Heat Wave = Sluggish golf, is this normal??

[Swainey32]

Im guessing it's just due to the 40+ degree days recently, but went for a drive yesterday and car was just terrible, idle was a tad rough (800-1400rpm), and take off was so terrible, had to put my foot down like i was off on a spirited drive.

I'm just guessing this is directly to do with the tiny intercooler in conjunction with a hot day in melbourne = one very cranky golf.

If this is going to happen for the rest of summer, what intercooler's or alternate assistance do you guys recommend?

thanks in advance

[dylan8]

Mine goes a bit sluggish, but then feels awesome on cold nights, think its normal to a degree

[Sirocco20348]

From the testing I just did, If your just cruising around town, and not really going on boost much, than Air intake temps should stay within 10-15 degrees of ambiant temp with the stock IC. So if its 40degrees, Intake temps should be around 50-55, on full boost could go upwards of 70-75? Not really optimal air intake temp.

[Tim]

Yesterday was one of those feral hot north winds so I dont think any car would have been liking it.

[Swainey32]

Ok cool, just checking it's a common issue, I guess even with an upgraded intercooler, im still sucking in air at 40 regardless.

[Deadpool]

Yesterday was one of those feral hot north winds so I dont think any car would have been liking it.

Yep, after I left yours yesterday she wasn't very happy going quickly from 0-80 on Prinny.

[grtuned]

Heat Wave = Sluggish golf, is this normal??

The bora 6 cyl is temperamental to temp. Drives like a dream on colder days. When hot you can feel the difference.

[Golf-Sam]

The bora 6 cyl is temperamental to temp. Drives like a dream on colder days. When hot you can feel the difference.

i second that actually ..

[wai]

High temperatures will mean less dense air, and as an internal combustion engine is volumetric, you will get a reduction in power and a change in the air:fuel ratio.

High temperatures can also see issues with the fuel supply lines (vapour lock), however these should not be common as fuel injected engines have high pressure pumps.

While cold days can be petter, with carburettors, you can have issyes with icing if the temperature goes low. This is very common with LPG engines operating in cold weather and why they generally recommend dual fuel engines start on petrol until warm and then switch to LPG, but I digress.

[Sirocco20348]

Its pretty common knowledge that cooler air is better, but at what temperatures will it start to really affect performance?

And for example at 6000rpm 3rd gear WOT, will there be much difference in power when the air intake temp is 30degrees compared to 60degrees celcius? Is it like 20hp difference or is it that minor that its not even worth worrying about?

[Adzismad2]

The bora 6 cyl is temperamental to temp. Drives like a dream on colder days. When hot you can feel the difference.

Yeah same deal here.

On a cooler night it's amazing, but driving back from torquay on a 40 degree day it just feels tired. Definitely

[Swainey32]

Glad to hear this is not just something that had me pondering.
This is my first euro so was thinking it's just not ideal for australian summer.

Will have to look in what I can do to give the golf a bit of a hand found my new summer project!

[nightphotographer]

Glad to hear this is not just something that had me pondering.
This is my first euro so was thinking it's just not ideal for australian summer.

Will have to look in what I can do to give the golf a bit of a hand found my new summer project!

A front mount intercooler would be your first upgrade ideally if you're trying to get rid of what's called 'heat soak' because as soon as your car's tuned (assuming it's not) and the turbo is spooling faster and making more heat the stock intercooler will be producing these effects again. Saying that I've got a FMIC and tuned K03S and it runs pretty awful on super hot days, but I'm wondering how much of that's down to the AC as well.

[Swainey32]

A front mount intercooler would be your first upgrade ideally if you're trying to get rid of what's called 'heat soak' because as soon as your car's tuned (assuming it's not) and the turbo is spooling faster and making more heat the stock intercooler will be producing these effects again. Saying that I've got a FMIC and tuned K03S and it runs pretty awful on super hot days, but I'm wondering how much of that's down to the AC as well.

Got my gti tuned by gavin a while back, so im sure the heat soak effect is definitely increased. I wasnt game to test out whether air con on full was a big contributor, id prefer stay cold and have a car feel like its running on 50kW haha

[nightphotographer]

Yeah definitely get hold of a FMIC for the rest of summer/next summer, you'd be surprised at how many people do it as it starts to get warmer to prevent the huge drop in power from the stock side mount. I installed my FMIC in summer even on the stock tune it made a noticeable difference, on a tuned car it's a life saver.