A heat exchanger that cools the air (or, in some installations, the intake charge) that has been heated by compression in any type of supercharger. An intercooler resembles a radiator; it houses large passages for the intake flow, and uses either outside air or water directed over it to lower the temperature of the intake flow inside. The result is roughly a 10 to 15 percent improvement in horsepower.
Related Terms
• Intake Charge
• Radiator
• Supercharger
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