Water Injection: before or after turbo???

GeneralTJI

Turbo Todd
Jun 1, 2010
1,272
0
36
Colorado
Ok... picked up a Coolingmist stage 1 kit.

I have a tank (3/4 gallon or maybe 1 gal) I am only interested in running the system at higher boost (probably set it around 18-20 to come on) Just for cooling off WOT stuff... looking to run pure water or close to it.

I have done quite a bit of reading, I have seen arguments both ways. Sounds like before the turbo does a better job at cooling etc. But also you run risk of some turbine damage (possibly?)....

What are you guys running? I will stuff this thing in the truck tomorrow after work.

Thanks for the thoughts on this!
 

sweetdiesel

That's better
Aug 6, 2006
10,390
0
0
52
Thailand
I don't run it and don't really belive in it. I like that you run pure water though as methenol is really hard on stuff!

If I was going to run water I would inject into the runners before each cyl. And run a pump that injects at high press... 1000 psi plus.

You build a lot of your own stuff.... So check out texsteam pumps.


Just my 2 cents as I don't run it.
 

McRat

Diesel Hotrodder
Aug 2, 2006
11,249
26
38
64
Norco CA
www.mcratracing.com
We run about 500-750cc of water every 10 seconds in Casper, using a Snow system. It's injected at the boost side in our case, when boost goes over 25psi.

1) On a dyno, pure water, or water with 25% ethanol (vodka?) showed no significant HP change. EGT's fell about 100 deg F IIRC.

2) You can still melt pistons with that much water. Not even sure if it really retards it.
 

sweetdiesel

That's better
Aug 6, 2006
10,390
0
0
52
Thailand
We run about 500-750cc of water every 10 seconds in Casper, using a Snow system. It's injected at the boost side in our case, when boost goes over 25psi.

1) On a dyno, pure water, or water with 25% ethanol (vodka?) showed no significant HP change. EGT's fell about 100 deg F IIRC.

2) You can still melt pistons with that much water. Not even sure if it really retards it.

Welcome newbie:hug::D
 

GeneralTJI

Turbo Todd
Jun 1, 2010
1,272
0
36
Colorado
Thanks guys,

Yea I don't expect any miracles... I just figured with LBZ possible glass pistons anything to help out ya know :) :angel:

Is it safe to inject pre-turbo if I do use this system? Only going to inject enough water to see a decent egt drop so I'll feel better about things :rofl:
 

McRat

Diesel Hotrodder
Aug 2, 2006
11,249
26
38
64
Norco CA
www.mcratracing.com
I've injected pre-turbo and haven't seen damage to the compressor wheel. But I live my life a quarter mile at a time (when I find the time). For daily use? I've heard stories, but have never seen water damage to the wheel.

In a way, for HiPo apps, it might actually help. The compressor wheel gets hot, and if it gets too hot, it will blowed-it-up. But we really don't see compressor wheel problems with stock Dmax chargers.

You will get more water, and better atomization pre-turbo, but I'd hate to find out the rumors are true. Changing the charger on an LBZ sucks more than Mr. Dyson's commercials.
 

LBZ

Super Moderator
Staff member
Jul 2, 2007
9,903
149
63
46
B.C.
Changing the charger on an LBZ sucks more than Mr. Dyson's commercials.

So true. Gayest job I have had to do yet was pulling the stocker out!

I'd like to hear from someone who injected pre-compressor wheel in a DD to see how it faired. Personally, I think it would need to be introduced at a high pressure (1000 - 2000psi) to prevent damage. I'm quite sure it wouldn't hold up with a regular system on a DD. Even a small amount of dust can eat up a wheel spinning at 20 000+ rpm so.......
 

