The Great Intercooler Water Pump Test

1950StangJump$

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I thought I'd share what I did. Hopefully, the pictures are clear enough. This setup has ZERO flow through the tank. I am 99% sure I have good flow around the tank and, as stated above, my IATs are pretty low for a Kenne Bell. I can hear the fluid circulating when the key is in the 'on' position. So, I think I have essentially made the tank into a true reservoir like with the engine coolant -- exacerbated by the fact that both the input and output of the reservoir are the highest points in the system. Difference being, I think it will take much more to get the coolant in the reservoir hot to the touch.

I moved the power steering can to the valve cover like in the 2010 GTs (and the 07-12 GT500s, I believe). I mounted the pump on the frame rail and have a direct, gravity feed down to it. Feeds nicely into the bottom of the VMP HE.

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DiMora

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I see what you did there. That makes sense...water follows the path of least resistance. The only way you would get flow through that degas tank is if you put a restriction (smaller diameter coupler - like a 5/8" instead of a 3/4") in the bypass line. It looks like your T and all the plumbing is the same diameter. You don't NEED flow through the degas, all you need is for it to act as a degas bottle (burp air from the system).

Having more fluid in a reservoir is a double-edged sword....it acts like a capacitor. If coolant is cold, having more fluid gives you MORE TIME until you are heat soaked, say in a long 1/4 mile or 1/2 mile drag race...on the flip-side, if you are in city traffic and get heat-soaked at a light, once you start moving, having a smaller quantity of fluid will cool down more quickly.

Of course if you were to put ice in that tank at the drag-strip, you would need flow through there.

The correct way to set it up is all about what YOUR needs are and how you use the car.
 

1950StangJump$

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I see what you did there. That makes sense...water follows the path of least resistance. The only way you would get flow through that degas tank is if you put a restriction (smaller diameter coupler - like a 5/8" instead of a 3/4") in the bypass line. It looks like your T and all the plumbing is the same diameter. You don't NEED flow through the degas, all you need is for it to act as a degas bottle (burp air from the system).

Having more fluid in a reservoir is a double-edged sword....it acts like a capacitor. If coolant is cold, having more fluid gives you MORE TIME until you are heat soaked, say in a long 1/4 mile or 1/2 mile drag race...on the flip-side, if you are in city traffic and get heat-soaked at a light, once you start moving, having a smaller quantity of fluid will cool down more quickly.

Of course if you were to put ice in that tank at the drag-strip, you would need flow through there.

The correct way to set it up is all about what YOUR needs are and how you use the car.

Hey, thanks. I have been back and forth with DOB also. The heavy restrictions of the KB intercooler might also be a contributing factor, but I suspect it is as much about gravity as anything . . . with KB, the output hose from the IC swoops around and down near the bottom of the driver's side fender. After the first tee, it continues downward to the pump (I mounted under the driver's side headlight) -- with gravity helping the fluid along throughout. In contrast, to get to the tank after the tee, it has to travel UPWARDS at a 45 degree angle for roughly 18 inches.

I wiggled loose the hose at the HE output side again last night while the pump was running. Coolant shoots out with force, so I know its moving through the system . . . all the while with ZERO movement in the tank.

I then buttoned her up and went for a ride. Outside temp was only 54 degrees and, with the system running, it was hard to get the AITs into the 90s while just putzing around. After I got on it hard a few times, AITs settled in at 100-105. Not bad for a KB, I think.

Most importantly, I used the kill switch to turn off the pump a few times. Temps gradually climbed when I did that. I let it get to 130 and turned the pump back on . . . AND AITs DROPPED 20 DEGREES IN 15 SECONDS. They then dropped slower to settle in at that 105 area. I did this experiment a few times, and got the same results each time.

So, bottom line, my setup seems to be cooling well and resembles the engine coolant reservoir in that the tank is truly only for expansion/retraction/fill/burping. In the future, I might put a shutoff valve on the bypass to force the coolant into the tank at my discretion. I have no plans to track the car, so I'm not in a hurry.
 
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DiMora

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Hey, thanks. I have been back and forth with DOB also. The heavy restrictions of the KB intercooler might also be a contributing factor, but I suspect it is as much about gravity as anything . . . with KB, the output hose from the IC swoops around and down near the bottom of the driver's side fender. After the first tee, it continues downward to the pump (I mounted under the driver's side headlight) -- with gravity helping the fluid along throughout. In contrast, to get to the tank after the tee, it has to travel UPWARDS at a 45 degree angle for roughly 18 inches.

I wiggled loose the hose at the HE output side again last night while the pump was running. Coolant shoots out with force, so I know its moving through the system . . . all the while with ZERO movement in the tank.

