My supercharged 2.8 runs like hell in the summer when it gets above 70 degrees outside which is pretty much all summer... I can do a 0-60 in about 5.5 and sometimes it feels slower...
In the winter when it is 40 degrees and below which is pretty much all winter I gain almost a second in a 0-60 and it runs in the mid to high 4's

So... I was wondering about throwing on a side mount intercooler to keep it running nice all year around but I have heard a lot of different things... such as side mounts sufffer from heat soak, but then I heard that some of the new ones don't really have that problem. If you have any advice on side mounting a 2.8 or maybe you recommend a front mount and have suggestions for that. Thanks!

 

I have only heard of one guy that I know who has done this, put a side intercooler on his 2.8 A4. He has had no problems since. I really no nothing of the install, but overheating is no longer a problem for him.

 

A CAI is your best bet with the style charger you have. The Vortex chargers use a turbine housing (1/2 a turbo) and they will see good gains with a FMIC.

 

I haven't seen the centrifugal charger setup, but on the PES system it seems like it'd be a real bastard to run all that piping, especially considering the position of the charger. But I can't imagine the IC would be a bad idea in any event. And even if it was placed somewhere where it heat-soaked, chances are the air would still be cooler than non-IC air, even if only by a little bit...

 

A IC will only get as cold as the air around it (same as a cold air intake). Turbo cars have a ic cuz the air is so much hotter than the outside air the ic helpslower the incoming air'stemp.

 

Right. Only thing I was saying is that even if the efficiency of the intercooler is compromised by heat at some point or in some way, it'll probably still help make more power (or the same power more safely) than running without the intercooler.

 

I have the PES supercharger, and I have a guy who will do all the piping... So I might just have to find the IC now.

 

why do you preffer side mount to front mount?

 

I have heard it is near impossible to front mount a 2.8... and expensive.

 

I don't see why that would be, unless the radiator in a 2.8 is mounted farther forward than in a 1.8T. If it isn't, then it'll only require the usual trimming of the bumper to fit the FMIC in betweeen the bumper and the radiator, just like everyone with a 1.8T who installed a FMIC.