Thread: Intercoolers Brand Name/Ebay

"This concludes our Ebay intercooler testing. I have both of these for sale or you can buy a real intercooler and call us to order the Race FMIC"

^just cause he sells it doesn't mean its still good, if people are buying cheap ebay intercoolers, i would sell them too and suggest an alternative everytime, plus I'm not sure buscher is actually selling them, maby just selling the two he tested. Just face it, those intercoolers are ****, raw proof

Lets all start buying $500-$700 intercoolers for our 90% and under 450 WHP cars.


There is no need for an intercooler to cost $500 plus in my opinion.

I am waiting for the aluminum pipe debate.

3 in aluminum 90* bend pipe ebay $30 including shipping.
3 in aluminum 45* bend pipe ebay $20 including shipping

3 in aluminum pipe 90* bend pipe Burns Stainless $90 including shipping
3 in aluminum pipe 45* bend pipe Burns Stainless $65 including shipping

I read everything linked and so far I'm not convinced. I do believe that if there is a difference, it would show up at the massive HP levels these people are making, I just don't see any true back-to-back comparisons with identical sized intercoolers. I also don't see any theories as to why there would be a difference (I have my own). I'm reserving judgment.

Also, for those of us making less than 500 HP I think we can not worry so much.

Here are some questions to ask yourself?

What makes an intercooler get hot?

It would seem to me that if an intercooler is getting hot it transmitting the heat to the core, which is good, but the intercooler is not removing the heat from the core to the air.

Now the only reason why an intercooler is not removing the heat from the intercooler itself out to the air is because 1. The intercooler does not have as much aluminum to distipate the heat, more aluminum weight more heat can be heatsoaked and transitioned out of the intercooler. 2. The intercooler fins on the outside are not as dense so the air moving through it is not able to remove as much heat over a given time frame. At this point you could argue poor external fin design.

From what I saw, most of them were comparing intake charge temps post intercooler. They logged this with an eBay intercooler, then with a name brand unit. If they didn't take note of intake charge temps, they took note of WHP output on a dyno. I didn't see anyone measuring the temp of the core directly.

im using a spearco core and my friend just bought a big ebay intercooler and Just looking at it my intercooler has almost 3 times as many fins. That may have a problem with airflow through the cooler externally but I would rather have more fins which has a larger surface area.

I think the biggest issue with the ebay cores is the pressure drop (inside of the cores). The air doesn't flow well through the inefficient cores due to crappy design. Higher pressure means more heat, and having to turn the boost up more to make the same power.

If you are a at 10lbs of boost and the core loses 2psi you are looking at an 8% power loss. The hotter things get the more power you lose.

The thing about ebay is they lie about the intercoolers specs, in some cases I have seen them find a Spearco core's specs and copy and paste them in their sale for a Chinese core just because they look similar . I can guarantee that Chinese piece hasn't been tested in these cases.

All in all... not to be a dick here... but who the hell cares. Most of us drive street cars, aren't sponsored, and aren't building cars for sport or competition. I understand the premise... but why would I spend 500 more of my own dollars to make up for an 8% power loss on the street, when I can turn the boost up 2-3lbs.

^I agree man. I just picked up my eBay intercooler and I can't wait to rock it.

eBay Motors: CXRacing Intercooler Civic CRX D16 D-Series B18 27x12x3 (item 200271652162 end time Nov-11-08 17:50:32 PST)

^If something bad happens, I'll get a better one.