{"id":12950,"date":"2012-05-28T13:10:55","date_gmt":"2012-05-28T18:10:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/caddyinfo.com\/wordpress\/?p=12950"},"modified":"2012-06-02T17:51:43","modified_gmt":"2012-06-02T22:51:43","slug":"cadillac-sts-v-intercooler-inline-tank-install","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.caddyinfo.com\/wordpress\/cadillac-sts-v-intercooler-inline-tank-install\/","title":{"rendered":"Cadillac STS-V intercooler inline tank install"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today I took the STS-V front clip off again for some adjustments and a new tank install.<\/p>\n

My first goal was to work on improving the lower OEM Heat Exchanger (HX1) hose routing that appeared to be crimping.\u00a0 Second was to transform the flow from intercooler HX2 HX1 pump to intercooler HX1 HX2 pump due to elevation differences.\u00a0 I also wanted to change the S3TC HX2 fittings from plastic to brass, and redo them in general to ensure no leaks.\u00a0 Finally, if it fit (and it does) I wanted to try adding in my AVS <\/a>1 gallon aluminum inline tank.<\/p>\n

Here is a shot<\/p>\n

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AVS Tank initial placement<\/p><\/div>\n

The tank seems upside down, but this placement allows the ‘drain’ to act as an air release if needed, and the tank brackets are tied off above so that the tank is ‘hanging’ in place, along with the hoses pretty much keeping it where they want it to be.<\/p>\n

The flow now is intercooler to OEM HX to inline tank to S3TC HX to pump to intercooler.\u00a0 That matches the way GM did the flow for the inline tank they use with the LS9.<\/p>\n

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The tank is clearly visible in all its steampunk glory through the front mesh grill.\u00a0 I suppose painting it black would fade out the tank, but I am more interested in testing how it performs just now.\u00a0 The inline tank wants to be in the incoming air flow also to help with temperature control.<\/p>\n

The OEM STS-V intercooler cooling system holds 2.6 quarts.\u00a0 HX2, the S3TC HX, holds 2 quarts.\u00a0 The new tank holds 1 gallon (4 quarts).\u00a0 So the system now has 8.6 quarts instead of 2.6 OEM quarts.<\/p>\n

Update:<\/h2>\n

First test the intercooler temps etc and see if everything is playing well together.<\/p>\n

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First inline tank test shows lower IAT2s<\/p><\/div>\n

The blue line is today’s IAT2, or intake air temperature after the supercharger and intercooler during a set route test drive.\u00a0 The red line is a previous day with the current config except no inline tank, and the HX1-HX2 flow path was different.\u00a0 The spikes are acceleration runs.\u00a0 Both days were 91.5F ambient temps, so seem comparable.<\/p>\n

What this appears to show is that the IAT2s are lower with the new inline tank, but actually ran higher during the acceleration run.\u00a0 I need to zoom in on that in a different graph (below).<\/p>\n

Overall good news for the new inline tank.<\/p>\n

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Tank vs no tank during 0-60 mph run<\/p><\/div>\n

Conventional wisdom is that more fluid in the system provides a time buffer to IAT2. What we see in this graph is that the new tank did no better at delaying IAT2 increase during 0-60 than the system without a tank. In both systems due to the system flow rate during the 0-60 run the system never gets through all the coolant. My measured 3.5 gpm means that even with 1 gal of fluid in the system, that gallon is circulating every 17 seconds. With 2 gallons it is circulating (if the 3.5 gpm is still constant) every 34 seconds. So unless we speed up the pump (stay tuned) or measure over a longer acceleration run, one might expect to see no difference.<\/p>\n

However, the fact that the system reached a lower temp with the new tank and configuration is a good result.<\/p>\n

The following video shows HP Tuners gauges during the acceleration run with the new inline tank:<\/p>\n