aftercooler

[1991cummins]

this may be a dumb question, but what is an aftercooler, i dont think i have ever seen one and i want to know what they do and what they for? or what applications they are on

[CaptainChrysler]

There are on different industrial and/ or truck applications. They are water to air. They use the engine antifreeze from the factory, buy work much better with ice water.

[1991cummins]

what do they do? is it a boost cooler?

[RumbleFish]

it does the same as your intercooler now, only with liquid instead of air.

[1991cummins]

wow, ok cool, thanks guys... are they any better than an intercooler, any bad things, good things for our application... do you run it inline iwth an intercooler, or all by itself

[MMiller]

I'll throw in some more confusing information. Caterpillar calls an aftercooler the air to air cooler that is mounted in front of the radiatior, what is called and intercooler on our trucks. Caterpillar calls the thing pictured above, a "water jacket aftercooler".

The names really more depend on the engine manufacturer. They basically do the same thing, one is just air to air, and the other is a water to air. Remember that a water to air will only cool the air down to whatever the water temp is. On and oem engine, that will be whatever the stat temp is, or 190 or so.

Just more useless info, from your local 'retired' Caterpillar mechanic.

Michael