Ok just as the title says, because ive being searching and cang find a concrete answer. When and why would you replace the stock intercooler. From my undersranding its pretty decent.

 

When you upgrade the turbo, otherwise it really isn't needed.

 

An upgraded intercooler is never a bad idea, especially in a warm climate; cooler intake air temps and more power, even on a stock turbo.

 

^ +1
Well addressed!

 

Great answer Chris. Nothing wrong with upgrading intercooler, even if you do have a stock turbo. Living in texas and the hot temps down here, intercooler upgrade wasn't a bad idea lol.

 

I think the downsides to running a larger aftermarket IC are that they are heavier, and have just the slightest delay of throttle response as the pressure from the turbo has to shrink down a larger volume of air in the IC before going into the engine.

Both of these downsides are pretty minimal though, and as Kracka said, cooler air is always better. As cooler air=denser air=more explosion=more HP. Also a cool engine is a happy engine.

I don't recommend getting a Perrin IC though as they are 32 LBS, right at the nose of the car no less. Whereas the ETS ones range around 22LBS + or - a few LBS for different sizes. I think stock IC is 12 LBS.

But plan out your parts and $ wisely unless money is no object. An upgraded IC probably isn't "needed" at first.

An IC isn't going to "make" power per se, just fix a problem. Heat.

 

Im still on the stock turbo but upgraded the entire intercooler piping and fmic. Give ETS a call

 

FMIC is my next updrade

 

Not true, I personally weighed one that I helped a neighbor install and it was 22 lbs.