Mondeo 2.5T seems to have more grunt when cold

snips86x · 11 Jun 2015 at 09:21

So I've been driving my car too and from work for a while now and this morning I noticed that the car, when cold, seemed to have more grunt when putting my foot down. Obviously I didn't rag it as it was cold, but it seemed more responsive.

When its warmed up, it doesn't seem to respond as well, its not awful but its no where near as responsive as it is when cold - what could be causing this?

I honestly don't know if it has an intercooler, I'm assuming it would but I've not actually checked.

GinG · 11 Jun 2015 at 09:25

Could it just be the hotter air under the bonnet causing the decrease in responsiveness?

Possibly check the cold air feed to the filter isn't blocked, or consider adding an extra feed to help the cold air get to the filter.

Are you using the standard airbox and filter or have you replaced with a cone filter?

snips86x · 11 Jun 2015 at 09:26

I had thought about changing to a cone filter as other 2.5T Mondy drivers who have done so have reported the car to be more responsive on the pedal. I'm currently using the stock airbox, feed & filter.

Howard · 11 Jun 2015 at 09:46

That'll possibly make things worse if anything.

sprite1275 · 11 Jun 2015 at 10:00

I thought engines always run better, more performance when cold. Hosted they get the less performance but better fuel economy.

OhEsEcks · 11 Jun 2015 at 10:08

Heat soak. Get a bigger intercooler.

breadturbo · 11 Jun 2015 at 10:11

stock filterbox is good, just get a panel element if anything,
I've done a fair bit of reading about this recently, and the intercooler is a bit small for the job, most upgrade to a focus RS one (to save some pennies) or a proper aftermarket jobby.

**edit also check its not 'bugged up', amazing how much crap comes out witha jetwash through the IC

snips86x · 11 Jun 2015 at 10:12

OhEsEcks said:
Heat soak. Get a bigger intercooler.

breadturbo said:
stock filterbox is good, just get a panel element if anything,
I've done a fair bit of reading about this recently, and the intercooler is a bit small for the job, most upgrade to a focus RS one (to save some pennies) or a proper aftermarket jobby.

**edit also check its not 'bugged up', amazing how much crap comes out witha jetwash through the IC

I had thought about doing that actually.....pretty straightforward?

Panel Element? You mean a new/better filter?

OhEsEcks · 11 Jun 2015 at 10:18

snips86x said:
pretty straightforward?

If you get one made for the mondeo yes. Otherwise it might involve drilling new hanging / bolting points, cutting metal to fit a non-fitting cooler and cutting new hosing. Depends on how handy you are with the tools and whether or not you want to cut the front of the car up, compared to dropping in a made for replacement which you can return to stock if you ever sell.

Quick google says JW racing have one made specifically for the mk4.

http://j-w-racing.co.uk/product.php/8108/3115/spec___r_alloy_intercooler_mondeo_2_5t

breadturbo · 11 Jun 2015 at 10:24

snips86x said:
I had thought about doing that actually.....pretty straightforward?

Panel Element? You mean a new/better filter?

yeah, something like a pipercross/K+N or similar, they can be had for £30 ish with a few searches, I've gone for a 'pipercross' one but its not arrived yet.

http://www.pipercross.net/pipercros...ngth-236mm-x-width-206mm-pp1630_p24037722.htm

snips86x · 11 Jun 2015 at 10:26

That was quick - thanks

Not sure I'd want to tackle this on my own, but it's just a few hoses right

Diagro · 11 Jun 2015 at 10:29

My 172 has more "grunt" when cold too. This is because the Cold map send more fuel to warm the engine up.

233 · 11 Jun 2015 at 10:31

Sure airtec do a cooler for the 2.5

But I don't think it's your ic if the cars stock. Maybe a quick diagnostic might be in order first

breadturbo · 11 Jun 2015 at 10:41

snips86x said:
That was quick - thanks Not sure I'd want to tackle this on my own, but it's just a few hoses right

Not even that ran outside and grabbed you two pics, unscrew the two screws.

slide it out (have the move the plastic front panel but it moves out of the way without too much effort.

**oops missed the IC fitting post rofl, ignore

snips86x · 11 Jun 2015 at 10:46

^^ HAHA

Yeah, I could do the panel filter, but it would seem the IC should be fairly straight forward considering its an identical size.

Where you based BTW?

Dav4 · 11 Jun 2015 at 11:00

I've noticed my ST220 is the same especially on a long drive in hot weather the acceleration goes flat as a pancake.

snips86x · 11 Jun 2015 at 11:19

I think I may try a Pipercross panel filter first and see if it makes a difference, along with checking the intake pipes for crud/blockages.

Out of interest, what about this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mk4-Ford-...360?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4ae0a76ba8

breadturbo · 11 Jun 2015 at 11:37

snips86x said:
I think I may try a Pipercross panel filter first and see if it makes a difference, along with checking the intake pipes for crud/blockages.

Out of interest, what about this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mk4-Ford-...360?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4ae0a76ba8

Thats the best bang for buck one from what I've been told, the best of the best is this but way more expensive....

http://j-w-racing.co.uk/product.php/8108/3115/spec___r_alloy_intercooler_mondeo_2_5t

snips86x · 11 Jun 2015 at 11:49

Yeah, I'm happy to buy the J-W-Racing IC, but if I can get roughly the same performance for less that's a bonus. I'm getting a remap in January, so this should help too!

Scania · 11 Jun 2015 at 12:17

I've noticed this in all of my large (ish) engined BMW's, all go like a train in the early hours on the way to work but coming home when it's warm (hardly hot though) they do feel less responsive.

Curiously though, I didn't feel this drop off in the smaller engined 318's I've owned, but certainly in the 3 M52 engined six pots and my current M54 530i especially, this is very flat on a hot day, no fault codes though when I got it read recently.

I'm guessing it's down to heat soak, my truck though is unaffected by heat or cold, I'd have thought a 13litre turbo diesel would be more susceptible to this but apparently not.