Differences between with and without intercooler

[BeratE]

I have a 3rd gen KZN-185, swapped into a US market Tacoma truck. I plan to install a water to air intercooler at some point, and I am curious what all is different about the trucks that came from the factory with an intercooler. I know that there is a different ECU, I think 89660-3D260, and the air temperature sensor is after the intercooler. Are there any other differences? I also think they got the solid flywheel from the factory, but I have no confirmation. Plus that fact doesn't matter for this discussion.

I was thinking that my truck might be able to compensate for the addition of an intercooler better if I purchased a intercooled ECU, and then placed my factory air sensor after the intercooler. My ECU needs to be replaced anyway, so if I can find the right one there is no extra cost.

Any thoughts?

[Dara]

the intercooled kzn185 is 145bhp and 253Nm of torque factory an the non intercooled is 110bhp i think an i dont know the torque figure...so an intercooled ecu should help it make more power over a non intercooled one

[BeratE]

Thanks for the response. Yeah, those gains are what I am looking forward to with the intercooler. What I don't know is if there are additional inputs that the ECU looks for that my non intercooled truck would not be naturally providing...

[IanB2]

I was not aware the intercooled engine had a specific ecu, that sucks. So if I add an intercooler to my truck, I can't expect to gain the difference between the intercooled and non-intercooled unless I also have the ecu?

[Apache]

Does the intercooled version use a different ECU?? The normal ECU should have an intake air temp map wide enough to at least make *some* use of colder air I would think. I cant think of anything else it would do.

A factory topmount air cooler isn't going to have a big impact on performance anyway as its sitting in the superheated updraft from a turbo-diesel engine! I bet Toyota's figures are a bit hopeful!

Nice one on trying a water / air intercooler - thats the golden solution I reckon! What are you getting it off? Did you have the turbocharged Celica out there? I reckon that would be a good bet if you get the water pump and radiator too.

[BeratE]

I believe that although there is a specific ECU for intecooled engines, you will still see performance gains with an intercooler. I believe I will get better adjustment with the correct ECU though because it is tuned to have the air temp sensor post-cooler. There is not much of a compensation on a non-intercooled truck to take advantage of the intercooler, but most people just turn up the fuel a bit and adjust timing a bit.

Water-cooled should be the ticket, and I plan to assemble my own kit. A front mount might be cheaper and easier, also with gains, but not as much fun. Plus more parts