My Pete rebuild

[Rawze]

(08-22-2018 )Nostalgic Wrote:  It seems to be a contested topic, but my CAC had a crack and I needed a new one. I can only guess if it was OE or not (no Paccar embossing?). Anyway, after making my rounds with eyes glazing over and not really finding a clearer picture of what exactly makes one CAC design better or worse one way or another, I went with a Spectra Premium. Compared to the original, I have 3 additional bars/tubes (slightly closer spaced), otherwise, I can't see any other differences, other than cleaner looking welds. Tube fin, bar fin, welded or boxed...?

I assume the real test will be reading turbo output temp/pressure vs intake manifold temp/pressure to see how well it cools and flows?

Worst case scenario, I'll replace it after the truck has generated a $1. On the other hand, if it performs, I have lifetime warranty on it.

Either way, it's better than running one with a leak lol.

The biggest drawback for after-market CAC coolers is restriction and/or reduced ability to cool the charge air.

If there are less tubes, or the tubing is smaller internally than OE, it will likely have restrictions. If the tubing is thicker, then it is less likely to have good cooling. Either of them and you pay more than if you had gone OEM in fuel mileage and effeciency losses.

There are some really bad brands of CAC units out there being pushed onto truck owners. It does not matter if something is inherently "tougher" if it sucks the life out of your engine and that is exactly what most of them do.

some related info that someone posted ...
http://rawze.com/forums/showthread.php?t...41#pid3441


I have seen a few that were close enough to OEM not to worry about but they were rare.