Intercooler doubts

[Lav]

Hey all so Ive been reading up on old threads and doing some google fu on intercoolers , ive been seeing that i shouldnt go with a BFMIC since im still on a stock turbo , though I dont know how accurate is that , i was also reading up on AGPs direct fit , and also the CXRacing intercooler which i actually read good reviews on from these forums.

Anyway reason i ask is because my current one looks pretty beat up , lots of dings and bent fins , i dont know how to check if its good or whatever though , i mean i havent noticed anything bad temp wise and i hold boost just fine at 16-17 psi . But it looks terrible from all the rock chips/bugs/etc on it so im scared in the long run its gonna crap out or somethings gonna make a hole in it or something.

I DO however have a stock IC i bought from someone here a while back, question is how can I test that everything is good with it before i replace the one I have on with this one? or should I do something like the cxracing one since itll be under warranty?

[jay05acr]

If your staying stock turbo dfmic is the best way to go, cx racing's are 175$ shipped

[tunerlover3]

Boost leak test and spray the whole intercooler with soapy water. If you see any bubbles its garbage.

I had a BFMIC on a stock turbo. Didnt notice any issues.

[jay05acr]

^your mom had a bfmic on a stock turbo

[tunerlover3]

She did

[Lav]

The different threads i came across all suggested that since it takes more time to fill or whatever that i would see a loss of power , i mean id like it for looks haha but yeaaaa.

So am i doing the boost leak test WHILE spraying the IC with soapy water or is there a certain procedure of doing this?

Also , any way to see if the other IC i have laying around is good or bad without hooking it up? like some sort of way to see if it leaks or whatever?

[tunerlover3]

Spray the intercooler. Do a boost leak test. Look for bubbles.

I switched from stock to BFMIC a couple times and never noticed a power loss.

[Lav]

Cool ill be doing that this weekend then , gonna see what i can dig up on that cxracing ic while im at it too

[s3*ps2]

Quote: Originally Posted by Lav

Cool ill be doing that this weekend then , gonna see what i can dig up on that cxracing ic while im at it too

Hahaha here is my 2 cents on the CXracing intercooler:
CXRacing BFMIC Fitiment Issue!
Not sure about the direct fit though.

[Foxbody]

I have a dfmic from cx, seems good quality, nice welds. Fitment took a little creativity with a sawzall and a hammer but super easy install

[Bandit944]

What all did you have to do to get the cxr direct fit to fit correctly? I read something about bending the radiator support. Also messing with the hood latch support?

[tunerlover3]

You just gotta bend in the center supports.

[SoloSrt]

Basically you have to weigh the pros and cons. BFMIC might be more efficient (temp drop) but allow less flow (pressure drop). One if the best thing about the stock intercooler is its flow properties. It is a very good flowing IC, so less efficient, but less pressure drop. Sure, your ICTs will rise sooner, but the PCM can adjust for that by jolding more boost to compensate=you still hit your torque target.

[triangles]

To test the ones you got with out hookcing them up to the car. Cap one end and put the tester on the other end. Pressure it up. Squirt it down and check for leaks. I had bfmic on stock Turbo still boosted fine same operating. Temp same psi. Still on same one with my stage 3

[707]

ebay 4" core BFMIC on stock turbo.... Lowered my IAT's over 30 degrees on the track, and when I put my hand on the "cold side" of the stock intercooler after a pass or 2 it would be HOT, Ebay one, cool as the ambient air.

Also I have logs holding 18-20psi at 6k rpms stock turbo, held 24psi a couple times but it was under 25 degrees outside...... Dont buy into the hearsay..