Turbocharged and supercharged engines intake air and compress it, which creates heat. An intercooler plays an integral role in cooling down this compressed air, so the engine runs at maximum efficiency.
There are different kinds of intercoolers, and without the right information, it can be hard to work out which one will work best for your engine. That’s why we’ve uncovered everything you need to know about this engine cooling system. Read on to help narrow down the options.
Air to air intercoolerThis is the most common in stock vehicles, as it’s a very simple system.
Its general function usually goes something like this:The air enters the turbocharger air intakeIt compresses the air which makes it very hotThe air is circulated to the intercooler which then cools the airThe cooled air is then taken to the enginePretty simple right? Air-to-air intercoolers are typically front mounted and rely mostly on ambient airflow from the front of the car.
Main benefits:Don’t have to worry about liquid leaksLight-weightSimpler systemCost-effectiveUnlikely to experience heat-soak if there is good airflowLiquid to air intercoolerA liquid to air intercooler is far more complex, but they are becoming increasingly popular in performance cars these days due to high efficiency.
Their general function looks a little something like this:Cool air enters turbocharger intakeTurbocharger compresses and heats airThis is sent into the intercooler which cools it down before entering the engineAt the same time, coolant is also circulating through the intercoolerThe hot coolant is circulated to the radiator which sends cold coolant back to the intercooler to aid further coolingGiven there are two circuits carrying air and coolant respectively, this usually requires more accessories and fittings such as hoses.
It can be a little more on the expensive side thanks to that, but is still a highly effective system – particularly for short bursts in applications like drag racing.
Main benefits to a liquid to air intercooler:Highly efficientEfficiency can be exaggerated by using ice or other chemicals for short amounts of timeLess turbo lagCan be placed anywhere in the engine bayShorter routing
