Using a front mount intercooler as a RADIATOR ?

[Billzilla]

I would have thought the difference might be more to do with the required flow rates for each use as opposed to fluid properties, flow being arguably more important for an intercooler than a radiator. Smaller tubes are going to have greater surface, so will cool better but flow less. Someone has probably done some testing and decided that the bigger tubes, although providing less cooling capability, are a worthwhile trade off to increase flow when being used for an intercooler.

Good point - larger tubes, although they proportionally have less area for heat transfer, will have less restriction due to boundary layer and so on.

[chartreusehj]

never mind...

[0x2DLVR]

It no doubt does work well enough but due to the very different flow rates and densities of water and air to get the most from a heat exchanger you need slightly different designs for the transfer tubes. Yes you need as much surface area as you can get on the cooling fins so they mostly look the same in that area.
It's not really my area but I suspect this is why an air intercooler has larger diameter/volume tubes through the core than a water or oil radiator does.

I agree. I'm not dismissing this at all. But the OP just wanted to know if it would work not what would be the most efficient.

[Billzilla]

I agree. I'm not dismissing this at all. But the OP just wanted to know if it would work not what would be the most efficient.

Oh sure, I totally agree.
But I still reckon if you want a good radiator then the best unit to do that job is a radiator, not an intercooler.

[tinkerbell]

sorted - it is U + 2260 in W7 OS I have...

thanks Bill

[bahaimus]

sorted - it is U + 2260 in W7 OS I have...

thanks Bill

The major issue raised in this thread has been resolved. Phew.

[Supercrown]

This discussion was stupid.

HTH

[CheeseBiscuits]

niggers are black

HTH

[Lobster]

it would be good if you could use the radiator as the inter-cooler AND the radiator at the same time eh guys?

anyone know if you can do this?

I believe that Roger Cordia did something like this. Perhaps you could ask him.
He made "Cool air cooler"
I'd definately ask him.

[Greg Rust]

niggers are black

HTH

Quality first post, speaking of black things...paint your heat exchanger black, it rejects heat better than shiney.

[Sketchy]

thanks Jim, that helps immensely, however, as a follow-up do you know how to make it appear on my screen when I am using a keyboard and a computer?

i have tried to use telekinesis, but have failed so far, and i hate the use of !=

Cut and paste motherfucker, use it :D

So you are the voice of engineers from every car manufacture in the world are you?

Blah, blah, blah, someshit

Nope, I'm just the voice of reason. Engineers design automotive components based on cost and adaptation to their project no doubt, but they also design stuff to (mostly) be reliable and not blow up for hundreds of thousands of kilometres in adverse conditions. Here's the kicker, if intercoolers were better for those conditions instead of radiators then there would be no such thing as a radiator, they would all be intercoolers. I'm not saying using an intercooler wouldnt work, just that its dumb beyond comprehension when there is already a product designed for the job that is cheap and works.

.
But I still reckon if you want a good radiator then the best unit to do that job is a radiator, not an intercooler.

Dont listen to this guy either, he has no idea what he is on about

[Mr Ed]

What sort of car is this for anyway? Some form of datto?

[DavidI]

In the interest of souding professional and like Carrol Smith, we should call them 'heat exchangers'

And in the same interests we should call them "aftercoolers" (unless you have it in the system between two compressors, in which case "intercooler" would be correct).

[Greg Rust]

And in the same interests we should call them "aftercoolers" (unless you have it in the system between two compressors, in which case "intercooler" would be correct).

Very true, but what will happen to these guys
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intercooler_(band)