Your car has to be cool on the inside as well as outside. This will serve you as the ultimate guide to achieving that by choosing the right intercooler. The process of choosing an intercooler is sure to be a daunting one for first timers. People unfamiliar with the technology are afraid to ask questions in fear of being laughed at.
We however, do not see it that way. That is why in this guide, Proto Performance will delve into detail explaining various intercooler systems, their designs, features and general capabilities, as well as cover the basics. This knowledge will help you squeeze the most power for the money, without going overboard in terms of size and value as many do.
A well optimized system is far more capable than simply a big one. A turbocharger uses waste escape gases which spin a turbine used to compress the air from the intake, thus forcing more of it in the combustion chamber. More air in the cylinder equals a bigger bang and ultimately, more power. This is all well and good, however, when air is compressed, its temperature rises and density decreases, which goes against the idea of actually getting more air in the cylinder.
As such, the intercooler introduces cold air into the throttle body, increasing its density and putting more of it in the engine. All that air is routed throughout the engine with a series of pipes, which depending on the complexity of the build can be either plastic, steel or aluminium. The pipes snake around the engine connecting the turbo to the intercooler and it to the intake manifold.
In laymen terms, the intercooler is nothing more than a heat exchanger. The external fins on the intercooler provide a massive surface area for the hot air to escape.
