The truth of the EA82T and intercoolers

[4x4_Welder]

I tried searching, but didn't come up with anything specific, so here goes-

I know the theory and operation of forced induction and why aftercooling is good. Now, would it be worth my time and effort to throw a newer top mount intercooler and scoop on this thing? I know people have done it, but is it really worth it, and does it extend the life of the EA82T noticeably?

I plan on running this thing till I kill it, then it'll probably get an EJ (Or an EG if I see one )

[jackbombay]

I'm not particularly familiar with the older soob turbos engines, but I don't consider an intercooler to be an "engine life extender". ICs are almost always used to lower IAT temps so more boost can be run without running into detonation issues.

 

If you aren't looking for more power I'd skip the hassle and expense of an IC.

[4x4_Welder]

As a rule, the less stress you place on an engine, the longer it will last. Less heat means less stress, right?

I'm just trying to avoid blowing head gaskets or cracking heads.

 

On a side note- Where in ID are you?

[jackbombay]

As a rule, the less stress you place on an engine, the longer it will last. Less heat means less stress, right?

 

Yea.

 

I don't think the difference is that big though, at highway speeds you are running a couple of pounds of boost or so? So the air isn't all that hot coming out of the turbo compressor. An IC could lower the exhaust temp by 50, maybe 100 degrees at cruising speed, hard to say for sure. Some before and after exhaust temp reading would be interesting, but a pyrometer isn't all that cheap.

 

On a side note- Where in ID are you?

 

Driggs, 50 miles east of rexburg , I hadn't noticed you were in Id as well!

[Turbone]

Yes, it will lower temps.

Since installing a WRX IC and hood scoop on my RX, temps have dropped dramatically.

Which is always good on a EA82T.

[The Scooby]

and rob's looks great as well.

[jackbombay]

Yes, it will lower temps.

Since installing a WRX IC and hood scoop on my RX, temps have dropped dramatically.

Which is always good on a EA82T.

 

Coolant temps? Or EGT?

[carfreak85]

Coolant temps? Or EGT?

 

Yes. Should help both, but more noticeable on the coolant.

[TheSubaruJunkie]

I noticed a huge difference in my RX after installing an intercooler. This was a top mount, with no scoop.

 

I say it is well worth the time and effort.

[ausubaru92]

was a top mount, with no scoop.

 

How does that work (apart from the fact that the metal in the intercooler acts as a temporary heatsink)

 

Here is my intercooler. Its a water to air intercooler off an RS Liberty, (you USA guys would have to get one from a JDM Gen1 Legacy)

 

It makes a huge difference to intake air temps. After driving up a large hill on full boost, if i stop and feel the front of the IC, its much cooler than the back where the air from the turbo enters

 

I also have a TF035 turbo from a GT forester.

 

[subyrally]

my rx was much improved from the addition of the intercooler, but then again, it was a freaking huge front mount and i did have the td04 turbo on it as well.

 

 

[presslab]

The intercooler by itself will add a lot of torque. It will also allow more boost for more horsepower.

 

If you want to keep from cracking heads and blowing head gaskets, your money would be better spent replacing all the coolant hoses and making sure your whole cooling system is in top condition.

[4WDFrenzy]

I have always considered an IC to be essential for a turbo car, especially on these old subarus. It will add a little longevity to the engine and increase efficiency as well, along with a small torque increase. If you can get an intercooler at a reasonable price that is in good condition, I say go for it! You have to remember that most of these engines are 20+ years old, so every little bit helps. One thing that everyone seems to forget though is that EA82Ts run the poor little 180cc injectors at close to 80% duty cycle if I remember correctly, to help cool the air charge because of the lack of IC. One thing that will also help is the addition of a fuel cooler, which is more or less an oil cooler mounted inline with the fuel line going to the engine. I forgot where I read about this at, but I do remember the article saying that the addition of a fuel cooler can slightly increase HP & torque. So this may be another avenue that can be taken to increase the longevity of these engines along with cooling system improvements.

 

Patrick

[gray wrx]

I have a stock IC from my 02 wrx make me an offer it is in grate shape

[zyewdall]

I found a variety of intercoolers on ebay for between $60 and $140 for new ones, last time I looked. Lots cheaper than I had thought they were.

 

Didn't include piping... just a 2" or 3" inlet and outlet....

 

Z

[Skip]

With a fuel cut defender and extra injector I run 15 PSI

not real eff. at that level but she runs strong

EGT unknown

 

 

[kingbobdole]

I put one on my rx when it was turbo... Made a very noticeable difference in power and temps. At the same time I still blew the headgaskets out of it months later with no other mods.:-\

[Major Lazy]

 

If you aren't looking for more power I'd skip the hassle and expense of an IC.

