Cooling upgrade for spirited driving ?

[waxxonMTL]

As spring is approaching here in Canada and bought the car in november, I'm wondering how useful are the cooling upgrade available if no track use, nor drag racing are to be done with the car ? I'm sure a few of use have already done log and such on some highway pull, not just at the track I suppose. What was the conclusion ? Can a stock cooling system be fine for a stage 2 and spirited driving ?

[MrFunk]

I don't track mine at all. I may do a track day this summer though... we'll see...
Once I went stage 2 I really noticed heat soak on just about every drive once temps got above 60F... You will notice an improvement even in daily driving conditions with upgraded cooling.

[mrmomo313]

Not sure what your definition of spirited driving is... I say feel it out since this is your first warm weather experience with the car. You may find that what you have is adequate for your needs...

Pretty much the same deal as Mrfunk.. The stock cooling system is not up to the task of making consistent power in spring/summer temps at stg2.. It's really bad in the summer. Stock like acceleration within a few pulls...

AMS did a hell of job with their boost cooler. My car is so consistent with it, I'll only deviate a tenth or two when making 10 or more 1/4 mile passes in a row. One of the best upgrades I've done to my car.

[waxxonMTL]

I don't track mine at all. I may do a track day this summer though... we'll see...
Once I went stage 2 I really noticed heat soak on just about every drive once temps got above 60F... You will notice an improvement even in daily driving conditions with upgraded cooling.

by improvement, what do you mean exactly ? Is it as bad as.. few hard acceleration.. some downtown traffic.. goes to accelerate and hop car is already heat soaking so ECU is pulling timing and the car isn't acceleration as it used to ?

[chaos2984]

Well depending on what model you have is what options you have. If you have a B8 you should have the extra side radiator in the fender well area. Then i would say you would have to get a bigger S/C cooler or separate the system completely will help with the engine cooling system. Id say go with a couple degree lower T-stat if someone makes such a thing.

If you have a B8.5 You can get the side radiator and adapt it to fit. That would help. Again also with the S/C cooler will help as well.

Also if you don't already go with an RS4 style grill. More surface area for air to get to the radiator less blockage from factory grill. Every little bit helps.

[cspcrx]

I have a 2012 B8 and have never understood the extra radiator I have in the driver side bumper. What exactly does it do?

I'm in Phoenix and my car is stock and its night and day between winter and summer. I will say this end of this last summer I started mixing in 3-4 gal of E85 and it helped bring some of the power back. I am sure an upgraded cooler would help even a stock car where I am!

[waxxonMTL]

I'm b8.5 :) cheers !

hence why i stated I live in Canada. Surely our weather is a lot less warm than it is in the south of the US. Basicly, we have 30 celcius weather maybe 6 weeks per year.. Beside that, it's like 15 celcius in the morning and get up to 25ish for the remaining of spring/summer/autumn and then.. well winter comes and it's minus celcius. lol !!

[MrFunk]

by improvement, what do you mean exactly ? Is it as bad as.. few hard acceleration.. some downtown traffic.. goes to accelerate and hop car is already heat soaking so ECU is pulling timing and the car isn't acceleration as it used to ?

That is exactly what I mean. Within 15 minutes of driving in summer I can feel the soak. Boost is reduced and it's not as "peppy". You know that feeling of getting in your car on a cool summer morning and it pulls like a beast as it's warming up... well with updated cooling it pretty much retains that whereas before it would start feeling sluggish after about 15-20 min of "spirited" driving.

[lowjonathan]

Well depending on what model you have is what options you have. If you have a B8 you should have the extra side radiator in the fender well area. Then i would say you would have to get a bigger S/C cooler or separate the system completely will help with the engine cooling system. Id say go with a couple degree lower T-stat if someone makes such a thing.

If you have a B8.5 You can get the side radiator and adapt it to fit. That would help. Again also with the S/C cooler will help as well.

Also if you don't already go with an RS4 style grill. More surface area for air to get to the radiator less blockage from factory grill. Every little bit helps.

those on B8.5, add in this Aux radiator will help on the SC cooling?

[Laurent21]

I have a B8 and don't think I got this Aux radiator..

[Kustomimports]

If you have the b8 look in the driver side fog light grill area. You should see a cooling rad in the back corner of the hole. If you just see a open hole with nothing in it. You don't have one. I'll post up a picture for you in a little bit so you understand what I'm referring too.

[Laurent21]

nothing there

but I'm going to add an oil radiator though. I don't like my engine temp

[jimrobbington]

I have a 2012 B8 and have never understood the extra radiator I have in the driver side bumper. What exactly does it do?

I'm in Phoenix and my car is stock and its night and day between winter and summer. I will say this end of this last summer I started mixing in 3-4 gal of E85 and it helped bring some of the power back. I am sure an upgraded cooler would help even a stock car where I am!

This. 3 gallons of E85 in the tank almost makes up for the summer heat soak here in Colorado! Of course, that's on stock tuning.

[droopy1592]

No codes no cel?

[cspcrx]

Non. I ran 3 gal exactly with the rest top tier 91 octane. Did this for several months no issues. Then i went to 3.5 and 4.0 gal of e85 to see and no issues at all. Just a car that kept its power.

