Boost pipe material

PobodY

Moderators
Staff member
There's probably some semantic difference with relation to heat transfer, but to be honest I can't see it making any difference for this application.
 

vpulsar

Well-Known Member
There's probably some semantic difference with relation to heat transfer, but to be honest I can't see it making any difference for this application.

They use aluminum to make heat sinks so it must be a better conductor of heat than stainless.




Rob
 

RO_SUNNY

Active Member
I was just asking that a few months ago over the honda-tech forums.
The answers were plain and simple....''doesn't matter''

I have the same point of view due to the fact that the engine compartment is very hot anyway so it will not matter if there is alu or stainless or mild steel

If you care about the weight you might search for some 1.5 wall tubing....so that you will not have that much weight.

Anyways....I had alu pipes that got crushed due to the fact that I have t bolt clamps to be ''leak free''

I will go for stainless 63 mm with 1.5mm wall..........and throw away all the alu from my system!
 

Greygtir

New Member
Ill be running wiggins clamps. Do that isnt an issue

yer i will get some aluminun next week i do think stainless looks better. But weight would be my main concern
 

stevepudney

GTiROC CHAIRMAN
Staff member
If worried about weight, I've seen carbon fibre used before, great thermal properties too........ but if not worried about weight the weirdest I've seen was soldered copper tube and bends


 

Greygtir

New Member
The only thing that carbon woll do is lighten my wallet. Even with my skills i would have to get a cnc billet mould mahined up then an inflatble bladder made. Loverly if u have the cash but not feasble on my build.
 

PobodY

Moderators
Staff member
Carbon fibre is a nifty suggestion; if for no other reason that you can have the bends and fittings exactly where you want them. - What about fibreglass as the next-closest thing?

If it was all about the heat transfer, surely copper would be best? - From Rob's observation about heat sinks; mine is copper (well, copper heat-pipes and core anyway) rather than aluminium... but I do worry it's likely to damage the motherboard having all that weight on it.
- I guess it would make more sense for the intercooler to have copper fins on it than alloy; may not look as pretty though.
 
It depends; if boost temps > engine bay temps then you want good heat transfer properties to reduce boost temperature. If engine bay temperature > boost temperatures then you want to insulate to prevent heat pick up. Therefore the best silution might require aluminium pre intercooler and stainless post intercooler. Either way I would polish the tube to avoid heat pick through radiation.
 

vpulsar

Well-Known Member
I'm sure it really doesn't matter either way whether they're alloy or steel, I doubt the weight saving would make a jot of difference to the people on here, It's not like you're F1 drivers looking for a 10th here and there is it ?, If I were to go down the front mount rout again I'd make sure I ceramic coated the manifold/turbo and down pipe and also fitted a turbo blanket before I ever thought about the boost pipes, With those I'd probably wrap them in some of that fancy silver tap to reflect as much radiant heat as possible.

I'd also wrap all the wiring in protective heat sleeves.


Rob
 
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