BEGi Air Scooper - does it impact IC airflow?
 

The BEGi Air Scooper increases airflow through the radiator by providing a direct air path around a restrictive intercooler (and, I believe, the AC condenser as well).

I can see how this would be beneficial when the car is out of boost (i.e. at idle & steady state cruise), but under acceleration injecting air behind the intercooler would decrease the pressure differential across it, thus reducing the airflow across the intercooler core and its ability to dissipate heat from the intake charge.

By my reasoning it is similar to the other counter productive mods like turn signal intakes or hood risers. However I have never heard any one complaining about higher intake temps with the scooper.

Can somebody explain why the the BEGi air scooper is any different?

the area behind the rad will still be low pressure, the extra flow from the scooper might actually improve the flow through the mouth....if the scooper dumped air directly behind the rad, it might be another story.

How do you figure it will help at idle exactly? it doesnt have a fan mounted in it pushing air up through the nose last time i checked...

Wouldnt hood hinge risers lower underhood pressure? And so make a bigger differential?

J.T. >> no, afront of the windshield is a high pressure area, shoving air down into the enginecompartment instead of sucking it out.

I've not done any with/without tests like a dutiful inguneer, but with scooper, the #3 IC, with a core 18 x 3 x 9 gave us 92% effectiveness average on a dozen tries.

Consider that a core of 1.1 sq feet, pushed thru the air at 60 mph will see a potential of 5,950 cfm, or about 425 pounds of air per minute trying to get thru the IC. Compared to the mass flow inside the IC at 300 hp (about 450 cfm, or about 32 pounds of air), the IC has an enormous air/charge advantage to work with.

I've yet to figure out how much air actually makes its way thru the IC. Anyone have any hints?

Yes, bolt steph to the bumper and have her measure the airflow...

Mark

At idle the radiator fan is trying to pull air through the mouth of the car.

The IC both A) discharges heat and B) is a restriction to airflow. The scooper provides the path of least resistance for ambient air being drawn in by the rad fan.

We both agree stuffing air behind the rad is bad for cooling becuase it decreases the air pressure differential and thus airflow across the core.

The IC core is no different, yet the scooper is stuffing extra air behind it, reducing its cooling potential, but without signifigantly impacting its efficiency.

But I think I understand now:

Following your suggestion that the scooper improves airflow characteristics within the mouth...

One could hypothesize the high velocity discharge of the scooper with its flow perpendicular to the IC core creates a low pressure region directly behind the IC, and perhaps creates a high pressure region in the air gap above the IC, directing more of the incoming air from the mouth across the IC core while at the same time making more air available to the radiator core.

-OR-

As Corky's musing suggested...

The IC already has a surplus of ambient air flow. Sacrificing a some of that surplus to improve radiator cooling will not prevent the IC from getting the job done.

can hijack this thread to ask if removing the plastic guards on the hood behind the headlights, helps to improve the airflow in the engine bay and lower the temps a bit? obviously in the summer it's ok, but in the winter would be a very bad idea to have water drops over a high temperature turbo, but just for the summer, would this make any sense?

I really don't see how this is logically possible. I've tried to type a semi-intelligent argument but I just can't get it to come out right. I'm just gonna tape my shoelaces to my windshield on the way home from work tonight. I'll let you what happens. :)

Exactly how would I do that? On second thought, don't answer......
Stephanie

I also need some advice on how to calibrate a Stephanie.

:nono: We..or I will be nice to Stephanie and not answer that question:giggle:

I'd respond with something like "with a strong pimp-hand" or "cell-phone whip" but for some reason I think I'm going to bight my tongue here just in case I drop by the shop.