If the E85 is truly E85 that should be enough to get me equal to 93 octane. If it is not truly E85 but E60 than 4 gal is enough to get me to 93 octane. I have not tested the E85 but i get it Cheveron and everything i have seen from those who have tested seem to come in between 60 and 85. I plan on doing a stage 2 tune, as soon as the next sale occures, and want to run the 93 tune all the time.

I read a bunch of posts and it seems like the radiator behind the fog light is connected to the regulare cooling system. I still dont get it but like have extra cooling especially here in Phoenix.

[droopy1592]

And the hpfp is adequate ? No chance of being lean? Even in winter?

[cspcrx]

No issues with the mix I ran in Arizona winter but the coldest it gets is in the low 20s. Others are running more than I am to get them closer to 100 octane but they are also starting with 93. There are some running 50/50 mix.

[cspcrx]

Filled up last night. Put in 9 gal of 91 octane and 4.1 gal of E85. Car just seems to love it and no codes or issues.

[acsgp]

I have a 2012 B8 and have never understood the extra radiator I have in the driver side bumper. What exactly does it do?

I'm in Phoenix and my car is stock and its night and day between winter and summer. I will say this end of this last summer I started mixing in 3-4 gal of E85 and it helped bring some of the power back. I am sure an upgraded cooler would help even a stock car where I am!

It's the heat exchanger for the Audi Drive Select (ADS) cooling system.

From the AWE Cold Front page:

- Fits Audi Drive Select cars with addition of AWE Tuning Drive Select Cooler

http://www.awe-tuning.com/awe-tuning...changer-system

[cspcrx]

So its for the steering rack? Hmm interesting.
Thanks

[S4'ed]

No, the aux radiator behind the driver side fog-light grill is for the intercooler water. It is in series with the long horizontal intercooler radiator that is in front of the regular engine coolant radiator and AC condenser, center front of car. Later S4s do not have the aux radiator behind the fog-light grill.

[waxxonMTL]

Theres no e85 in canada so what are the option here ? APR ? REVO ? AMS ?

[colby7]

APR, AWE, and AMS Alpha are the main three.

[ojmcneill]

So can you just mix in a few gallons of e85 in your tank and experience benefits?

[cspcrx]

So can you just mix in a few gallons of e85 in your tank and experience benefits?

Yes and I and others have. I am stock and see it but it is because it gets so bloody hot here.

[Zaxon55]

Looking at going Stage 2 soon. As part of this I am looking at the AWE Coldfront system.
Can anyone speak to the necessity of the extra reservoir and pump in addition to the intercooler? For a DD, with some occasional track days, is the extra $900 + labor justified?

Thanks!

[acsgp]

No, the aux radiator behind the driver side fog-light grill is for the intercooler water. It is in series with the long horizontal intercooler radiator that is in front of the regular engine coolant radiator and AC condenser, center front of car. Later S4s do not have the aux radiator behind the fog-light grill.

Based on my research on the B8, there are 2 coolers in the area. The stock s/c heat exchanger, which is usually replaced by a larger unit in cooling upgrades, and a small ADS cooler. Some of the upgraded heat exchangers can accommodate the ADS cooler, some can't.

[Jones2012s4]

Based on my research on the B8, there are 2 coolers in the area. The stock s/c heat exchanger, which is usually replaced by a larger unit in cooling upgrades, and a small ADS cooler. Some of the upgraded heat exchangers can accommodate the ADS cooler, some can't.

The cooler on the drivers side is NOT for ADS. Please do not spread anymore incorrect information, this forum could use a lot less of that.

uploadfromtaptalk1457185193385.jpg

I removed mine when installing the full AWE Cold-Front system.

[acsgp]

The cooler on the drivers side is NOT for ADS. Please do not spread anymore incorrect information, this forum could use a lot less of that

Not sure why you're so aggressive in your response. I did not say it was on the driver's side - I said "in the area". There are 2 coolers apart from the main heat exchanger in the front bumper area. And I come from the RHD community, and was careful not to specify the exact area due to the layout differences.

All I'm trying to explain is that those with ADS should be conscious of an additional cooler which is not compatible with some cooling system upgrades.

[cspcrx]

Good point i know APR mentions the difference in their kit and there is some other mount or partsnthey sell for cars with it.

[Mat@1975]

Hello,

the "ADS cooler" is an auxilliary cooler for the steering fluid of cars with "dynamic steering" option.
So It is never on B8.5 as they have electric steering.

BR

Mat

[Jones2012s4]

Not sure why you're so aggressive in your response. I did not say it was on the driver's side - I said "in the area". There are 2 coolers apart from the main heat exchanger in the front bumper area. And I come from the RHD community, and was careful not to specify the exact area due to the layout differences.

All I'm trying to explain is that those with ADS should be conscious of an additional cooler which is not compatible with some cooling system upgrades.

Not aggressive,

You presented a statement as fact; that the cooler on the left hand side and I quote "It's the heat exchanger for the Audi Drive Select (ADS) cooling system.", which in fact is incorrect.

My comment regarding spreading of incorrect facts is based on 4 years of being part of this community. I apologize if it came off as a personal attack.