Is an intercooler worth the effort?

[Dhouse]

I"ve been reading a lot of threads concerning installing a bigger intercooler. I was thinking about pulling the trigger on one, but after watching some videos of what is involved in putting one in, I have to ask, is the amount of work involved worth it? The reason I ask is I watched a youtube video of a guy who installed one with the upgraded pipes, it made very little difference in 0-60 time. It just looks like a PITA to put one in. I'm debating if I want to do it or just go with the new intercooler piping.

I also plan to install a 3" downpipe (another PITA) and new exhaust, and maybe a CAI, even though I know the CAI doesn't add much, but is an easy upgrade.

Oh and my wife hates you all. I've only been here a short time but have managed to spend several thousand dollars on upgrades after reading all the posts.

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[My12SecRanger]

my answer is yes but I live in the desert and my intake air temps got out of hand in the summer

 

[Dgc333]

Intercoolers don't generally make more power. They keep you from loosing power.

I had two different Ecoboost Mustangs. You could feel the loss of power as the stock intercooler heat soaked when doing a lot of hard driving. Putting an aftermarket intercooler in the Mustangs was a noticeable improvement in maintaining power. The Ranger has a much larger intercooler than the Ecoboost Mustang has. I don't drive the Ranger as hard as I did the Mustangs and have not noticed any heat soak or loss of power.

 

[Superspirit]

If you live where it gets above 90 in the summer, or if you tow anything then a bigger intercooler would Benifit you. Or if you make repeated hard acceleration runs again it would benefit you. If you drive like granny and live where it stays cold year round save your money.

 

[Dhouse]

Thanks guys. I think you saved me some time and money. Not what usually happens on this forum LOL. It does get above 90 here, but not often. I think I'll put the cash somewhere else. I appreciate you guys.

 

[LawnMM]

it made very little difference in 0-60 time.

That's not really it's purpose, it's doesn't really help make any more HP or speed. If that's what you're after this upgrade won't really do it.

Other folks have already explained it's purpose is cooling the air on the way to the engine. Hot days and heavy workload or driving drive that temp up and your HP down.

It's not a lot of juice for the squeeze but don't discount the effects of hot air on your system either. Heat hurts the components so while cooler air might not make you more HP or speed it almost certainly makes your engine last longer on a forced induction setup.

 

[Cmar]

A side benefit is that after market ones are often fully tig welded and thus sturdier than the plastic and aluminum factory jobbie ( well my global one is anyway) which is obviously built to a price.

 

[KNI]

If you get one, pick one with a drain hole. Had my engine (bi-turbo diesel) blow due to the stock intercooler condensing water and finally sucking it into engine. Seems that Ford has ready made part for that, incase some blows his/hers engine during warranty.

 

[Dhouse]

Well hell. Guess its back on my to do list. All good info. Thanks for the tip on the drain. I was leaning toward mishimoto. Not sure if it has a drain, but I'll check it out.

 

[Superspirit]

I love my CVF!

 

[Dereku]

Every vehicle I have upgraded the intercooler on I have noticed a difference. Smoother bends, more free flowing internals, slightly cooler air charge, ect. It will make more hp and tq, but not crazy numbers maybe 3-5.

The real benefit it long term sustainability of that power, especially when asking the 4 cylinder engine we have to do real truck work. Huge benefit.

for the record, its still on my to do list. Have charge pipes done tho, they make a difference too.

 

[harringtondav]

I need help understanding here. The Ranger has an air to air charge air cooler (called a CAC at Deere). It seems the term is used interchangeably with intercooler.
Is the intercooler discussed here in addition to the CAC, or a replacement? Is it air to air or air to water heat transfer? Mostly does the intercooler reduce intake manifold air temp lower than the CAC (alone?).

 

[Dereku]

There are a few types of intercoolers. They all provide the same thing, cooler denser intake temps from the hot compressed turbo air.

we have an air to air intercooler. The upgrade everyone talks about is a replacement air to air.

air to water is common on roots style super chargers due to their packing constraints. We do not have an air to water.

 

[Big Blue]

I need help understanding here. The Ranger has an air to air charge air cooler (called a CAC at Deere). It seems the term is used interchangeably with intercooler.
Is the intercooler discussed here in addition to the CAC, or a replacement? Is it air to air or air to water heat transfer? Mostly does the intercooler reduce intake manifold air temp lower than the CAC (alone?).

To answer your question directly. We are discussing replacing the Rangers Intercooler, or CAC, with one that is more efficient, larger capacity. In the automotive industry intercoolers are pretty much exclusively air to air. Kind of hard to carry a supply of chilled liquid with you.

 

[harringtondav]

To answer your question directly. We are discussing replacing the Rangers Intercooler, or CAC, with one that is more efficient, larger capacity. In the automotive industry intercoolers are pretty much exclusively air to air. Kind of hard to carry a supply of chilled liquid with you.

I was thinking air to engine coolant. ....I guess the turbo output would have to be pretty hot for that to do any good.

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