I then buttoned her up and went for a ride. Outside temp was only 54 degrees and, with the system running, it was hard to get the AITs into the 90s while just putzing around. After I got on it hard a few times, AITs settled in at 100-105. Not bad for a KB, I think.

Most importantly, I used the kill switch to turn off the pump a few times. Temps gradually climbed when I did that. I let it get to 130 and turned the pump back on . . . AND AITs DROPPED 20 DEGREES IN 15 SECONDS. They then dropped slower to settle in at that 105 area. I did this experiment a few times, and got the same results each time.

So, bottom line, my setup seems to be cooling well and resembles the engine coolant reservoir in that the tank is truly only for expansion/retraction/fill/burping. In the future, I might put a shutoff valve on the bypass to force the coolant into the tank at my discretion. I have no plans to track the car, so I'm not in a hurry.

You know...

If that KB is really a flow restriction, you have zero need for a bypass line. The ONLY purpose of a degas bypass is to prevent frothing / bubbles in the degas...and then air in your coolant...air bubbles in the pump cause cavitation...

I would remove the bypass and see if flow looks excessive in the degas. If it is not excessive and bubbling / frothing, run it without the bypass. If you upgrade to a DOB manifold and big lines, you can always add the bypass back.
 

DiMora

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I am continuing with my Stewart EMP pump installation and "Operation IceMan" where I'm adding -20AN O-Ring bungs to my degas icebox and my Steeda triple pass. I'm running -16AN plumbing for now (1") since my intercooler is a Roush TVS with 3/4" inlets and outlets. I'd go -20 (1/25") everywhere except the intercooler, but that is a HUGE undertaking...I looked into it very seriously...but I would be cutting / grinding the car's metal just L of the LF headlight to make way for the big lines. NOt worth it at this point, but will be a good upgrade later if I buy a DOB manifold down the road.

Full write-up here post #34:

DiMora's Intercooling system upgrade - Operation Iceman
 

1950StangJump$

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My IAT's are 130

VMP 1.9 TVS!

Well . . . lots more data needed there, LOL. Mine sat at 105 on a 54 degree night driving "normally." I'm sure 3 or 4 WOTs
I am continuing with my Stewart EMP pump installation and "Operation IceMan" where I'm adding -20AN O-Ring bungs to my degas icebox and my Steeda triple pass. I'm running -16AN plumbing for now (1") since my intercooler is a Roush TVS with 3/4" inlets and outlets. I'd go -20 (1/25") everywhere except the intercooler, but that is a HUGE undertaking...I looked into it very seriously...but I would be cutting / grinding the car's metal just L of the LF headlight to make way for the big lines. NOt worth it at this point, but will be a good upgrade later if I buy a DOB manifold down the road.

Full write-up here post #34:

DiMora's Intercooling system upgrade - Operation Iceman

Good stuff!

As for me not needing a bypass, you're probably right, but couldn't say for sure what the turbulence would be in the tank without it. And, I certainly didn't know before . . . and DOB wasn't sure if I would need it either. They say that, to their knowledge, I'm the first to run a bypass on a KB setup.

Since it's there, I can't see the harm in it, i.e. can't see where it hurts if I'm not running ice. So, don't see why I would take the time and expense to change it. Open to other thoughts, though.
 

DiMora

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Well . . . lots more data needed there, LOL. Mine sat at 105 on a 54 degree night driving "normally." I'm sure 3 or 4 WOTs


Good stuff!

As for me not needing a bypass, you're probably right, but couldn't say for sure what the turbulence would be in the tank without it. And, I certainly didn't know before . . . and DOB wasn't sure if I would need it either. They say that, to their knowledge, I'm the first to run a bypass on a KB setup.

Since it's there, I can't see the harm in it, i.e. can't see where it hurts if I'm not running ice. So, don't see why I would take the time and expense to change it. Open to other thoughts, though.

There is no harm in keeping it if you are not running ice.
 

DiMora

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I finished my Stewart EMP install.

Short story: I'm getting over 14 GPM now with 1" lines.

Long story is post #34 here:

https://www.s197forum.com/threads/dimoras-intercooling-system-upgrade-operation-iceman.98185/page-2

Also I need to correct something I stated in this thread in post #150 where I suggested a possible routing could be from icebox - >intercooler->pump etc...

That will NOT work if your intercooler is the most restrictive part of your system unless you run crush-proof hoses. You'll see why if you go to the above thread and check out my videos.

A big thanks to the Lingenfelter guys and Jason @ DOB for doing some pump testing...this is a nice upgrade! Who doesn't like quadrupled fluid flow and cool IAT's?
 

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