FL5 Intercooler Reference Thread

[Tboneslim]

Hey guys. In addition to PRL’s new offering I also caught wind of this (see pic below). Looks like things are heating up or cooling down if depending on how you look at it lol

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[Chilly613]

Hey guys. In addition to PRL’s new offering I also caught wind of this (see pic below). Looks like things are heating up or cooling down if depending on how you look at it lol

The Skunk2 intercooler is for the 1.5T.

 

[B16B]

I received this e-mail from our friends at PRL. Meet the New PRL Tube-and-Fin Intercooler for FL5 Civic Type R & DE5 Integra Type S.

This is nice and it's probably the one I will get when it drops. I originally wanted PWR, but the price is a bit out of hand.

 

[Nikw91]

I’ve gone down the intercooler rabbit hole now.

I have done a lot of research and everyone says Bar and Plate for street/drag or Tube and Fin for track.

I’ve noticed most after market intercoolers are bar and plate from PRL, MDR, Airtec, Cobb, PLM, etc…

I currently run the PRL bar and plate which has been amazing but for track purposes. I am considering switching to the HKS Intercooler since it’s about 8% thinner PLUS it is tube and fin.

I am installing a HEL oil cooler, CSF radiator and PRL coolant expansion tank next weekend.

Would the tube and fin HKS Intercooler be worth the switch also? I just feel like it will let so much more air to the radiator. Or am I mistaken.

I am barely considering WOTs, but it’s just about double the price so doubtful.

 

[Two Step Performance]

I’ve gone down the intercooler rabbit hole now.

I have done a lot of research and everyone says Bar and Plate for street/drag or Tube and Fin for track.

I’ve noticed most after market intercoolers are bar and plate from PRL, MDR, Airtec, Cobb, PLM, etc…

I currently run the PRL bar and plate which has been amazing but for track purposes. I am considering switching to the HKS Intercooler since it’s about 8% thinner PLUS it is tube and fin.

I am installing a HEL oil cooler, CSF radiator and PRL coolant expansion tank next weekend.

Would the tube and fin HKS Intercooler be worth the switch also? I just feel like it will let so much more air to the radiator. Or am I mistaken.

I am barely considering WOTs, but it’s just about double the price so doubtful.

PRL's latest blog does a great job showing where bar and plate wins and where a tube style FMIC makes more sense:

https://prlmotorsports.com/blogs/ne...-testing-tube-and-fin-vs-bar-and-plate-vs-oem

I can't speak regarding the HKS unit, I've never really seen any side by side testing using it.

PRL's tube and fin intercooler releases next Thursday. This does NOT replace their bar and plate offering (I've seen several confused by this.) - it's a different intercooler for a different use case.

 

[siwelnosaj]

I made this post on a few Facebook group pages last night and so I thought I should share here as well.

Here's some more testing data on the WOT Microtube Intercooler.

This is a line graph showing the performance of the WOT Microtube intercooler when tested a couple weeks back on the track at GTA Finals at Buttonwillow Raceway. The ambient temp during this session was 74°F. The car is making approx 500whp pushing 30psi with the MHI turbo. The data shown is actually the second 5 minutes of my session, from 5-10 minutes. I figured why not show everything when it's really had a chance to be pushed and fully heat soaked. If it can win with this disadvantage that's all the more impressive. Couple that with the power the car is producing and this is a real stress test for the microtube IC.

You'll see that the trend line hovers right around 98-100°F, with a few peaks getting up to 110°F. The graph isn't uniform because the demands of the track are fairly random when it comes to looking at them on a graph. What is nice though is this is real and hard data in the setting we all hope to have performance at: on the track, with real load, with real drag and air flow, and in a truly dynamic setting.

What isn't shown on the graph is the extremely impressive coolant temps to go along with these great post IC IATs. One of the major benefits of the microtube structure is the air flow it provides the lower half of the radiator helping it to function at a much higher level of efficiency (max coolant temp of 204°F in this session), to go along with the impressive charge air cooling. And this unit only weights 15.5 lbs! It really is a win-win-win.

The price of $1650 is more yes, but for that you're getting the best (and not just by a small margin). Better power, better cooling, faster times.

If you're interested in a unit shoot me a message. The December batch sold out, but the February batch still has units available.

WOT Performance - Solutions for the track, proven on the track.

 

[SBX Performance]

siwelnosaj

Man this is awesome data. Love that you actually shared the heat-soaked part of the session instead of some perfect one-lap pull that most companies do. You didnt just run it on a controlled environment dyno. Holding IATs around 100°F on a 500whp setup is crazy good, especially that deep into a run.

The microtube airflow advantage is really showing here. Plus the thing only weighs 15.5 lbs? Hard to argue with that.

Honestly for anyone who actually tracks their car or like to push it hard, this is the kind of real-world testing that matters. No hype, just results. Makes the price make a lot more sense. Nothing is getting cheaper in the parts world. I think this is a fair price for a top quality part.


Killer work as always for WOT — February batch is gonna disappear quick maybe I will steal 1 haha[/QUOTE]

 

[blueroadster]

I’ve gone down the intercooler rabbit hole now.

