How an intercooler drops psi levels? I read that the Apexi i/c drops like 1psi and the Star i/c drops like 2psi estimated i'm assuming. Does this mean if I boost 5 psi will it actually be only 3 0r 4 est.

STAR Turbo stage II
180whp @ 5psi(untuned)

intercoolers drop psi by creating a flow restriction. therefore pressurized air trying to pass through will meet with some restriction and pile up on the inlet side and only a certain amount of that pressure will be able to pass. high turbulence intercoolers cool better but usually create more of a restriction.

your waste-gate actuator is fed by a signal taken from your intake manifold so your turbo will do whatever it has to to achieve 5psi in the manifold. if your intercooler is very restrictive, your turbo will just have to work that much harder.

LAST EDITED ON 07-Mar-01 AT 07:47 AM (PST)

Easy simplified answer - You can apply ideal gas low: PV=nRT or P=nRT/V, so as the temperature decreases so does the pressure. The more efficient your intercooler, the lower your air temperature, the greater the pressure drop.

And what was mentioned already is correct - whatever presusre you read from your intake manifold is all that matters.

MuRiX
97 Eclipse GS HRC Stage II
And a whole lot of other mods...
89 Accord LSi - yes it's mine
http://murix.home.icq.com/index.html

05 Mazda RX-8
06 Lotus Elise

I get it now! Thanks for clearing that up guys.

STAR Turbo stage II
180whp @ 5psi(untuned)