intercooler?

Question

wat does it do?
does it replace anything?
do you have one?who makes it?

Answer 1

To simply explain an intercooler, it is a "radiator" for air.

Intercoolers are used on (mostly) turbocharged and sometimes supercharged engines. The process of compressing an intake air charge (or forced induction) creates a lot of heat, thus meaning the compressed and heated air is being forced into your engine.

Yes, turbos and superchargers will work without intercoolers, but they work even better with them for many reasons. The biggest one is cooler air is denser, therefore allowing more to be pushed into the combustion chamber creating more horsepower.

Secondly, hot air entering a hot combustion chamber with fuel being added, increases the chance of pre-detonation.

Pre-detonation is where the fuel/air mixture combusts BEFORE it is supposed to. Pre-detonation can occur in any engine (often called "pinging" or "spark knock") and is usually caused by poor quality fuel, incorrect ignition timing, and carbon deposits in the combustion chamber. The premature ignition can destory an engine rather quickly. By increasing the cylinder pressure (forced induction) the risk of pre-detonation is greatly increased. If you have heard of turbo timers and computers, or spark delay computers, part of their function is to retard or delay the ignition spark a few degrees at higher boost levels to prevent pre-detonation and damage to the engine In a high boost engine it would only take a few RPMs at the wrong ignition timing to destroy a piston or in some cases, the whole engine. Using an intercooler to cool the air going into the combustion chamber greatly reduces the risk of pre-detonation and at the same time it allows the motor to produce more power with the denser, cooler air charge.

Intercoolers are plumbed in between the compressor (turbo or supercharger) and the engine. So the compressed air, or intake air charge, once under pressure, passes through the intercooler, which is mounted in a location where air can pass through it (just like your radiator) then it is routed to the throttle body or carburetor.

You can purchase intercoolers from almost any salvage yard, ebay, and performance parts warehouses or companies (Summit, Jegs, Modern Performance, etc.) Some places even custom make them for you, but they cost a lot.

Hope this helps

Answer 2

An Intercooler is a device that looks like a radiator but thicker and it comes in a lot of sizes. It's normally used in car with turbo charger. The purpose is to cool down air from the turbo before it enters the engine and it normally installed between the turbo & engine. This cooling is for make the air colder so it is denser for mixing petrol with the air. This way the combustion is more efficient. My car has an Intercooler in the front hood. There are a lot of intercooler producers in the market, but the purpose is the same. If you really want, you can look for HKS or Apexi brand. Lastly, if you install one in your car, mostly in the front, it looks good also. Yeah, you can also go to Turbokits.com to learn more.

Answer 3

An intercooler is an accessory only really useful if the engine is equipped with a turbo-charger.
The turbo adds air volume, but it is heated air. To make the turbo really efficient, the addition of the intercooler between the turbo and the plenum helps the air to cool off, in effect making the air more dense and more productive.

Answer 4

an intercooler is used on a car with an engine that has a turbo. i am not sure of the exact function, but it basically flows oil (?) to the turbo to cool it, which makes the turbo run better adding more horsepower to the engine. it does not replace any component, and is actually an optional part for a turbo, as not all turbo cars have it, it is more of a high performance aftermarket part. no i have never owned a turbo car, several companies make them, they usually run about $1000

Answer 5

Hi Intercoolers are used primeraly to cool turbo motors or engines .. Is your car or Motorcycle a turbo? If so Its factory...

Answer 6

well intercooler is a cooling system mostly found on turbo and super charged cars.because of the heat produced by the pressure of these things..peole found there cars over heating.