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Model specific boards => Golf mk4 => Topic started by: GTIcheeseman on 03 July 2012, 09:21

Title: what intercooler is safer?
Post by: GTIcheeseman on 03 July 2012, 09:21
i was on another forum and some one said a FMIC is SAFER than a SMIC now my thinking is SMIc is safer but not as good airflow and a FMIC is more air flow but not as safer as its more exposed

im not after people saying about gains or anything like that! just what would be safer to have mounted

i have a SMIC on my mk4 and i know a FMIC is better for gains BUT THIS ISNT THE QUESTION

anyone say anything on this?
Title: Re: what intercooler is safer?
Post by: DunnDeal12 on 03 July 2012, 09:47
buy a decent FMIC and you wont have to cut anything also i think shaft69 runs a larger SMIC with some very good gains.
Title: Re: what intercooler is safer?
Post by: GTIcheeseman on 03 July 2012, 09:59
I know which one is better for air flow but I wanna see how a fmic could be safer?
Title: Re: what intercooler is safer?
Post by: cullygti on 03 July 2012, 10:14
its only really exposed if you take your grills out with them left in it should be fine as for gains wazzer had 225 bhp from his smic
Title: Re: what intercooler is safer?
Post by: Rhyso on 03 July 2012, 10:16
I know which one is better for air flow but I wanna see how a fmic could be safer?

What power are you hoping to achieve?

The higher the BHP the more heat you generate therefore its important to keep intake and exhaust temperature down.  A larger intercooler will help with intake temps therefore allowing you to develop the power consistently.  High intake temps will lead to heatsoak and reduced power output
Title: Re: what intercooler is safer?
Post by: GTIcheeseman on 03 July 2012, 10:16
As I said not after what gains more I am only interested in what's safer I would think a smic is safer than a fmic even with grills as there's more exposed for stones to fly up
Title: Re: what intercooler is safer?
Post by: GTIcheeseman on 03 July 2012, 10:18
As I keep saying this aint about power just what's safer nothing about power, gains or anything else just which is safer as someone told me a fmic is safer than a smic
Title: Re: what intercooler is safer?
Post by: Rhyso on 03 July 2012, 10:22
As I said not after what gains more I am only interested in what's safer I would think a smic is safer than a fmic even with grills as there's more exposed for stones to fly up

You're missing the point.......

This isn't about the cooler being damaged; this is about what's best for your engine  :wink:

An SMIC is fine for a standard / stage 1 mapped car.  Anything above should ideally have an FMIC

Ask yourself this - a MK5 GTI / Golf .:R (MK6)/ Audi S3 all run FMIC's; if VW were worried about the intercooler being damaged do you think they'd stick it in the front?
Title: Re: what intercooler is safer?
Post by: GTIcheeseman on 03 July 2012, 10:24
noo your missing my point i know what is better for power but that aint what i posted about!!!

i wanna know what is a safer for fitting a FMIC or SMIC NOTHING ABOUT POWER
Title: Re: what intercooler is safer?
Post by: GTIcheeseman on 03 July 2012, 10:26
i think im gonna give up on this as no one is really listening to what im talking about and everyone just keeps going on about power and gains which im not after in this topic
Title: Re: what intercooler is safer?
Post by: cullygti on 03 July 2012, 10:27
and like rhyso said if it was unsafe vag group wouldnt use them on a range of their cars
Title: Re: what intercooler is safer?
Post by: GTIcheeseman on 03 July 2012, 10:28
ok
Title: Re: what intercooler is safer?
Post by: Rhyso on 03 July 2012, 10:30
noo your missing my point i know what is better for power but that aint what i posted about!!!

i wanna know what is a safer for fitting a FMIC or SMIC NOTHING ABOUT POWER

I am listening.............

FFS like - if it was not safe and they were worried about DAMAGE TO THE INTERCOOLER, VAG and other manufacturers would not fit the intercooler to the FRONT OF THE CAR!!!!!!
Title: Re: what intercooler is safer?
Post by: GTIcheeseman on 03 July 2012, 10:31
ok
Title: Re: what intercooler is safer?
Post by: golfyste on 03 July 2012, 10:33
What you not uderstandin is everyone is on about a different type of safe......yes a fmic is more likely to have a stone hit it Which is pretty obvious although I have actually neve heard of one being destroyed by a the flys that normally hit them.
The other view is that a fmic is safer for your engine as it reduces heatsoak and put the engine in a more ideal running environment (better intake temps etc) which inturn also has the benefits of more power  :smiley:
Title: Re: what intercooler is safer?
Post by: GTIcheeseman on 03 July 2012, 10:35
i understand what your saying
Title: Re: what intercooler is safer?
Post by: shaft69 on 03 July 2012, 14:21
buy a decent FMIC and you wont have to cut anything also i think shaft69 runs a larger SMIC with some very good gains.
I do but mine comes with hefty price tag, just well I have family in states. But I know all stigma with smic and fmic my iat is very low so pay what yo get my intake temp drving are below 20degreees and as low as 12 with wmi on. Compared it to lad at work Ibiza with fmic and my temps are lower than his!!! But my smic and boost factory smic are biggest you can get, large  ends tank 2.5" outlets. Also cost $800 new.
Title: Re: what intercooler is safer?
Post by: scarr89 on 03 July 2012, 16:24
May I ask why you want to know which is 'safer to fit'? Surely it a trivial matter... :undecided:
Title: Re: what intercooler is safer?
Post by: shaft69 on 03 July 2012, 16:44
May I ask why you want to know which is 'safer to fit'? Surely it a trivial matter... :undecided:
Does sound weird question doesn't it????
Title: Re: what intercooler is safer?
Post by: Dalo Harkin on 03 July 2012, 17:06
SMIC is always going to be safer, its hidden away in the wing, not much chance of anything happening to it there.
but as the others have said you can 'protect' an FMIC and also get the gains - win win
Title: Re: what intercooler is safer?
Post by: dom on 03 July 2012, 17:07
May I ask why you want to know which is 'safer to fit'? Surely it a trivial matter... :undecided:
Does sound weird question doesn't it????

This is a pretty pointless thread to be honest :rolleyes: