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pcmaher · #2 01-03-2006, 11:37 PM

Good question. Simply put, an intercooler is basically a radiator to extract heat out of the air / fuel mixture going into the engine. As turbos and super chargers compress the intake air, the air heats up. Some of the benefit of compressing the air is lost as it heats up, because hot air expands. An intercooler is used to cool off the compressed air so that it remains as dense as possible. The denser you can keep the air / fuel mixture that's going into the engine, the more power it will make. I don't think it would be worthwhile installing an intercooler into a non turbo engine. Perhaps our diesel friends can provide input.