The intercooler: what is it and how exactly does it work?
Intercooler-turbo
Before we tell you exactly how an intercooler works, it’s helpful to know how a turbocharger works. In fact, the two parts are often connected. A turbo is best compared to a water wheel. Replace the water with exhaust for a moment. Exhaust gases drive a turbine wheel by flow. This turbine wheel, in turn, is connected to the compressor wheel, which causes more air to enter the car’s intake system. As more air enters the engine, more gasoline can also burn. And that makes for more power.
Hot
The temperature of the exhaust gas coming out of the turbocharger is very high. And that’s where the intercooler comes in. This is because the intercooler provides – the word says it all – cooling. It works like this: air from the turbo flows into the intercooler. This cools the air, allowing more air into the engine. This ensures – as mentioned earlier – that the engine can deliver even more power.
Intercooler no longer works, now what?
If your intercooler is no longer working as it should, the cause is often the intercooler hose. This hose transports air from the turbocharger to the intercooler and may wear out over time. For example, such a hose can dry out or tear due to heat. Oil leakage from the turbo can also cause your intercooler hose to break. Hot engine oil then causes cracks in the hose. You often hear a hissing sound with a broken intercooler hose, and you often notice reduced power.
Intercooler hose broken
Besides the fact that a broken intercooler hose can cause your intercooler to stop working, the problem can also lie with the intercooler itself. This one may also be broken. Some things you will then notice are that your fuel consumption will be higher than normal and there will be more smoke coming out of your exhaust. The advice is especially not to continue driving with a broken intercooler, as this can cause damage to the engine and turbocharger. So drive quietly to a garage and get it replaced quickly!
Driving wind provides cooling
In addition to intercoolers that work with cold air, there are also water-cooled intercoolers. Some cars also have two intercoolers. You often see this in powerful cars with larger turbos. The intercooler is often placed close behind the front bumper so that a lot of cold air flows in. This allows the intercooler to do its job even better.