Just throwing this out there.

I run the dual-pass option B with no issues at all. On a recent visit to a local performance shop, i was discussing the addition of a heat exchanger with my mechanic.

He suggested the additional heat exchanger, of course, but instead of running it in line with the stock one, running it in place of it. Basically the theory goes as follows :

It is generally thought on these forums that the most beneficial route would be to run the coolant from the pump to the stock heat exchanger to the aftermarket heat exchanger to the intake manifold to the pump and so on.

The stock heat exchanger is quite thin, and is pretty much only adequate for stock setups. It is sandwiched between the stock a/c condensor (or whatever that thing is) and the stock radiator for the engine coolant. The stock heat exchanger would absorb any heat from the stock radiator (which coolant is usually around 180-200*), especially under idle, since they are so close together. Also, if the air conditioning was being used, the heat from that condensor would flow right back to the heat exchanger, if anything, heating it up.

If I were to get a second heat exchanger, be it a cxracing, c/a or cobra or whatever, it does not touch any of the other stock radiators at all, and would be a separate system. It would simply bypass the stock heat exchanger and replace it.

Your new system would be as follows - pump, aftermarket h/e, intake manifold, pump, so on.

Would it be better to have a standalone heat exchanger or to run it in tandem with the stock unit?

 

Well, I understand your point of view. However, you're replacing one stock h/e with another that is just outside the rad. Why not use them both? The second h/e is there for just that, a second.

 

replacing the stock heat exchanger with one that is way more efficient, cools better, possibly a dual-pass heat exchanger...

another question being, the aftermarket unit will dissipate its heat directly onto the stock unit, making the stock one even more inefficient - or so the theory goes

is there anyone that has run just an aftermarket unit? what are the iat2's compared to the similarly-modded tandem setup?

 

use both

 

Use both, without both, you wont get as big as a gain without the stock one on there.

 

not trying to be rude at all, believe me, but how do you come to this conclusion? is there any before/after with the stock h/e not being used?

 

none that i have seen, i run 2 on my car na dit has done the job well.

 

what about using 2 aftermarket heat exchangers? Replacing the stock heat exchanger with a cxracing one, and then adding another cxracing one in the front? Would this result in even cooler iat2s then just the stock+cxracing?

 

there are space limitations

 

It's more common sense cause the coolant passes through both and it cools it down more. But as far as proof, no I don't cause it would be more of a PITA to remove the stocker then it is to just run it along with the aftermarket cause if u use the stock one with the aftermarket, all you have to do is change two lines.

It is hard enough to fit the one in there, I cant imagine fitting two. lol

 

oh, hell, no i wouldn't remove it, that's too much work... lol

i know there would be 2 heat exchangers, so theoretically more heat dissipated, but the fact that the stock unit is so close to the other 2, and possibly absorbing the heat that those are giving off... that's what i'm wondering

 

Even not removing it would still be more work plus you get more coolant capacity. I still cant see how it would possible gain more heat but if you want to try it then props to you.

 

it wouldn't be any more work as all i would have to do is run the coolant hoses from the pump to the new h/e and the from the h/e to the intake manifold

and I'm not saying i'm for sure going to do this, it's just a feeler to get opinions

 

i would think the extra capacity would help more than the heat would hurt, I don't know. No proof either way.

 

Well try it then and let us know.

 

i would think this is the best argument for keeping the stock one

 

yeah, you know you have the opportunity to do the testing. you could hook it up with the stocker still functional and test your iat2's then go back unhook the stock unit and test again.

 

yep, only thing i need now is an interceptor or hp tuners lol

 

lol yeah and that gets expensive, i have dual's and hptuners waiting on my lc-1 still, and stupid gaskets. so hundreds of dollars sitting there useless till i get my wideband me=pissed

 

Ok think of it this way. In terms of heat dissipation with anything whether it be intercoolers, radiators, heat exchangers or even brakes the more surface area the more cooling you will get. That is why two is better then one because you will get more fins in the equation to help cool. Couple this with the extra capacity of a second exchanger and it's a great combo.

I think you are focusing on things like residual heat and such that will hardly factor into the equation at all instead of factoring in the things that matter like capacity and surface area.

 

i'll drink to that

 

I kept both.. the more coolant the longer if will take to heat up.

 

The more fluid you add the better its able to distribute the heat or better able to cool. Changing the stock exchanger will work but adding extra cooolant works better.

 

thanks to all the responses so far. i'm not completely sold on the tandem setup but the ideas and posts make a lot of sense.

the idea of bypassing the stock unit is something that was suggested once, and i got to thinking about it. i would tend to agree with the idea of added coolant capacity would be the most beneficial point