My PLM Heat exchanger Kit review **PICS

[infinkc]

I ordered a PLM Heat Exchanger to give it a try, the kit seemed real solid and built well so I bit the bullet.

I didn’t have time to do crazy testing as with 3 little kids I don’t get much time to work on my car now. I decided to just do surface temp measurements to see how effective the exchanger is working.

The main difference from this kit from the others is that it still utilizes the stock coolant loop, not a divorced system. After looking at diagrams and doing testing, there is very minimal movement of coolant from the main coolant loop from the supercharger loop. Having the system not divorced you can keep an eye on the coolant levels and also not have to worry about un foreseen leaks.

Installation was relatively easy; there were no instructions included. It was not too hard to figure out what went where. The only problem I ran into was figuring out what hoses went where, as they included ones for the b8.5 that aren’t used. I will be writing a DIY how to install this kit, I just didn’t want to clutter it in this post at the moment.

Overall I am more impressed with the kit that my original intentions, the quality and the fit was spot on. Im glad there is a cheaper alternative out there now.

PLM told me they will be doing a special GB for this kit, I should have more info on it soon from them if there is a lot of interest. PM me as forum rules don't allow me to post info. The price will blow your mind, limited to only 10 kits.

The kit arrived very nicely packaged, double boxed.

The Heat Exchanger package comes with all the hoses and stainless hardware along with factory clamps. Even a drill bit for drilling the mounting holes in the support.

The Heat Exchanger is built really well, has nice clean welds. It even has a bracket on it for an ADS cooler.





The Coolant Reservoir is really nicely built, clean welds and black anodized. It comes with all the hoses for a b8 or b8.5 install.


All the Hardware is stainless and with factory clamps and brass barbs.


I painted the Heat Exchanger black with some Eastwood Radiator Paint



Pic of Res installed

Heat exchanger installed, I reused my old protection screen I had from the stock HE/radiator.


Here are my temp measurements:
Stock HE after driving 30 miles
Coolant temps on my p3 gauge was 199-200F ambient was 68deg.



Temp at the point where the loops connect

Temp at the stock HE

I did 3 hard pulls and re-measured the temps





These are the measurements done after the PLM HE install.
Note the ambient is 8degF less at the time, The Coolant temps now ranged in the 196-200 range, I never saw anything less than 199F with the stock HE, so there is more air getting to the stock radiator I presume also now as the HE is not pressed against it.


Yea I know I need more coolant 

[infinkc]

Post cont:
After 3 hard runs on the same stretch of road.

[Okan509]

looks like a quality piece

so the benefit of this would need to be measured under greater/sustained stress?

[mgaman]

Looks nice, and seems to have demonstrable benefits.

[BoostEasy]

The biggest challenges I saw stock were with ambients over 80'F and idling or slow speed then jumping on the throttle. The coolant loops in the SC get really hot from heat soak with little air movement. It will be interesting to see how much the aftermarket cooling upgrades help there.

If you have VCDS, log the IAT.

Thanks for the pix and temps recorded.

[theswoleguy]

nice

[Ek9max]

So judging by the temp readings it seems to be working great right?

I would think the iat's would also see a good improvement.

As good as the competition you think?

[bhvrdr]

Thanks for taking the risk and trying it. I think I agree with you about going with a non divorced system. I like those benefits as well. Let us know how it holds up for you.

Mike

[DGVR6]

Sweet.. Good job!

[Ek9max]

Aw hell. Ordered one up.

[infinkc]

There are 7 spots left for the special purchase.

[Ek9max]

There are 7 spots left for the special purchase.

At the new group buy price. I couldn't resist.

[mojangles69]

Nice write-up, OP! Nice job and glad it is working out for you. Please keep us appraised of how it holds up!

[miztahsparklez]

Waiting for mine


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[richib86]

where can i order with GB pricing

[DGVR6]

Read the full review. Infinkc states it in his post.. I took the plunge and got one myself.

[richib86]

Read the full review. Infinkc states it in his post.. I took the plunge and got one myself.

am i losing my mind? i cant find it in this post anywhere

[DGVR6]

am i losing my mind? i cant find it in this post anywhere

PLM told me they will be doing a special GB for this kit, I should have more info on it soon from them if there is a lot of interest. PM me as forum rules don't allow me to post info. The price will blow your mind, limited to only 10 kits.

No lol, you just probably over looked it as it wasn't detailed. Just PM Infinkc.

[Ek9max]

Ya Just PM Infinkc. pricing is pretty awesome if the product lasts.

[DGVR6]

Just received the goodies.. I'll be ordering a intercooler pump to go along with it once I'm ready to install.
Everything's seems to be built with quality from what I can see. Happy so far.

