tubing, aluminum and thick vs thin wall

kidwired · Post by **kidwired** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 4:42 pm

I found some relatively thick walled aluminum tube which looks like the right sz for my IC.

I'm thinking the thick vs thin aluminum will act as a heat sink, cooling the air as it passes to the IC.

stipro · Post by **stipro** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 5:08 pm

Well, aluminum will work great granted you can find someone to weld it. You could use couplers in a few places, yes, but some of the bends need to be fitted accordingly. As for thick versus thin, the thin stuff will have a slightly larger ID, more flow.

91White-T · Post by **91White-T** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 6:18 pm

kidwired wrote:I'm thinking the thick vs thin aluminum will act as a heat sink, cooling the air as it passes to the IC.

It won't, they both have the same surface area. Not only that but the air spends a negligible amount of time in a pipe, especially under boost.

dzx · Post by **dzx** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 9:30 pm

ding ding

THAWA · Post by **THAWA** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 1:06 am

stipro wrote:As for thick versus thin, the thin stuff will have a slightly larger ID, more flow.

Wouldn't that depend on how it was measured? If the two pipes were measured for their OD then yes the thin would have a larger ID and would flow more, but if they were measured for their ID's then they would flow the same, but the thicker one would have a larger OD.

stipro · Post by **stipro** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 1:54 am

THAWA wrote:
stipro wrote:As for thick versus thin, the thin stuff will have a slightly larger ID, more flow.
Wouldn't that depend on how it was measured? If the two pipes were measured for their OD then yes the thin would have a larger ID and would flow more, but if they were measured for their ID's then they would flow the same, but the thicker one would have a larger OD.

Pipe sizes below 14" is measured in approx. ID

ie. sched 40 pipe with 1 1/2" inside diameter has the same OD as sched 80 1 1/2" pipe, its the ID that is different.

kidwired · Post by **kidwired** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 5:15 am

91White-T wrote:
kidwired wrote:I'm thinking the thick vs thin aluminum will act as a heat sink, cooling the air as it passes to the IC.
It won't, they both have the same surface area. Not only that but the air spends a negligible amount of time in a pipe, especially under boost.

mmk, the "surface area" makes perfect sense. But as to "negligible time in pipe" that would be relative to where I mount my IC.
I think this is worth consideration on an FMIC.

But it doesnt seem as tho there are really any negatives to running a thicker wall besides the ID issue.

oh yeah, so what would an appropriate sized IC pipe be for a stock turbo w/ 12-15lbs boost and a decatted exhaust? I would assume 2.25 same as the exhaust.

dzx · Post by **dzx** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 7:29 am

kidwired wrote:mmk, the "surface area" makes perfect sense. But as to "negligible time in pipe" that would be relative to where I mount my IC.I think this is worth consideration on an FMIC.

The reason the intercooler works is because it flows the air through fins like a radiator. For air to cool down from time inside of the pipes, it would have to sit there for a while. Any air in the system will be used long before it has had a chance to radiate its heat out through the piping.

kidwired · Post by **kidwired** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 3:56 pm

yeah, I get that but when were talking about 8' of pipe it seems like it might help.

I was thinking about pipe dia last night, I think 2.25 would be fine as the IC would be the most restrictive anyway.....still thinking.

dzx · Post by **dzx** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 11:20 pm

Depends on what turbo you run. I have 2.5" piping to my fmic.

93forestpearl · Post by **93forestpearl** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 7:48 am

The air in the intercooler piping is spending a fraction of a second there under boost. Even if it is eight feet long. Not to mention the air in the engine compartment is usually on the warm side. I say don't worry about it. Its not going to make a noticable difference,

kidwired · Post by **kidwired** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 8:19 am

so why would my little tiny IC work? the air is in the tube long than the IC.

93forestpearl · Post by **93forestpearl** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 9:54 am

Actually, the air is in the I/C longer than in the tube. The I/C has much more volume than the tube itself. That means the air in the tube is moving really fast to keep the I/C full of equally pressurized air, minus a slight pressure drop.

If you think about how many cubic feet of air an engine consumes, especially a turbo engine, that air cannot spend much time in any intercooler piping.

I guess that the ideal setup, although having miniscule effects, would be aluminum pre-I/C piping and steel(stainless) post-I/C piping.

Please keep in mind that I'm wasted right now. (See Ashtray)

free5ty1e · Post by **free5ty1e** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 12:19 pm

Exposed metallic piping in the engine compartment isn't going to cool the intake charge, if anything it's probably going to warm it. Although the same argument holds: it won't be in there long.

kidwired · Post by **kidwired** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 3:25 pm

ok, it was worth kicking around.
BTW I found some nice big silicone intercooler tube on ebay! the kind we use on our turbo diesel trucks at work.

dzx · Post by **dzx** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 12:12 pm

Is it the steam pressure hose like the kind used on RV's and such?

legacycentral bbs

A forum for 89-94 BC-BF(BJ) Legacy Owners and Fans

tubing, aluminum and thick vs thin wall

tubing, aluminum and thick vs thin wall

Re: tubing, aluminum and thick vs thin wall

Re: tubing, aluminum and thick vs thin wall

Re: tubing, aluminum and thick vs thin wall