All the Available Aftermarket FMICs are Bad

[PointByPatrol]

The PRL intercooler is a overweight brick. That's where most of the bad rap for FMICs are coming from.

PWR, J's Racing, and RV6 are more of an appropriate weight with better flow.

I'd be mindful that cooling systems developed/tested in tandem, are likely to produce better results because they work to account any shortfalls vs piecing together a bunch of disparate options.

Dude, you ain't lyin'! I'm fairly certain my PRL is more effective at keeping my front end planted than if I put a SpaceX Raptor 3 engine on my hood firing directly into the sky!

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[Vito.FL5]

I have every possible cooling mod you can think off, and I do have the PRL intercooler.

It is indeed an overweight brick but it is also very effective at cooling the inlet air charge.

I would love to see something lighter and less restrictive that can be as effective.

Either way, the FL5 has terrible airflow in the engine bay, so bad that I blew my oem undertray away at 150mph from the pressure inside the bay, so I wouldn´t do any of this mods without propper airflow first

 

[NoviceFL5owner]

Is the PRL that bad? I have a brand new one waiting in the box awaiting install. Should I sell it? I do plan to do some track work.

 

[AspecR]

Is the PRL that bad? I have a brand new one waiting in the box awaiting install. Should I sell it? I do plan to do some track work.

It isn't bad per se, it's just that it isn't as efficient as others on the market. The Airtec FL5 intercooler is more efficient and cheaper than the PRL.

 

[AspecR]

Be advised that for 99% of use cases the PRL intercooler is fine. Personally I would only recommend it if your car is using the stock turbo. For upgraded turbos, Airtec(Best Value), MDR(currently the best on the market), Wagner(only one that includes a shroud) or be patient and wait for the Mishimoto which they have started development on and it will be released later this year. Greddy, HKS and J’s Racing also have intercooler as available but I can’t see them being better for the money than the Airtec intercooler.

 

[BigBird]

Be advised that for 99% of use cases the PRL intercooler is fine. Personally I would only recommend it if your car is using the stock turbo. For upgraded turbos, Airtec(Best Value), MDR(currently the best on the market), Wagner(only one that includes a shroud) or be patient and wait for the Mishimoto which they have started development on and it will be released later this year. Greddy, HKS and J’s Racing also have intercooler as available but I can’t see them being better for the money than the Airtec intercooler.

Big question, how much does the airtec weigh?

Most bar and plate are heavy except for the PWR

 

[jtlctr]

Either way, the FL5 has terrible airflow in the engine bay, so bad that I blew my oem undertray away at 150mph from the pressure inside the bay, so I wouldn´t do any of this mods without propper airflow first

That must have made a noise that made you pucker!

Are you working on any venting solutions to reduce engine bay pressure?

 

[AspecR]

Big question, how much does the airtec weigh?

Most bar and plate are heavy except for the PWR

Didn’t weigh mine but it’s heavier than the PRL. Worth the trade off for the improvement in efficiency. Unless you actively track your FL5. The additional weight on the nose will go unnoticed.

 

[BigBird]

Didn’t weigh mine but it’s heavier than the PRL. Worth the trade off for the improvement in efficiency. Unless you actively track your FL5. The additional weight on the nose will go unnoticed.

This being the Track forum, it does matter to many of us

 

[NoviceFL5owner]

It isn't bad per se, it's just that it isn't as efficient as others on the market. The Airtec FL5 intercooler is more efficient and cheaper than the PRL
[/QUOTE]
I've seen two cars overheating on track with PRL ones.

Be advised that for 99% of use cases the PRL intercooler is fine. Personally I would only recommend it if your car is using the stock turbo. For upgraded turbos, Airtec(Best Value), MDR(currently the best on the market), Wagner(only one that includes a shroud) or be patient and wait for the Mishimoto which they have started development on and it will be released later this year. Greddy, HKS and J’s Racing also have intercooler as available but I can’t see them being better for the money than the Airtec intercooler.

How do you figure the MDR is the best? That's the one I'm thinking about going with.
Which one are you running?

 

[AspecR]

This being the Track forum, it does matter to many of us

In that case, Bar and plate intercoolers shouldn’t even be up for discussion. Tube and Fin intercoolers will always be lighter. Spoon, RV6, HKS and J’s Racing(actually shares design elements with the RV6) are currently the only intercoolers track FL5s should be looking at.

 

[AspecR]

It isn't bad per se, it's just that it isn't as efficient as others on the market. The Airtec FL5 intercooler is more efficient and cheaper than the PRL

I've seen two cars overheating on track with PRL ones.

How do you figure the MDR is the best? That's the one I'm thinking about going with.
Which one are you running?
[/QUOTE]

It currently has the greatest capacity for heat reduction of all known intercoolers on the market. It hasn’t tested on the same car (which the proper way to test it)but for cars with similar mods and power it takes the longest to heat soak and gets temps closest to ambient of the 4 intercoolers I’ve mentioned.

I run the Airtec intercooler, for the price it can’t be beat. It’s cheaper than the PRL(got mine shipped for less than the cost of the PRL) and performs better at fighting heat soak and getting temps down. A few FK8 guys have swapped out their PRL for it and reported more consistent behavior in data logs and on the dyno.

 

[BigBird]

In that case, Bar and plate intercoolers shouldn’t even be up for discussion. Tube and Fin intercoolers will always be lighter. Spoon, RV6, HKS and J’s Racing(actually shares design elements with the RV6) are the currently the only intercoolers track FL5s should be looking at.

PWR is still lighter than most while being bar and plate. I do agree tube and fin is the way to go for most tracked cars

 

[NoviceFL5owner]

Thanks for the explanation.

 

[AspecR]

PWR is still lighter than most while being bar and plate. I do agree tube and fin is the way to go for most tracked cars

I have zero experience with PWR but based on history their intercooler should be great. I wonder how it stacks up against the PRL? ?

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