[infinkc]

Just received the goodies.. I'll be ordering a intercooler pump to go along with it once I'm ready to install.
Everything's seems to be built with quality from what I can see. Happy so far.

what pump were you thinking of using? i was debating adding a Varimax http://www.lingenfelter.com/mm5/merc...6#.VYnCWflVhBc
or the Jabsco http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00..._email_1p_0_ti

These pumps have both been tested for american cars and flow very well.

[DGVR6]

I looked at Varimax.. Good reviews on the CTSV forums. I believe AMS uses the same pump.

[infinkc]

Link to the Install document.

http://1drv.ms/1fFeTnE

[kap09]

PM sent. Had major heat issues on Targa Trophy last weekend. Might need to bite the bullet on this.

[bpang1]

PM Sent!

[miztahsparklez]

No mo heatsoak!

Edit: Also, I used about 2 gallons of fluid (1 gallon of factory non-diluted coolant plus 1 gallon of distilled water)

Since I had a lot of coolant in the reservoir, I used the bleed screws on top of the SC to get the coolant to drain out of the reservoir so I could use the vacuum filler tool. 2x tries and system seems to be air free (did the bleeder check on the SC to verify)




Mesh installed! (Reused from old mesh guard)



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[infinkc]

The vendor told me that there are only a few spots left at the intro price, PM me for details.

[miztahsparklez]

Also, the paint I used seems to be holding up well... No damage from the heat.


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[DGVR6]

I installed the plm heat exchanger. Didn't get the pump atm but I ended up doing some quick logging of the iats. Nothing crazy. I'll do some more on my days off. I'm fairly new to vag com and I'm quickly posting what I seen.

After a good hour drive and idling I ended pulling out the computer.
Coolant temp - 94c
Ambient temp - 30c
Iat - 50c

First gear pull iat dropped to 48c
Second gear pull picked up to about 50c
Third gear pull went up to about 53c

The recovery time was quick. Dropped down to 50c while idling but coolant did go up to 99c.
Did one more pull about 30 seconds in and I had the same results as above.
Coast about 1/8 of a mile and it dropped back down to 48c and coolant went down to 94c.

Once I have the time I'll do back to back pulls and try my best to heat soak the engine.

Hope this helps a bit for anybody thinking about pulling the trigger.

[drob23]

Aren't you just logging your engine coolant with VCDS or using a temp gun like infinkc? The engine coolant shouldn't really be affected by the upgraded blower coolant loop. Would be nice if there were some sensors in the blower loop, but I believe it's no dice in terms of vcds. But the IAT measurement is certainly important, arguably the most important. If you are only showing 5 deg C of increase after sustained pulls then I would say that is solid performance. APR, AWE, and AMS have some data you could look at for comparison.

[miztahsparklez]

It does affect it a little. But the almost non existence of heat soak is quite nice in day to day driving.


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[DGVR6]

This was done with with VCDS. As for the engine coolant I'm not sure how much of an effect it would have on the HX but I threw it up anyway.

I compared it with APR's graph but I will have to do multiple low 3rd gear pulls to try and get an accurate comparison. I'll give it a shot.

[drob23]

This was done with with VCDS. As for the engine coolant I'm not sure how much of an effect it would have on the HX but I threw it up anyway.

I compared it with APR's graph but I will have to do multiple low 3rd gear pulls to try and get an accurate comparison. I'll give it a shot.

I wasn't trying to say the measurements are useless, just make sure that you understand the engine coolant loop is where that sensor is. The system is not divorced (like APR or AWE), so there is an opportunity for the circuits to transfer heat back and forth. But like infinkc said in the OP, the amount will likely be negligible. The main failure mode you are avoiding is if the supercharger loop somehow becomes drained...then you will know because the engine loop/overfill tank will simultaneously drain and you'll get a warning in dash.

Skywagon actually installed an analog sensor probe in the outlet of his CPS heat exchanger, and hooked it up to his P3 gauge. This is really the best measure to check performance of the CPS system IMO (I'm no expert on this testing however, so maybe there is something better).

But like I said, the whole point of the system is to keep IAT's in check, so logging that will truly tell the story. Sounds like yours is working well

[moophone]

infinkc, PM sent!

[bokiboki]

PM sent.

[rtl5009]

I'm really not impressed with the price point. AWE is $100 more? AWE all day on that decision.

[infinkc]

I'm really not impressed with the price point. AWE is $100 more? AWE all day on that decision.

At the GB price it was much more than $100, but now since AWE dropped their price its a hard comparison.

The GB is no longer active.

[rtl5009]

Yea awe's reseviour is sexy. And I'm pretty sure I can make a pump for less than $200 with a b20 electric water pump.

[witz]

I just contacted PLM and they said they are willing to price match and beat AWE's pricing and it seems like AWE's doesn't come with the reservoir tank like PLM for additional fluids. Pm me if you want details.

[GRUMPY-S4]

Does painting the Heat Exchanger change its efficiency at all?