Intercooler Questions

[MatteOBX]

Complete noob when it comes to intercoolers. Will be having the Ford Pre Cal installed soon and looking to make sure I have everything figured out before I do.

Does upgrading it help?

I also see that the ones from Whipple and Cobb are typically the recommended ones. What makes these better than the others that are available?

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[Brian_B]

The performance folks will say undoubtedly YES, that it helps.

That said, I have never noticed a situation in my driving where I've seen the intercooler get saturated and start reducing performance. Not to say it hasn't happened, but if it has, it's never been to the degree that I've noticed.

I run ProCal, with stock intercooler, and I've bashed the lower few fins flat on my intercooler so it isn't even at 100%.

 

[B22-2023]

Does upgrading it help?

I was led to believe that the upgraded intercooler went hand in hand with significantly increased boost - via tune in my case from day 1. I’m not sure it was really needed based upon others like @Brian_B who’ve tuned and left it stock. So I’d drive stock for a while post tune if I were you; maybe that tuner lets you monitor boost in real time, maybe adjust its limits too. It’ll mostly depend on how you drive it.

Chasing the dragon though, with my later add-on Injen CAI and charge pipes, colder plugs and so on, I’m glad I have the CP-E intercooler (looks similar to the Cobb you mentioned, good discussions of intercooler upgrade matters here) when loading the Bronco on long hard pulls and tougher conditions while hitting sustained higher boost.

 

[Bronco_joe]

I have a great used cp-e intercooler for sale

 

[GooseTuned]

It does help, for sure. I saw significant charge air temp differences.

In hot environments you'll notice it even more.

 

[Spooled]

Complete noob when it comes to intercoolers. Will be having the Ford Pre Cal installed soon and looking to make sure I have everything figured out before I do.

Does upgrading it help?

I also see that the ones from Whipple and Cobb are typically the recommended ones. What makes these better than the others that are available?

The factory IC is hot garbage and charge temps rise very quickly. Think of an IC as something that will help with sustained, repeatable power output.

Whipple
Cobb
Wagner
CP-e
CVF

All these companies have them and all are comparable IMO.

I believe CVF is working on a high mount IC as well that will be much better since there is only so much you can do with the stock location.

 

[Ape Factory]

Being able to lower your charge temps is always beneficial. I'd consider it more of a reliability mod than a performance one. There's obviously a performance side to it along with helping to eliminate heat soak, lower the rate of charge temp increase, lower peak temp spikes and lower the amount of time it takes to bring the temp back down once in motion. Turbos don't have to work as hard and the engine can run on more optimal timing without running into knock.

There's always a tradeoff when it comes it internal volume, pressure drop across the core and such but it isn't such a huge issue with the current offerings as they're fairly small as IC's go and all are within spitting difference.

Lastly and most importantly, remember we are here to help you spend your money.

 

[Canyon Coolers]

I have the high mount Mishimoto intercooler, and it is about twice the size of the stock one.

 

[TheKim]

When pulling my 3k lb trailer up grades, the boost usually hovers around 15psi for minutes at a time -
I have the Ford Pro Cal tune, and stock everything else, including air intake filters

Is my engine going to explode?

 

[Ninjak]

You can add Injen to the list of IC. They are telling me it will be released(finally) this quarter and it will be worth the wait.

 

[Brian_B]

When pulling my 3k lb trailer up grades, the boost usually hovers around 15psi for minutes at a time -
I have the Ford Pro Cal tune, and stock everything else, including air intake filters

Is my engine going to explode?

Same same here. Don't even have to be pulling a trailer to see long sustained boost periods going up the mountain.

I'm positive a better intercooler would perform better. Just not convinced that extra couple of horsepower is all that noticeable just by itself. If you are also gonna go whole hog and do it along with the cold air intake, down pipes, and everything else - then sure.

 

[B22-2023]

You can Injen to the list of IC. They are telling me it will be released(finally) this quarter and it will be worth the wait.

That's good to hear, I just put in an inquiry for one. Have they shared with you any details, especially mounting arrangement (high/low, bracketed in or not, etc.). My CP-e is not bracketed in and that is a PITA when dropping the front skid plate since the IC rests on that.

 

[Ninjak]

That's good to hear, I just put in an inquiry for one. Have they shared with you any details, especially mounting arrangement (high/low, bracketed in or not, etc.). My CP-e is not bracketed in and that is a PITA when dropping the front skid plate since the IC rests on that.

I was told it would be a three-core, it will fit in the current location, and have flow channels? (their words) Was also told it would/could compete directly with the Whipple version without the issues of fitment.

I have all the other Injen bits, so I have been waiting. Hoping it does live up to what they are saying, so I can complete the upgrades.

 

[TruckCamper]

We have the Whipple on the Raptor. I've seen 150 degrees on long climbs. Sadly didn't get data on the stock enough to confirm improvement. It seems the larger intercooler is slower to heat soak. However, it is slowing the inevitable and likely takes longer to cool off after getting hot.

Traffic and low speed in hot climates will also get heat soaked. I'm not convinced on the advantage.

Our 2dr 2.3L has the stock intercooler with shutters removed. That definitely helped temps and mpg. It has FP tune as well.

My thoughts would be to increase air flow to the intercooler is the biggest help. Past that a larger intercooler will help slow the heat soak but it will heat soak. Maybe an advantage for street racing (short bursts)?

I think you'd need to cool the intercooler with refrigerant to help for slow speed and extended boost periods.

Worth the money? I'll just say our 2dr will keep the stock intercooler.

 

[Spooled]

To add some data here, I saw a 50* rise (peaking at 144) in charge air temp with the whipple intercooler on a recent 1/4 mile run and safeguards in the tune pulled power out to keep things safe. Stock IC would see an 80+ degree rise.

I would say it’s 100% worth waiting for the a high mount (relocated) IC if you live in the south or tow and are tuned.

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