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      11-08-2016, 01:47 PM   #1
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Picked up a CTSTurbo intercooler, DIY install, thoughts and testing

Hi all,
So the journey continues this time with a new intercooler from CTS Turbo. CTS saw all the work I put into my previous post regarding their intake and offered me a nice discount on their intercooler (full disclosure folks, not trying to hide anything here.)

You can read the full writeup, unboxing, and DIY intercooler install (should apply to many different intercoolers) on my site here.

The DIY I wrote up is very detailed, I tried to fill in all the blanks I found on various posts and instructions I found online. Hopefully it helps others avoid the frustration I encountered with the clip/clamps, etc...

This was not an easy install for me. Everything I read said it's a walk in the park but that was not the case for me. Probably took about 2 hours total. Like anything, after doing it once I'm sure I could get it done in half the time now that I know how the clips work but still, if your a novice like myself, prepare your choice cuss words, I sure as hell used em.

Here are some pics of the key points I think members here on the forums are looking for.

Stock vs CTS
[IMG]http://i2.wp.com/*************/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_0444.jpg?resize=768%2C512[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i1.wp.com/*************/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_0443.jpg?resize=768%2C512[/IMG]

Fin density is around 48.6mm per 10 fins:
[IMG]http://i2.wp.com/*************/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_0436.jpg?resize=768%2C512[/IMG]
Fin height was something around 9.5mm

Packaged and fabricated very well.

UPDATED TESTING DATA ON POST #14


After installing everything I warmed the car up to operating temps (230-250 on the gauge) parked, got some food, drove a bit, idled the car while I ate, and then hit the freeway. I wanted to make sure the Intercooler had plenty of time to warm up and give as accurate of a result as possible.

My method was I got onto the freeway as slow as possible in Manual 3rd gear (car's an auto), I floored it but paid extra attention to the kick down switch making sure I did not depress it. I tried to top it out as close to redline before shifting and pulling off.

I don’t think the data I logged is very good. I unfortunately don’t have a JB4 yet and was using the Torque app on my Android phone. It does not appear to be updating the logs nearly as fast as needed to get accurate results. I’m hoping someone can chime in here and let me know how my logs are, what I did wrong, and how I can do it better.

[IMG]http://i1.wp.com/*************/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/intercooler1.png?resize=768%2C384[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i0.wp.com/*************/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/intercooler2.png?resize=768%2C384[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i2.wp.com/*************/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/intercooler3.png?resize=768%2C384[/IMG]

For anyone that stumbles across this post who is having trouble with the charge air clip, charge air clamp, intercooler clip, intercooler clamp, piece of sh*t clamp, check out the full DIY, hopefully my diagrams help you out.

Little sample image here:
[IMG]http://i2.wp.com/*************/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/chargeclipB.png?w=500[/IMG]

As always please let me know your thoughts, suggestions, criticisms, etc..

My 2nd kid is due tomorrow so apologies if I don't answer any questions in the next few days, I have a good excuse!


Thanks!

Last edited by badbread; 12-27-2016 at 08:55 PM..
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      11-08-2016, 06:20 PM   #2
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Do you know what the retail price is for one of these? Good luck/congratulations on the new addition to the family as well!
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      11-08-2016, 07:30 PM   #3
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Holy crap, best write up ever. Why can't manufactures provide stuff like this
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      11-09-2016, 12:17 AM   #4
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Hey! Best wishes to you and your + family!

And thanks for the post too!
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      11-09-2016, 11:28 AM   #5
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Hey badbread, it's fantastic that you opt'd to use CTS Turbo's FMIC. Having recently come from the Audi work, I know first hand that CTS makes quality items. In fact, some of the fastest B8.8.5 chassis A4's are running their K04 turbo kits. Enough on that topic...

Thank you very much for putting this into writing. Your timing could not have come at a better time as this weekend, my project is to install my charge pipe, Wagner FMIC, and Wagner DP. Having skimmed through your guide, I am confident that it will save me choice cuss words and valuable time. Again thank you and best of luck with the 2nd newborn. Been there/done that with my 2 daughters.
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      11-09-2016, 11:49 AM   #6
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Are those temps in celcius?
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      11-15-2016, 12:58 PM   #7
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In my car, Sport + kickdown at any gear doesn't let the car shift up or down. Sport + is when your 100% in control of shifting.
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      11-17-2016, 09:53 PM   #8
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That's an exact copy of a Wagner intercooler. The end tanks and dimensions are identical. I'm not sure if you were aware or not but supporting knock offs is pretty bad for business. I know there's only so many ways you can make an intercooler but this is a blatant copy.



After looking at their website it also looks like they're selling a copy of the vrsf e90 intercooler at a rip off markup as well.



