Covering the intercooler with a blanket

Yes, you read the title correctly. Here in Siberia, we are heading into our cold months of -30C or lower temps and one of the common practices to help protect the engines in this weather is to put a fiberglass-type blanket under the hood, over the engine. The problem is, none of them have a cutout for the Patrol intercooler (off-center). These blankets are densely woven but thin enough to fit completely over the intercooler with the hood closed without any interference.

My question is this - will the intercooler being covered like that do any kind of damage to the engine? I know the intercooler is there to cool the intake air for more efficient fuel burn, but the air is already super-cooled from the frigid temps, and keeping the engine warm is the most important factor in these conditions.

Any thoughts or suggestions? I guess I could always cut my own hole, but these things are super dense, heavy and wouldn't be easy to cut.

I would guess it should be ok
it will make it a lot warmer than usual - maybe Northern Territory type warm

but your right, the intercooler is designed to have the air flow through it to cool down the air flowing through it
even if the outside ambient temp is -30C the air from the turbo will still be at about 350-500C
so it would be the same as NOT having the intercooler on

Thanks, Bigcol. I will run it for a while and keep an eye on my EGT gauge. If things get too hot, I'll rework it to get it uncovered. A lot of guys cover their front grill as well but I haven't done that yet. We have a warm spell now - only -5C now, so I'll wait to see if it's needed.

In the temps you are talking. I don't see a problem.

I'll have to keep an eye on it when it warms up close to 0C, but colder it will be a definite help


1999 GU RD28Ti; mechanical injector pump, 5kBt Webasto circulation heater, 33" Yokohama Geolander I/T, SaaS boost & EGT gauges, 2" Ironman suspension...more to come

5kBt Webasto circulation heater is that from a truck ?

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Originally Posted by altech

5kBt Webasto circulation heater is that from a truck ?

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http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...015/11/229.jpg

This is the unit. It gets installed under the hood and ties in with your cooling system and is powered by diesel from your tank. It heat and circulates the antifreeze so that you don't have cold starts in the winter. It's a pretty common install over here for both diesels and petrol vehicles. Helps make sure the engine doesn't freeze in extreme temps. So far at -25C it works great. It heats the engine up to around 30C before starting.

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Originally Posted by Bigcol

snip...
the intercooler is designed to have the air flow through it to cool down the air flowing through it
even if the outside ambient temp is -30C the air from the turbo will still be at about 350-500C

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Strewth Col, I hope that 350 to 500 deg C figure is a typo.

Anything more than approx 150 degrees (on a 20 to 25 degree day) charge air temp would be a major concern
On a -30 day the charge air pre intercooler maybe would hit 50 ish and would be flat out cracking double figures post cooler

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Originally Posted by the evil twin

Strewth Col, I hope that 350 to 500 deg C figure is a typo.

Anything more than approx 150 degrees (on a 20 to 25 degree day) charge air temp would be a major concern
On a -30 day the charge air pre intercooler maybe would hit 50 ish and would be flat out cracking double figures post cooler

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I think he means post-combustion. I.e. Exhaust gas temp

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Originally Posted by the evil twin

Strewth Col, I hope that 350 to 500 deg C figure is a typo.

Anything more than approx 150 degrees (on a 20 to 25 degree day) charge air temp would be a major concern
On a -30 day the charge air pre intercooler maybe would hit 50 ish and would be flat out cracking double figures post cooler

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Originally Posted by Winnie

I think he means post-combustion. I.e. Exhaust gas temp

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too much wine while sitting in the sun...............

yes ET, wrong figures, as Winnie said - that would be the EGT's, and I got them confuddled with the air into the intercooler.......

shouldnt mow the lawns, drink red wine while still in the sun, and then go onto forums............ had a nice nap though.........

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Originally Posted by Winnie

I think he means post-combustion. I.e. Exhaust gas temp

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Ahhhh... OK, fair 'nuf.
I was thinking 35 to 50 regarding the inlet temp

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Originally Posted by the evil twin

Strewth Col, I hope that 350 to 500 deg C figure is a typo.

Anything more than approx 150 degrees (on a 20 to 25 degree day) charge air temp would be a major concern
On a -30 day the charge air pre intercooler maybe would hit 50 ish and would be flat out cracking double figures post cooler

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Is that too low air temp for the intake air? Does it need to be warmer when it gets to that low of a temp?


1999 GU RD28Ti; mechanical injector pump, 5kBt Webasto circulation heater, 33" Yokohama Geolander I/T, SaaS boost & EGT gauges, 2" Ironman suspension...more to come

Problem solved. Found a blanket that has an offset intercooler cutout that will fit.

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Originally Posted by SiberianPatrol

Problem solved. Found a blanket that has an offset intercooler cutout that will fit.

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Score, nothing like the right bit of kit especially where you are...

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Originally Posted by the evil twin

Score, nothing like the right bit of kit especially where you are...

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For sure. Always pays to have the right gear