 

please stand up if your not looking for more power:burnout:

[4x4_Welder]

I see a dancing banana, where's the smiley for staying seated?

This is the kind of info I was after, thanks guys. I'll probably throw on an intercooler once I have money. Got a pay cut today, so that'll probably be half past when hell freezes over.

 

I do like that air-to-water one, though. Does that have it's own radiator as well, or does it just run off the existing cooling system?

Edited January 23, 2009 by 4x4_Welder

[ausubaru92]

Yeah the waic has its own radiator, about 2/3rds the size of the air con radiator.

 

The waic (water to air intercooler) is definitely the way to go

[4WDFrenzy]

The waic (water to air intercooler) is definitely the way to go

 

+infinity!!...LOL

 

WAICs are actually the most efficient intercoolers you can find as it uses liquid(Water, Coolant, etc.) as a medium to remove heat from the incoming air charge instead of air. Air to Air ICs are dependent on airflow over the fins to provide cooling. WAICs keep the temps stable and doesn't require a hood scoop or bumper modification(or at least not much). The most trouble that you may run into is running the wiring for the circulation pump. I honestly wish that I could have afforded one, but I got a Starion FMIC for cheap, so I went that route. It is mounted in a TMIC configuration, added a WRX hood scoop, a BPV, and it all works perfectly.

 

4X4_Welder, I will say one thing though. If you decide to go with an Air to Air IC, try to get one that is internally finned(cooling fins inside the air passages). They act as heat sinks and can more efficiently extract heat from the charge air. Hope this helps.

 

Patrick

[4WDFrenzy]

Oh, and not to be a post whore or anything, but the biggest thing to remember about EA82Ts is that aside from not liking to be overheated(what engine does?) they do not really like high RPMs much(above 6k). So as long as you aren't really wrapping out the RPMs everytime you drive it, you should be relatively safe, and I use relatively as a loose term.

 

Patrick

[Turbone]

Oh, and not to be a post whore or anything, but the biggest thing to remember about EA82Ts is that aside from not liking to be overheated(what engine does?) they do not really like high RPMs much(above 6k). So as long as you aren't really wrapping out the RPMs everytime you drive it, you should be relatively safe, and I use relatively as a loose term.

 

Patrick

 

I have taken mine to 7.5K numerous times.

Not often, but I know I can if needed.

http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll95/Turbone/My%20RX/?action=view&current=81048580.flv

And with the WRX IC, hood scoop, 2 row rad and spider intake, my engine runs very cold. It has to idle for 15min to get up to 180deg. When I get on the road, it drops to 145deg and stays there.

[4WDFrenzy]

I have taken mine to 7.5K numerous times.

Not often, but I know I can if needed.

http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll95/Turbone/My%20RX/?action=view&current=81048580.flv

And with the WRX IC, hood scoop, 2 row rad and spider intake, my engine runs very cold. It has to idle for 15min to get up to 180deg. When I get on the road, it drops to 145deg and stays there.

 

Well I wasn't saying that it couldn't be done necessarily. What I was trying to get at is that the EA82T has such a narrow powerband that when you go past it, the engines like to develop "attitude problems," or maybe it is just mine, I don't know. I've taken mine into the almost 8k realm on one occasion. Of course, I was kinda in a bad mood and didn't really pay attention to the tachometer until I heard the engine really winding up there, looked at the tach, said "Oh Crap!" and quickly shifted into 4th, and subsequently into 5th. I have a sneaky suspicion that that one instance was a contributing factor to the rod knock that my car developed after I left the states. That and I think that my car was ticked because I had to leave her behind.

 

Patrick

Edited January 24, 2009 by 4WDFrenzy

[presslab]

I have taken mine to 7.5K numerous times.

Not often, but I know I can if needed.

http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll95/Turbone/My%20RX/?action=view&current=81048580.flv

And with the WRX IC, hood scoop, 2 row rad and spider intake, my engine runs very cold. It has to idle for 15min to get up to 180deg. When I get on the road, it drops to 145deg and stays there.

 

Is there a rev limit in the ECU? It's way up there if there is. I have also had mine up that high... It pulls strong until 8k; this is with TD04, TMIC, and 3" exhaust. Before those mods, the engine was choking out at 5k.

 

The stock GL-10 4EAT TCU shifted at ~6k, the Legacy TCU shifts at 6k as well.

 

 

Doesn't that seem a little too cold, 145 deg? You do have a thermostat, yes?