Do intercoolers increase horsepower?

There is some debate within the automotive community about how much intercoolers increase horsepower and in what circumstances the modifications are worth it. But there is a reason why they’re so popular amongst performance vehicles and racing enthusiasts.

Let’s talk about the relationship between intercoolers and horsepower.

We offer an exceptional range of high-performance vehicle intercoolers suitable for various vehicles. But if you need something more potent than an off-the-shelf OEM intercooler or aftermarket intercooler, get in touch to explore our custom fabrication services.

What do intercoolers actually do?

An intercooler is a heat exchanger that rapidly cools hot air from the supercharger/turbocharger and then sends that cold compressed air to the car’s engine.

The more air (oxygen, specifically) supplied to your engine, the more fuel it can combust. A turbocharger/supercharger dramatically increases airflow to the engine, but it also heats that air. Hot air loses density and, therefore, loses oxygen. Denser air has more oxygen which allows increased power output and improves your car’s performance.

Supercharged/turbocharged cars need intercoolers in order to maximise their performance. We can teach you more about what an intercooler does later. For now, here’s a quick review of how it works.

How does an intercooler work?

These diagrams illustrate the function of the air-to-water and air-to-air intercooler. Here are the basics:

• Ambient air passes through the air intake to the;
• Turbo (or supercharger), where it is compressed and heated, then sent to the;
• Intercooler, which cools the air before it finally reaches the engine.

The point — does an intercooler add horsepower or not?

Yes(sort of). Intercoolers are designed to make your engine more efficient at generating horsepower. But they do not themselves add horsepower.

The greater the temperature drop of the intake air achieved by the intercooler, the more power the engine can generate. An intercooler can dramatically reduce the intake air temperature, and therefore improve engine performance while decreasing the risk of overheating.

Intercoolers can improve street cars, too

Maybe you’re not interested in building a performance car. If you’re just looking for a way to fortify your everyday A-to-B car or ute, an intercooler could do the trick.

We’ve worked with drivers who simply want to maximise their car’s power, economy, and durability. But the more powerful their engine, the more heat it produces. An upgraded radiator or intercooler can remove excess heat from your engine and generate cooler intake air, keeping your engine efficient and long-lasting.

Repairs, replacements and upgrades

Now that you know an intercooler can help your vehicle produce more horsepower, the next question is what type of component do you need? Not to worry —Natrad is happy to offer this handy guide to help you choose the perfect intercooler for your car.

Natrad stocks a large selection of OEM and aftermarket intercoolers for high-performance vehicles and engine tuning projects. Nip into Natrad today for quality parts and expert advice today.