers are very similar; superior effectiveness of air-to-air intercooling provides cooler engine intake air charge temperature and greatest system efficiency by far.
Engine Reliability: Most Reliable High Performance Option. The lowest engine intake air temperatures produce the greatest protection from detonation, even during back-to-back runs. Every 1 degree drop in intake temperature produces approximately 1 degree drop in exhaust gas temperatures.
Tuning Issues: The coolest and most consistent engine intake air temperatures of any supercharger system, with lowest BSFC. These factors allow the greatest hp from stock injectors, and straightforward tuning with less risk of detonation.
Supercharger System Installation: Relatively simple installation of intercooler, tubes and connector sleeves (between tubes). No moving parts, no electrical components to install or fail, 100% reliable.
Intercooler System Warranty: 1 Year
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Reliable HP Gains: 30-65%*. Substantially lower system efficiency results in higher engine intake air temperatures and lower air density, generally still requires ignition retard, and produces far lower horsepower gains.
Engine Intake Air Temperature**: 60-100 degrees. Inherently poor supercharger system efficiency because air-to-water intercooling is a two-step process, and maximum cooling is only possible with the frequent addition of ice.
Engine Reliability: Exposed to Detonation and Damage. Engine intake air temperatures are higher and fluctuate, which creates exposure to detonation and engine damage. Ignition retard is still necessary if tuned for ice or cool water.
Tuning Issues: Air-to-water intercooler systems are very difficult to tune for street use due to highly fluctuating engine intake air temperatures. This is especially so when using ice, but also true with water.
Supercharger System Installation: Air-to-water system is designed as an "add-on" rather than as a part of an integrated system, and has a multitude of hardware, with air, water and electrical components to install and maintain. Relocation of battery to trunk is usually required.
Intercooler System Warranty: 90 Days
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| * Centrifugal supercharger system on EFI motor in street use; Performance of air-to-air intercooled system can be matched by air-to-water intercooling on some application, but only with the frequent addition of ice to water/ice tank. |
** Increase in engine intake air temperature above ambient air temperature (degrees F) at 9 psi. |
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