Intercooler - what is it? What is an intercooler cooler for and what is an air cooler for? Automotive intercoolers

What is an intercooler and how does it work?

Cars currently produced with internal combustion engines are almost always paired with a turbocharger. As a result, they have high power and torque while maintaining small displacements. To increase the efficiency of the system, an intercooler is placed in the intake system. It is located behind the compressor. the cold side of the turbocharger, but ahead of the engine. Its task is to cool the air pumped under pressure by a turbine or compressor. As the air in the engine gets colder, its density increases, making the air supply and combustion power more efficient. Why is it so important? How is it built? Read on to find out!

Intercoolers and engine radiator

In some respects, an intercooler resembles a liquid cooler in appearance. It consists of an inner core in which heat exchange takes place under the action of an air flow or a coolant. Outside, there are fins made of thin sheet metal for more efficient removal of high air temperature. In most cases, the intercooler is quite thin, allowing the refrigerant to cool quickly.

Intercooler and combustion process in a car

The introduction of an intercooler into the air intake system improves the combustion process. Why? The volume of gases depends on their temperature. The smaller it is, the more you can fit in a given limited space. Keeping in mind that oxygen is the most important in the combustion process, one can easily conclude that colder air provides better conditions for the mixture to ignite.

Why cool the air? 

First of all, because under the action of compression and in contact with the hot elements of the engine drive, it warms up. Forcing hot air into the combustion chamber reduces the efficiency and performance of the unit. A properly positioned charge air cooler, i.e. intercooler, can effectively reduce the intake air temperature..

Methods for replacing and installing an intercooler

Until recently, in cars with turbocharged engines, intercoolers were installed directly in front of one of the wheels. Ventilation holes were made in the front bumper to provide traction and radiator cooling. This solution did not take up much space, which was a big plus. However, it is necessary to know that in such conditions it was not possible to install an intercooler for cooling air with a large surface area. So usually it was quite thick and small, which did not work very well for lowering the temperature.

Therefore, car manufacturers began to approach this topic a little differently. An interesting solution was to install an intercooler inside the engine compartment, as is the case with the Subaru Impreza STI. The air intake was profiled in the hood, so that its momentum could fall directly on the heat exchanger. This also had the effect of creating a shorter circulation and reducing the effect of turbo lag.

FMIC intercooler air cooler installation

Nowadays, a type of intercooler called FMIC is used very often. This is an abbreviation for English. Front intercooler. The main advantage of this solution is the location of the radiator on the front of the car in front of the heat exchanger of the cooling system. This allows the equipment to work more efficiently, exposing it to maximum air draft and lowering the temperature even further. In addition, models with fan or water jet cooling are also available. This is especially important in units that are heavily loaded or prepared for motorsport.

Is it worth changing the intercooler in the car?

There is no single answer to this question. Now that you know what an intercooler is, you understand that it affects the quality of combustion of the air-fuel mixture. However, the engine does not consume energy from burning oxygen. Only this substance allows ignition in the engine compartment. Simply replacing the intercooler on a vehicle that already has one will not dramatically increase power. In the case of older diesel engines, this can only lead to a slight reduction in smoke levels.

Installing a larger air cooler only makes sense in conjunction with other engine power modifications. If you're planning on increasing boost pressure, investing in chip tuning, or making changes to your injection system, installing a larger intercooler makes a lot of sense. The radiator currently installed in the car may not be enough, so it is worth choosing equipment from another car or trying a non-standard solution. However you plan to do it, a new intercooler can bring you many benefits!