Top mount vs front mount intercooler

[g9nhy]

Hello guys am new to this site, I own a gtir and my car has a front mount intercooler with the front bumper cut out.

I have now bought an uncut front bumper as I don't like the cut front bumper look so was thinking of removing the front mount and going back to standard top mount so I can fit the new bumper on as it will not fit with the front mount on and I don't want to trim the new bumper to make it fit.

What I want to know is what's the difference from going from mount to top mount some one said will get more heat soak and can damage engine due to heat also will boost quicker due to short pipe run is this true
want to no what's advantages and disadvantages my cars more or less stock beside 1 bar mod, front mount and upgraded fuel pump
thanks guys

 

[campbellju]

What you've been told is more or less true. Given you are fairly stock and running 1 Bar then unless you spend your life sitting in traffic I'd expect the differences to be marginal. Neither will risk any damage to your engine when correctly installed.

If aesthetically you prefer the top mount then go for it. Another perspective might be a top mount is more of a pain when you want to swap the plugs or check in the cylinders.

 

[beau]

iv got a radtec fmic on mine, it mounts behind the front panel rather than in front so bumper/front end looks standard

 

[MarkTurbo]

Given you are fairly stock and running 1 Bar then unless you spend your life sitting in traffic I'd expect the differences to be marginal.

As above, i ran my car at 1.2 bar for a few years with the top mount and as long as you're not abusing it straight after being sat in traffic you'll be fine ;-)

 

[g9nhy]

As above, i ran my car at 1.2 bar for a few years with the top mount and as long as you're not abusing it straight after being sat in traffic you'll be fine

this might be a noob questions but what will happen if I give it some after sitting straight after traffic,
I don't be sat at traffic majority of the time but obviously there is traffic in every town I'd say 20% of my journey I will encounter a bit of traffic

 

[grim_d]

I'm sure some time ago bob experimented with some success with a fan arrangement on the top mount, anybody know the thread?

 

[Fast Guy]

this might be a noob questions but what will happen if I give it some after sitting straight after traffic,

Well, the engine will be hotter than normal, booting it put more heat into the system which raises inlet temperatures, this can lead to

1) det and make the det sensor cut in which in turn retards the ignition and drops boost
2) just a general loss of power due to the less dense fuel/air charge

both of which will make the car feel sluggish compared to normal.


I fitted a front mount at pretty standard levels and made a whole 4bhp. As for increased turbo lag, I didn't notice any.

 

[whytie]

I wouldn't worry about the top mount, I ran one for years with around 320bhp and didn't notice any issues. Of course a front mount is properly better but for a everyday car running around 300bhp the top mount is fine.

 

[fubar andy]

I wouldn't worry about the top mount, I ran one for years with around 320bhp and didn't notice any issues.

...but for a everyday car running around 300bhp the top mount is fine.

Agreed, once moving the rush of air will cool the intercooler quickly and I've had no issues for 7 years? :thumb:

 

[PobodY]

Agreed, once moving the rush of air will cool the intercooler quickly and I've had no issues for 7 years? :thumb:

Plus there's a dirty-great scoop that's designed to push air through the top-mount.

Here's a thought: Is there not also heat-soak from having your intercooler sitting right next to a hot radiator when you're in stationary traffic? Probably not as bad, but it's still got the potential to take the intercooler up to ~100 degrees.

 

[Fire & skill]

This has been discussed a few times in the past, I always wondered why 99% of cars that came from Japan still had the top mount. I guess it didn't bother them as much as it did us! Along with fitting bigger brakes it was usually high up on the list of things to do, that was of course back in the day. These days originality wins over function, each to their own but I still prefer my front mount, having said that I never experienced major issues when running the top mount.

 

[geoff pine]

The reason most cars have top mounts when they get Here from Japan maybe as there easyer to get through there auctions.Mine I bought from an importer as standard knowing nothing about them it clearly had a front mount fitted in Japan .I found sitting in traffic the top mount and the standard wafer thin rad just used to make the temps climb rapidly but fall very slowly .it would only start to fall as I got my speed over 45 mph which was no good trying to travel across Warrington :frusty:

 

[lakeview]

Also don't forget the additional weight of it compared to the top mount,and the half mile of pipe run you get on the cheap Chinese ones