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Car Upgrades

Intercooler Kits

by Adam Lee

In the battle to reduce engine temperature in turbo and supercharged high performance automobiles, intercooler kits have provided an outlet for greatly increased heat reduction. This is a two way street, and the positive effects must be weighed against the negative aspects. In a highly modified engine where heat-soak issues are a very real problem, intercooler kits can provide an efficient answer to all these issues. However, an unnecessary install can seriously detract from performance. One must seriously consider the need for an intercooler kit before making an expensive purchase.

Two Types of Intercooler Kits

Intercooler kits come in two basic forms. The first of these, the air-to-air system, is the most cost effective and easiest to install. Air-to-air systems utilize ambient air temperature to reduce under-hood temperature and increase the molecule density of air being induced into the charging system. Liquid-to-air systems are designed for extreme high performance automobiles with intense heat issues. By circulating air over ice, liquid-to-air systems have the potential to reduce engine temperature below ambient air temperature, greatly increasing the potential of supercharger systems.

For most practical applications, an air-to-air system should meet the requirements of most heat-soak problems. These systems are usually easy to install and require little maintenance. The more complex, and henceforth more expensive, alternative of a liquid-to-air system is usually required by only the most high performance vehicles on the road.

An intercooler system functions by reducing the heat of the air charge being induced by a turbo or supercharger system. This increases the charge density and thereby the power potential of such a system. This also decreases the chance of detonation, better known as knock. This can increase boost pressure by 10 to 20% of the average street magnitude, which greatly increases the potential of the engine in question, giving the driver a competitive edge on the track.

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