What is everyone's opinion on upgrading the stock heat exchanger on a mostly street driven truck? Is there any real benefit from the larger heat exchanger on a street truck? I have heard some say this mod is a total waste of money and others that claim that they really did see a decrease in temps as a result. Just wanted your opinion before I drop $350.00.

 

It really helped mine alot for the street racing aspect. 3 spal fans wont hurt either

 

I just added one, but didn't do any temp logging like I should have. I think its one of those things....it can only be good, ya know? I have a stock block MP truck turning 16lbs of boost in the summer months, and I figured with that kind of boost (mind you I also have a full exhaust to help reduce back pressure) it was a safe peace of mind.

 

Anyone else?

 

I noticed a considerable decrease in temp. My .02...buying one depends on what you want out of your performance...and what is important to you. Ask a question...get a 100 answers.

 

We sold one to a guy that sat in traffic alot to and from work.
He said before he got the H/E the truck would get pretty d@mn hot. And after he got the H/E his truck runs a h*ll of alot cooler.
Another customer thinks he is getting better gas mileage from it.
He is testing it over 4 tank fulls of gas though, so the verdict is not quite in on that yet.

Andy

 

I bet they can help engine and s/c longevity <-- however that is spelled

Like a turbo timer for a turbocharged may extend the life of a turbo.

 

Worthless unless you are autocrossing IMO.

 

Don't forget the racing bling factor from a shiny silver exchanger peeking out.

 

It will be interesting to hear those results.

--Joe

 

He said he would post about it after that fourth tank of gas.

Andy

 

4 tanks or 20 tanks, mileage results from observations taken by the owner/installer/driver are next to worthless. To constitute a valid test, the fuel-saving device needs to be installed without the driver's knowledge or economy measured over a very long period of time. Any device will save fuel if the owner thinks that it will (you subconsciously change driving habits).

As with just about every other fuel saving device discussed around here (plugs, ignition, ground cables, etc), I don't buy it for one second. With Ford struggling to meet CAFE standards and gas prices reaching record highs, if Ford could get a little better mileage from some $10 improvement, it damn sure would.

 

But what if it is a $150 part? And what if it only benefited the Lightnings? The Lightning's were too low production to help (or hurt) CAFE fleet levels. I don't buy your premise on why certain aftermarket parts won't help. I'm not arguing they do or don't help fuel economy, just that your premise is too simplistic to be accepted.

-Mark

 

The marginal cost of an upsized HE would be minimal (remember, it's just the extra cost of a larger unit that we are talking about, not its total cost). Maybe not $10, but certainly nowhere near $150.

A low-volume fix would have a low total price of implementation, so the expense would be just as justified on a per-unit basis as the same fix on a high-volume product (accepting perhaps some slight economies of scale from buying or making 5,000 widgets versus 500,000 widgets).

 

It seemed your argument was Ford should spend the marginal additional cost to help their CAFE average. I would argue on a low production vehicle, they have no incentive to do so. When talking about the HE, what if the supplying vendor had the Lightning design on the shelf, but a more efficient unit required R&D and tooling?

Way too many hypotheticals and speculation.