Intercooler Upgrade
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 59
Likes: 1
From: Columbia, SC
Mercedes C230 Sport Sedan
Intercooler Upgrade
Has anyone tried upgrading the intercooler on a supercharged engine? I have a C230 Sport Sedan with the M271 supercharged four cylinder. For not too much money, a larger intercooler could be fitted. Not sure what would happen, however. Would the cooler air produce more power or just trigger a check engine light?
Anyone with some ideas?
Anyone with some ideas?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,260
Likes: 168
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
Whole bunch of old threads on this from like 2003.
I think Renntech made on but it didn't result in more power based on
Dyno was what I recall.
I think Renntech made on but it didn't result in more power based on
Dyno was what I recall.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 571
Likes: 92
From: New England! :-)
2005 C230K Sport Coupe
A) Replace your current oil soaked intercooler with a new one.
B) Put dual catch cans to reduce the amount of oil soaking that happens in the intake path.
Fwiw, in just about all cases, a bigger intercooler is a ricer mod on an MB.
The engine looses boost (bigger area for the air), and the front does not accommodate the ability to cool a bigger intercooler.
https://forums.mbclub.co.uk/threads/...updated.88500/
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...tercooler.html
https://www.benzworld.org/forums/r17...formation.html
http://kcperformance.eu/en/our-proje...s-c204-c250cgi
Fwiw #2, 99.99999% of engines that have a supercharger or a tubo from the factory, and don't have a catch can, have issues with oil in the intake path.
It's if those "issues" are noticed by the owners. Or, if the owners even care.
As long as the engine runs and there isn't a check engine light, loss of power or gas mileage is rarely noticed. And, if it is, then "it's an old engine, what do you expect?".
Fun fact: Turbos and direct injection are popular with newer smaller engines.
Direct injection has the fuel injected into the cylinder, not sprayed on the back of the intake valve. Having fuel sprayed on the back of the intake valve, "helps" to rinse off oil.
Yes, those people are mega *******ED!!
In real life, they get *very lucky*.
Or, they don't give a flying ****** that their engine runs like cr*p, since they don't have a check engine light.
Or, 90% of them get intake valve cleanings every 30K-70K miles.
Fun, fun, fun! NOT!
Another fun fact: This was problem NOT a surprise to the engine engineers, nor ANYONE that is familiar with boosted engines.
So, back to the original question.
Take off your intercooler, and see how much of an oil film is in there. That oil acts as an insulator against the air cooling from the intercooler.
Again, no surprise to anyone that is familiar with boosted engines and their additional considerations.
Good luck.
B) Put dual catch cans to reduce the amount of oil soaking that happens in the intake path.
Fwiw, in just about all cases, a bigger intercooler is a ricer mod on an MB.
The engine looses boost (bigger area for the air), and the front does not accommodate the ability to cool a bigger intercooler.
https://forums.mbclub.co.uk/threads/...updated.88500/
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...tercooler.html
https://www.benzworld.org/forums/r17...formation.html
http://kcperformance.eu/en/our-proje...s-c204-c250cgi
Fwiw #2, 99.99999% of engines that have a supercharger or a tubo from the factory, and don't have a catch can, have issues with oil in the intake path.
It's if those "issues" are noticed by the owners. Or, if the owners even care.
As long as the engine runs and there isn't a check engine light, loss of power or gas mileage is rarely noticed. And, if it is, then "it's an old engine, what do you expect?".
Fun fact: Turbos and direct injection are popular with newer smaller engines.
Direct injection has the fuel injected into the cylinder, not sprayed on the back of the intake valve. Having fuel sprayed on the back of the intake valve, "helps" to rinse off oil.
Yes, those people are mega *******ED!!
In real life, they get *very lucky*.
Or, they don't give a flying ****** that their engine runs like cr*p, since they don't have a check engine light.
Or, 90% of them get intake valve cleanings every 30K-70K miles.
Fun, fun, fun! NOT!
Another fun fact: This was problem NOT a surprise to the engine engineers, nor ANYONE that is familiar with boosted engines.
So, back to the original question.
Take off your intercooler, and see how much of an oil film is in there. That oil acts as an insulator against the air cooling from the intercooler.
Again, no surprise to anyone that is familiar with boosted engines and their additional considerations.
Good luck.
