How do I change intercooler spray from manual to auto?
 

I had a bit of a search, and couldn't find the answer.

I have a MY06 Sti which has the intercooler spray button on the dash to the right hand side of the steering wheel (stock position). Press this and it sprays for about 3 seconds. Thats fine if your stationary, but when your on the track, its a bit hard to press.

How can this be modified so that it sprays when the car is making boost, and can make better use of the sprayer.


Cheers

Tim

also interested. From what I know you need a hobbs switch. Not sure how it works though.

This is some good info and worth a read. 5 parts to it.

[url=http://autospeed.com/cms/title_Intelligent-Intercooler-Water-Spray-Part-1/A_0527/article.html]Intelligent Intercooler Water Spray[/url]

Im going to wire a switch in series off the same switch, just an on off to pump the ic spray. Its easier to flick a switch i figure that wire a hobbs switch in.

I have one if ya wanna go down that path tim.

Hobbs for me, set to come on at 15psi, runs off washer bottle/pump.

After reading that awesome linky.
Basically i read to be if your going to hoon, have the water on during and after boost so that any heat is dissapated from ic core leaving you a cold ic core for when you next get on boost ( put heat into ic core).
Awesome read though

Dave,

When i was doing the search, I saw reference to auto/manual switch for the spray. Your option (a switch in parallel rather than series) by passing the Subaru timer could be an easy option, not an elegant factory look, but meh.

I'm really only looking at using it on the track during the summer, in winter the hyper intercooler does ok, and there is a switch blank between the intercooler switch and the cruise control. ( I have a few 12V toggle switches at home already), and for the short duration, and when on the track, your foot is into it most of the time, don't see the need for the hobbs.

When I get to longer events, I may go to the article above written by Julian Edgar, the kit is likely to be at jaycar I'm guessing, when water capacity may become more of an issue.

Thanks guys

Its not an elegent option but its functional.
Also youll be surprise how hot your ic core gets even on cold nights without the spray. I think once i start pumping through 4l of water ill worry about the 12 L ic sprayer option. What im thinking though is installing an extra sprayer. More water - greater heat disappation, especially when you have 30+degc entering your ic

I was under the impression it was automatic? (function of boost or throttle position?)

True, (Dave)

Just looked at the data log from Sundays run down here in Collie (LF Speed event), after the "warm up" 1/2 lap the in inlet temp dropped to about 2 degrees above ambient (no spray). Would expect this not to be as good during summer.

207,

Looking at the wiring diagram for the MY06, there is the intercooler switch, the spray timer, the water spray motor and level warning switch, and the intercooler water spray tank level warning light and the fuses supplying power, and thats about it.

I used similar to this ,on my rear washer pump for me ,and I just leave the fuse out when I dont want it running(which is 99.9999% of the time)

[url=http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Boost-Pressure-Switch-Turbo-Water-Injection-hobbs-/230690648206?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35b63bf08e#ht_657wt_1187]Boost Pressure Switch - For Turbo Water Injection hobbs | eBay[/url]

Definitely handy to have the water sprayer as auto. On the GC8's it's pretty easy to push the hazard light button instead of the I/C sprayer. On hot rallies its not uncommon for me to plow through 10L of water in a couple of stages.

There is a reason that the factory had a timer on the sprayer and it's not just to conserve water. The water needs to be sprayed and then air needs to pass through the wet IC fins to give better cooling. Aledgedly its more efficient than just continuously flooding the IC.
Most after market ECU's can be configured to trigger the I/C sprayer at set boost positions or IA Temps in the map. Maybe ECUTEK has a similar output to hook up to the factory timer?

I had set this up on my 06 STI using a hobs pressure switch (10psi) and a JDM STI auto spray switch which was run like a bypass on the manual switch wiring. It worked very well and also looked like it was factory fitted.

Justin

Thanks for the pointer with the JDM switch, and will look around for one of those, and

R_A, didn't think of that and will put it onto the list for my next tune/computer mod.

[QUOTE=Rally_Action;620497]
There is a reason that the factory had a timer on the sprayer and it's not just to conserve water. The water needs to be sprayed and then air needs to pass through the wet IC fins to give better cooling. Aledgedly its more efficient than just continuously flooding the IC.
[/QUOTE]
The water evaporating from the fins is what causes the air to cool, same principal as for evaporative air conditioning.

[QUOTE=Rally_Action;620497]Most after market ECU's can be configured to trigger the I/C sprayer at set boost positions or IA Temps in the map. Maybe ECUTEK has a similar output to hook up to the factory timer?[/QUOTE]

correct, I can do this on the motec m800. Custom triggers. Not sure how useful it would be though.

You dont want to just flood your IC.

[QUOTE=Jeckle;620473]207,

Looking at the wiring diagram for the MY06, there is the intercooler switch, the spray timer, the water spray motor and level warning switch, and the intercooler water spray tank level warning light and the fuses supplying power, and thats about it.[/QUOTE]

hmm, seems silly "not" to have it automatic from the factory.

I have an M800 but am not sure if anything is setup for auto waterspray, will ask next time Im visiting the tuner.

what about as an easier solution, just relocating the switch to a more accessable area such as the steering wheel to activate with your thumb on the fly.

I think that would be quite easy and would become second nature to give it a little press every few minutes or so.