If you've heard about intercooler, you are probably interested in understanding how it works, what its advantages are and whether it is essential for your vehicle. In this article, we will explore the basic concepts of the intercooler in a simple and practical way, answering the most common questions on the subject.
What does the word intercooler mean?
The term intercooler comes from English and can be translated as “intermediate cooler”. This name makes sense, since the intercooler is a component that cools the air compressed by the turbine before it enters the engine.
How does the intercooler work and why is it important?
The intercooler is an essential part of turbocharged engines. When the turbine compresses the air, it heats up due to the increased pressure. This hot air is less dense, meaning it contains less oxygen. The intercooler cools this air before it enters the engine, making it denser and increasing the amount of oxygen available for burning fuel.
The more oxygen in the air and fuel mixture, the greater the engine's efficiency, resulting in more power and better performance.
How does the intercooler cool the air?
The intercooler works as a heat exchanger, similar to a radiator. The hot air coming from the turbine passes through tubes inside the intercooler, while the cold air from the environment circulates externally. This process allows the heat to be transferred to the outside, cooling the compressed air.
There are two main types of intercoolers:
- Air-Air: Uses ambient air to cool hot air from the engine.
- Air-Water: It uses coolant to dissipate heat, making it more efficient in high performance situations.
What type of vehicle needs an intercooler?
Vehicles equipped with engines turbo ou supercharger usually use an intercooler. These engines compress air to increase power, and the intercooler is essential to cool the compressed air.
Passenger cars, pickup trucks, trucks and even agricultural machinery can have an intercooler, depending on the type of engine and use.
Do all turbo engines need an intercooler?
Not all turbo engines require an intercooler. In low-pressure applications, where the air temperature rise is small, an intercooler can be dispensed with. However, in high-performance engines, an intercooler is essential to prevent overheating and ensure efficiency.
What happens when the intercooler is punctured?
A leaky intercooler can cause loss of power, increased fuel consumption and even engine damage. This is because compressed air escapes before reaching the engine, reducing the amount of oxygen in the mixture and impairing performance.
If you notice black smoke, loss of power or an increase in engine temperature, it is important to check the intercooler.
What is the difference between an intercooler and a radiator?
Although they are both heat exchangers, they have different functions:
- Radiator: Cools the engine coolant.
- intercooler: Cools the air compressed by the turbine.
While the radiator is essential for maintaining the overall temperature of the engine, the intercooler focuses on improving the performance and efficiency of the compressed air.
What is the difference between a turbine and an intercooler?
- Turbine: Increases engine power by compressing air into the engine.
- intercooler: Cools the air compressed by the turbine before it enters the engine.
In short, the turbine provides compressed air, while the intercooler optimizes this air by cooling it.
Advantages of including an intercooler after performing a remap
O remap is a reprogramming of the engine to extract more power and performance. By including an intercooler, the benefits of the remap are enhanced, as the engine will receive denser, oxygen-rich air. This results in:
- Power increase.
- Lower risk of overheating.
- Better engine response.
How much horsepower does it increase with an intercooler?
The power gain when installing an intercooler varies depending on the type of engine and vehicle configuration. On average, an increase of 10 to 30 cavalos in common vehicles, while in high-performance applications the gain can be even greater.
Strike Brasil It's More Than Remap
A Strike Brasil that has already been answered more than 40 thousand customers and is a reference brand in the automotive performance market. We have more than 60 units spread across Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Ecuador and Guatemala.
The intercooler is a fundamental component for those looking to improve the performance of turbocharged engines, ensuring more power and efficiency. Whether for daily use or off-road adventures, it provides significant benefits and protects the engine from overheating.
You are thinking of me do a remap or customize your vehicle, see the Strike Brasil. Click here and speak to our customer service team via WhatsApp and answer all your questions about remap.
