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Intercooler performance

Z

ZuMBLe

Autocross Champion
Location
NY
Car(s)
Alltrack 6MT
mrd8cd said:
Is anyone else concerned about the flow of the Vibrant FMIC? I know it does really well at keeping air temps only a few degrees above ambient, but where does lower flow mean for performance? Test results show it flows less than the OEM intercooler.
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I'm not an expert but logic tells me there are no free meals here. The charge air needs time in the core to be cooled. The faster than air moves through the core, the less it will be cooled. You can't have amazing flow and amazing cooling with an air to air IC.

EDIT:

Here:
 
PowerDemon

PowerDemon

Autocross Champion
Location
Richmond, VA
Car(s)
Golf GTI, Camaro ZL1
mrd8cd said:
Is anyone else concerned about the flow of the Vibrant FMIC? I know it does really well at keeping air temps only a few degrees above ambient, but where does lower flow mean for performance? Test results show it flows less than the OEM intercooler.
Click to expand...

I’m not. Mine performs well and keeps my IATs less than 10F below ambient with 28 psi going through it at 6600rpms. I did not notice a lag difference when going from stock to the FMIC while I was still IS20. After a few people commented about the flow I checked my logs and when I was IS20 it was making the turbo work a little harder. About 3-5% WG duty difference, but that could be chalked up to temperature difference. I’ve also noticed that my IATs drop significant faster than other intercoolers. I’m at my minimum IAT by 4300.
 
GTIfan99

GTIfan99

Autocross Champion
Location
FL
It'd be interesting to see a slower flowing IC and a faster flowing IC of similar size on a track car at speed and see which cools better under constant heat soaking like that. IC cooling down quickly between pulls is great for freeway pulls and drag racing, but doesn't seem all that relevant to me.

Also, static flow rates are of little value in my mind, you can only flow as much air to the engine as the lowest flowing piece in the intake system. Until you've quantified which part that is, you don't actually know if a lower static flowing IC is actually a restriction or not. Am I wrong?
 
seanmcd1

seanmcd1

Autocross Newbie
Location
SC
mrd8cd said:
Is anyone else concerned about the flow of the Vibrant FMIC? I know it does really well at keeping air temps only a few degrees above ambient, but where does lower flow mean for performance? Test results show it flows less than the OEM intercooler.
Click to expand...
I don't own one but I would say no, not really. Nobody should look at that and deem it unworthy based on a flow test from one test subject, knowing the number of people that have installed Baun Performance FMIC's and posted logs showing positive results. I don't know of anyone that has complained about its actual performance. Take the Neuspeed for example. Several people freaked out when they saw the flow results. They ignored the actual results it delivers when installed on a car. Neuspeed still sells the same kit and there are plenty of people who still use it and say that it performs well as an intercooler.

I also think it's a little unfair to pick on Mr. Mygolfmk7 so much, knowing what he's contributed to the MK7 MQB scene! He's prevented a lot of you from wasting money on expensive intakes.
 
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J

Jovian

Drag Racing Champion
Location
Denver, CO
Car(s)
2016 VW GTI
Have the AMS intercooler being installed, my setup isnt as crazy as lot of yours being just stg1 custom tune on an IS20 but it should still help out. I dont see many running the AMS probably due to tube and fin which gets a bad rep around here but I think it will work good for my setup. They surely know something with their success and quility in other markets. I would like to think the rad gets less suficated behind a tube and fin than a bar and plate but im no expert.
 
Diggs24

Diggs24

Autocross Champion
Location
de plains! de plains!
Car(s)
2015 GTI
Jovian said:
Have the AMS intercooler being installed, my setup isnt as crazy as lot of yours being just stg1 custom tune on an IS20 but it should still help out. I dont see many running the AMS probably due to tube and fin which gets a bad rep around here but I think it will work good for my setup. They surely know something with their success and quility in other markets. I would like to think the rad gets less suficated behind a tube and fin than a bar and plate but im no expert.
Click to expand...
It's a good IC.
 
B

billbadass

Drag Racing Champion
Location
your moms house
there were some reports the AMS intercooler was for Golf R and that with GTI there is some screw that the intercooler can push into your AC condensor or something like that. So I'd just watch out for that.

I'm getting a better intercooler here soon and on the fence between APR or AMS, leaning more towards APR to be honest.
 
N

Navi

Autocross Champion
Location
BK/NYC/Hamptons
billbadass said:
there were some reports the AMS intercooler was for Golf R and that with GTI there is some screw that the intercooler can push into your AC condensor or something like that. So I'd just watch out for that.

I'm getting a better intercooler here soon and on the fence between APR or AMS, leaning more towards APR to be honest.
Click to expand...

AMS sends a replacement screw
 
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