I have done a lot of research and everyone says Bar and Plate for street/drag or Tube and Fin for track.

I’ve noticed most after market intercoolers are bar and plate from PRL, MDR, Airtec, Cobb, PLM, etc…

I currently run the PRL bar and plate which has been amazing but for track purposes. I am considering switching to the HKS Intercooler since it’s about 8% thinner PLUS it is tube and fin.

I am installing a HEL oil cooler, CSF radiator and PRL coolant expansion tank next weekend.

Would the tube and fin HKS Intercooler be worth the switch also? I just feel like it will let so much more air to the radiator. Or am I mistaken.

I am barely considering WOTs, but it’s just about double the price so doubtful.

When starting this thread, the intent was for it to be informative and objective. I have tried to remain on that point. Considering available aftermarket intercoolers, PWR is the only one that does not require any modifications to install. That aspect is important if you track your car.

The OEM intercooler is not great as it heat soaks rather quickly and is also not very efficient when there is airflow. Aftermarket intercooler options make the situation either better or worse. I never really understood the notion of B&P being better for the street and T&F being better for the track.

If you do not track your car, the HKS intercooler is a solid option considering price and performance. The J's Racing intercooler costs more but is also more efficient while also providing better airflow through the core and to the radiator to keep temps in check.

Then came the WOT microtube intercooler to blow away the competition and kick some ass.

 

[airs]

I made this post on a few Facebook group pages last night and so I thought I should share here as well.

Here's some more testing data on the WOT Microtube Intercooler.

This is a line graph showing the performance of the WOT Microtube intercooler when tested a couple weeks back on the track at GTA Finals at Buttonwillow Raceway. The ambient temp during this session was 74°F. The car is making approx 500whp pushing 30psi with the MHI turbo. The data shown is actually the second 5 minutes of my session, from 5-10 minutes. I figured why not show everything when it's really had a chance to be pushed and fully heat soaked. If it can win with this disadvantage that's all the more impressive. Couple that with the power the car is producing and this is a real stress test for the microtube IC.

You'll see that the trend line hovers right around 98-100°F, with a few peaks getting up to 110°F. The graph isn't uniform because the demands of the track are fairly random when it comes to looking at them on a graph. What is nice though is this is real and hard data in the setting we all hope to have performance at: on the track, with real load, with real drag and air flow, and in a truly dynamic setting.

What isn't shown on the graph is the extremely impressive coolant temps to go along with these great post IC IATs. One of the major benefits of the microtube structure is the air flow it provides the lower half of the radiator helping it to function at a much higher level of efficiency (max coolant temp of 204°F in this session), to go along with the impressive charge air cooling. And this unit only weights 15.5 lbs! It really is a win-win-win.

The price of $1650 is more yes, but for that you're getting the best (and not just by a small margin). Better power, better cooling, faster times.

If you're interested in a unit shoot me a message. The December batch sold out, but the February batch still has units available.

WOT Performance - Solutions for the track, proven on the track.

Thanks for the data. Is it compatible with the PRL charge pipe kit?

 

[siwelnosaj]

Thanks for the data. Is it compatible with the PRL charge pipe kit?

You're welcome and good question, it does work with the PRL charge pipes.

 

[Nikw91]

When starting this thread, the intent was for it to be informative and objective. I have tried to remain on that point. Considering available aftermarket intercoolers, PWR is the only one that does not require any modifications to install. That aspect is important if you track your car.

The OEM intercooler is not great as it heat soaks rather quickly and is also not very efficient when there is airflow. Aftermarket intercooler options make the situation either better or worse. I never really understood the notion of B&P being better for the street and T&F being better for the track.

If you do not track your car, the HKS intercooler is a solid option considering price and performance. The J's Racing intercooler costs more but is also more efficient while also providing better airflow through the core and to the radiator to keep temps in check.

Then came the WOT microtube intercooler to blow away the competition and kick some ass.

So what would be the rankings for the top 5 track Intercoolers?
1. WOT
2. PWR
3. ???
4. ???
5.???

 

[AspecR]

So what would be the rankings for the top 5 track Intercoolers?
1. WOT
2. PWR
3. ???
4. ???
5.???

add the Spoon, J’s Racing and RV6 to that list.

 

[blueroadster]

add the Spoon, J’s Racing and RV6 to that list.

Has the Spoon intercooler been released? There is also the revised PRL T&F intercooler that will be released at some point.

 

[apl360]

That micro tube intercooler is absolutely unfuckable. My god that things ugly

I’m glad it works well. It fucking better if it’s gonna look like that. Jesus

 

[siwelnosaj]

Has the Spoon and RV6 intercooler been released? There is also the revised PRL T&F intercooler that will be released at some point.

RV6 has

Has the Spoon intercooler been released? There is also the revised PRL T&F intercooler that will be released at some point.

RV6 has been for a couple of months. PRL T&F will be this Thursday. Spoon not yet.

HKS likely belongs somewhere on the list as well.

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