GeneralTJI

Turbo Todd
Jun 1, 2010
1,272
0
36
Colorado
Hmmm...Yea true...I thinking it's not worth the risk.... Thankfully when I built my egr delete ic pipe I put in an extra tapped port so it will be a snap there :thumb:
 

hondarider552

Getting faster
May 28, 2008
10,627
2
36
34
Arizona
I used water/meth, but didnt really like it at all, neither did my motor. We've all seen kilerbee's w/m "invention", but personally I wouldnt spray it before the turbo.. just my opinion, I like Simon's idea of in the intake runners :thumb:
 

MMLMM

Tunergeek
Mar 2, 2008
4,086
2
38
43
Reno, NV
www.dyncal.com
In stock turbo I say after...but thats just me...


you may want to await killerbees 6 page theory about water molecular structure vs. turbine wheel speed and thermo relevance....




EDIT: Guy Tripp found some interesting things after pulling some heads on W/M trucks....might dig that up if you have a chance...
 

fast03

Active member
Jun 15, 2008
1,201
6
38
60
Rancho Cucamonga
I would not chance anything going preturbo. I lost the tip off a wheel with who knows what that got through somehow. tiniest chip results in irritating vibrations and shorter turbo life.
 

JoshH

Daggum farm truck
Staff member
Vendor/Sponsor
Feb 14, 2007
13,715
779
113
Texas!!!
Without doing a full custom setup, perhaps running it after the turbo would be ideal? Run it thu the intercooler to give ot a chance to comingle???
You know, I had the same thought. Post turbo/pre intercooler heat should vaporize the water better than the cooler post intercooler temps. Of course, I've never ran water injection.
 

wes06dmax

New member
Feb 23, 2009
1,367
0
0
37
South Central Kentucky
I have run 75% water and 25% meth with 50% injection at WOT in my lbz but only when I race or sled pull I cant tell any diff power wise but the egt's came down about 300 degrees my truck never see's over 1400 on the pyro going down the track so I figured being able to keep it cooler may make it last longer because we all know HEAT is a diesel's worst enemy
 

DIESELMAFIAPER.LB7

<----new hotness
Jan 17, 2010
5,163
12
38
idaho
shop.dieselmafiaperformance.com
I'm going to run a snow kit Shortly I may try pre Turbo but you would absolutely have to have bout 1000 psi pump which would be hard to do So I will more then likely go post Turbo am I have Seen 40% methanol 60% water have done good on some trucks here lb7s love it an I know Its helped lbz motors as Well
 

JustinD

Plow Truck
Nov 21, 2008
2,067
0
36
42
Tiverton Rhode Island
I used to run a Snow kit, I was injecting it in passenger side IC pipe, so after the turbo, seemed like it wanted to be closest to the intake, made 26rwhp on a Mustang 2000 dyno. Felt good on the street too.
 

GeneralTJI

Turbo Todd
Jun 1, 2010
1,272
0
36
Colorado
I do appreciate all the responses guys! Good discussion here...

Usually I knock out mods asap when I receive them... but I have been busy enough I've only had a little time each evening after work to start installing this.

I had to remove my post IC pipe in the end... the 1/8" tapped fittings I had welded in my IC pipe originally were way too long and it would have ruined the spray pattern. (I tested it with one of the same fittings on the end of the injector and it caused it to spray more like a garden hose).

I have tossed the idea of using the factory washer tank or the small tank I have rigged up over and over again... I think I will use the small tank I have because I want to run 100% water and would like to retain use of my washer tank in cold temps. Problem is the tank I have is a little less than a gallon so it's going to go fast. Good news is that only spraying around 18-20 psi means it won't get used but here and there.

The two smaller injectors I received cause the pump to rapidly flip on and off.. my guess is that there is some kind of internal pressure shut off and the small tips are causing it to reach that point, so it shuts off, then drops below that point and kicks back on etc.

Guessing those are too small to do any good anyway :rofl:

Hopefully I'll be able to put the IC pipe back on tonight and get the thing up and running.


so I figured being able to keep it cooler may make it last longer because we all know HEAT is a diesel's worst enemy

That's where I'm at.... if I pick up a couple HP because it cools the charge down a little, that would be awesome!! but really I'm just hoping to take a little heat out of everything...