Does a Bigger Intercooler Give More Power?

When it comes to car modifications, it can be hard to tell if any given adjustment is going to be worth it. Depending on the vehicle itself, different components will achieve different things at varying degrees of success. If you’re considering purchasing and installing a car intercooler, it’s important to first understand how they actually operate and what they aim to achieve. Furthermore, research should be done into whether your vehicle is compatible with the variety of intercooler that meets your needs. Once these factors have been considered, you can enjoy the benefits of an intercooler.

What Does an Intercooler Do?

The primary purpose of a car intercooler is to cool the compressed air that comes from your turbocharger or supercharger before it enters the engine. This action ensures the engine is running properly and reduces the risk of detonation. To break it down further, the intercooler improves combustion by adding oxygen to the engine, and regulates the air-to-fuel ratio. In turbocharged or super turbocharged cars, intercoolers can also increase the horsepower output.

What Are The Different Types of Intercooler?

The two main types of intercoolers are air-to-air and air-to-water intercoolers, but there are also top-mount and front-mount varieties. Air-to-air intercoolers are the most common type, largely because they are cheaper than other varieties, as well as easier to install and maintain. Top-mount and front-mount intercoolers are subvarieties of air-to-air coolers. Quite simply, top-mount intercoolers are mounted on top of the engine, making them quite small. Their slight size and short piping means they feed air into the engine quicker, which helps to reduce turbo lag. Since these types of intercoolers are mounted so close to the engines, they are also more prone to heat soak. On the other hand, front-mount intercoolers are fixed to the front of a car’s radiator, making them more exposed to outside air flow. These intercoolers can achieve more in terms of horsepower, so this is definitely the right choice if you’re looking for that.

While these air-to-air intercoolers rely on airflow from the outside, air-to-water intercoolers use water to cool down the air that travels from turbocharger to engine. As a result, air-to-water intercoolers require several additional components. These intercoolers work by pumping water through the unit, removing heat in the process. As the water heats up, it is filtered out to the radiator or cooling circuits and cooled off again. A liquid-cooled intercooler is ideal for a wider temperature range and engine bays without a lot of extra space. Air-to-water intercoolers are much smaller than air-to-air intercoolers.

Is a Big Intercooler Better Than a Small Intercooler?

While intercoolers themselves don’t really add any horsepower in naturally aspirated engines, they can influence it. Essentially, more air equals more power. It’s worth noting that they can, however, increase horsepower output in turbocharged or supercharged cars. Front-mount intercoolers can boost horsepower, but not as a result of their size, as they are quite small. Some larger intercoolers can increase power, but not substantially. In fact, a very large intercooler can actually do more harm than good. Intercoolers like these might need to be tuned, and their design could lead to more turbocharger lag or further drag. It’s important to do your research and choose the intercooler that is right for your car, rather than assuming bigger is always better.

Is an Intercooler Worth It for You?

Whether or not you need an intercooler depends on your preference, but they do come recommended by many car enthusiasts. Through their air-cooling capabilities, intercoolers are crucial to the process of effective forced induction. An intercooler engineered to the right size could unlock untapped power from an engine. Additionally, these components have the ability to run a more aggressive tune without running into detonation. Large intercoolers are less susceptible to heat soaking, which means your vehicle can last longer without losing power.

Looking for Your Own Intercooler?

If you need a car intercooler, VPW has a wide variety of options to choose from, including models of various sizes. These reliable and conveniently priced components will enhance the performance of your vehicle for a long time to come, exceeding all your expectations. Order a high-quality intercooler kit today at VPW!