Intercooler: Description and Operation
CHARGE AIR COOLER AND PLUMBINGDESCRIPTION
The charge air system (Fig. 23) consists of the charge air cooler piping, charge air cooler and intake air grid heater.
The charge air cooler is a heat exchanger that uses air flow from vehicle motion to dissipate heat from the intake air. As the turbocharger increases air pressure, the air temperature increases. Lowering the intake air temperature increases engine efficiency and power.
OPERATION
Intake air is drawn through the air cleaner and into the turbocharger compressor housing. Pressurized air from the turbocharger then flows forward through the charge air cooler located in front of the radiator. From the charge air cooler the air flows back into the intake manifold.