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      11-18-2016, 08:55 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by happytaco View Post
That's an exact copy of a Wagner intercooler. The end tanks and dimensions are identical. I'm not sure if you were aware or not but supporting knock offs is pretty bad for business. I know there's only so many ways you can make an intercooler but this is a blatant copy.
great... now this thread will be filled with vendors of wagner saying the same... just like kpeng's on his ebay intercooler.

There are only so many designs to intercoolers and how it would fit in a car.
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      11-28-2016, 12:51 PM   #10
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Thanks for all the well wishes everyone. Happy to say the new baby is here, and I'm more sleep deprived than I ever was.

So far so good with this intercooler, definitely noticed a difference in ambient vs IAT temps on day to day driving. When the IC does get heat soak, it also cools itself off much quicker than the stock IC did. In terms of my highly uncalibrated butt dyno, the car does seem to stay pulling hard throughout the rev range.

Very happy with this IC so far.
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      12-07-2016, 11:11 AM   #11
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Good news! I finally upgraded to a JB4 from the N55 Stage 1, I'm going to update this post as soon as I'm able to get 30 minutes to do a few pulls and get some real logs. Stay tuned!
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      12-07-2016, 09:19 PM   #12
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Funny how all these nut huggers make statements about branded intercoolers when 90% of them come from the same Chinese manufacturer. My EBay IC does a great job as well and is a "copy" of the Wagner. Well done OP!
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      12-09-2016, 05:40 PM   #13
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The wagner, yellowspeed, rev9, are all the same I think one of the vendor has ordered them with better density cores, but otherwise they are all pretty close. I guess it's a good design !
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      12-27-2016, 08:37 PM   #14
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As promised some more testing data.

Run 1, 3.7 gallons of e85, some how starting spinning the wheels starting off in 3rd getting on the highway.
[IMG]http://*************/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/jb4iatchart1-1024x512.png[/IMG]

Link to the full datazap chart here


Run 2, same as above but with no wheelspin
[IMG]http://*************/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/jb4iatchart2-1024x512.png[/IMG]
Link to full datazap chart here

You can read the full write up on the link in my signature below.

Thanks!
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      12-28-2016, 05:27 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by badbread View Post
I don’t think the data I logged is very good. I unfortunately don’t have a JB4 yet and was using the Torque app on my Android phone. It does not appear to be updating the logs nearly as fast as needed to get accurate results. I’m hoping someone can chime in here and let me know how my logs are, what I did wrong, and how I can do it better.
This is usually related to the OBDII adapter being used and it's PID read speed. The faster (or slower) that speed is determines how quickly it can update. Some of the "cheaper" ones do not have the best PID speeds.
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      01-26-2017, 07:01 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CIWS View Post
This is usually related to the OBDII adapter being used and it's PID read speed. The faster (or slower) that speed is determines how quickly it can update. Some of the "cheaper" ones do not have the best PID speeds.
+1 My OBDLINK LX dongle is pretty great compared those $20 one out there, also brings its own Free OBDLINK app or I can use TorquePro

OP, any updates? Did you go Bootmod3 or JB4 by now?
Can you provide a link to your datazap to see these logs/rpm/temp
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      01-26-2017, 01:14 PM   #17
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Hi there,
Yes they are in my post above. Looks like I forgot to mention that indeed did get a JB4.
All the links are above.
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      01-27-2017, 03:28 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by badbread View Post
Hi there,
Yes they are in my post above. Looks like I forgot to mention that indeed did get a JB4.
All the links are above.
Do you have clickable link where I view datazap directly or jb4 logs i can view?
csv with more info, the images a bit small to view each pid

thanks for the review
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      01-27-2017, 04:06 PM   #19
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Try these, let me know if they work. All the data is in there.

http://datazap.me/u/lpfake/e85-pull-take-2

http://datazap.me/u/lpfake/wheel-spin-start-e85
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      01-27-2017, 06:08 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by badbread View Post
Try these, let me know if they work. All the data is in there.

http://datazap.me/u/lpfake/e85-pull-take-2

http://datazap.me/u/lpfake/wheel-spin-start-e85
Do you recall ambient temp here?
Logs look good though and these are from the jb4 now vs the previous one?

Thank you,
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      01-27-2017, 07:05 PM   #21
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Here you go: https://www.wunderground.com/history...ic=&reqdb.wmo=

Would love to hear some feedback from people regarding these charts. To me this IC seems to work really well, but my knowledge is extremely limited.

Yes, these are from the JB4.

Thanks!

Last edited by badbread; 01-27-2017 at 07:29 PM..
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      01-28-2017, 03:41 AM   #22
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would love to see back to back runs longer WOT in the same log?
you only run map5 ?
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