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FL5 Intercooler Reference Thread

weaponx9x

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I don’t really say what’s best just try to give you info to make educated decision. PRL has always been reliable and great for most builds. HKS you pay for the name and PWR is too expensive if all you’re going to do is be on the street with it. Serious track setups yes PWR. If I was you I would wait till early March MDR is releasing a t&f. See what that looks like
What I like about the MDR is you don’t have to relocate the temp sensor, that’s a nice feature. And price wise is good. Early march is right there. I’ll keep an eye out for it
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Nikw91

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@SBX Performance so the newest PRL inter is as good as the HKS and PWR
11th Gen Honda Civic FL5 Intercooler Reference Thread IMG_9762
11th Gen Honda Civic FL5 Intercooler Reference Thread IMG_0677


The first picture is my old PRL bar and plate intercooler above my new HKS intercooler.

Second picture is the “new” PRL tube and fin intercooler that seems to have the same skinny fin spacing as their bar and plate version.

You be the judge on which intercooler is going to allow more airflow to your radiator.
 

SBX Performance

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IMG_9762.webp
IMG_0677.webp


The first picture is my old PRL bar and plate intercooler above my new HKS intercooler.

Second picture is the “new” PRL tube and fin intercooler that seems to have the same skinny fin spacing as their bar and plate version.

You be the judge on which intercooler is going to allow more airflow to your radiator.
Everybody has a budget so I put more than 1 into the categories to relate to everyone. Not everybody needs or has the budget for PWR or HKS. Either wait I will always stick with MDR been the best of 3 intercoolers I used and yes I used PRL before I started my company. I’m excited to see what the MDR T&F brings to the table next month
 

Nikw91

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Everybody has a budget so I put more than 1 into the categories to relate to everyone. Not everybody needs or has the budget for PWR or HKS. Either wait I will always stick with MDR been the best of 3 intercoolers I used and yes I used PRL before I started my company. I’m excited to see what the MDR T&F brings to the table next month
Current prices:

RV6 tube and fin: $749
PRL bar and plate: $799
PRL tube and fin: $999
HKS tube and fin: $1040
Mishimoto bar and plate: $1195
MDR bar and plate: $1199
WOT microtube: $1650
PWR bar and plate: $1749

I’m sure the MDR is a nice intercooler like the rest of their products and great for the streets. I’ve heard nothing but great things about the owner of MDR.

From a track perspective:

I am curious on much turbo lag it added? My PRL bar and plate intercooler added a noticeable, roughly 200 rpm lag, the bigger MDR has to be more I would assume.

And what about on the track? The MDR is roughly 20% thicker then the PRL, and I was having overheating issues in 50 degree weather at Sebring in November with the PRL installed.

HKS intercoolers were $870 until last month when they had price increases across all their products.
 

LogicalCC

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Current prices:

RV6 tube and fin: $749
PRL bar and plate: $799
PRL tube and fin: $999
HKS tube and fin: $1040
Mishimoto bar and plate: $1195
MDR bar and plate: $1199
WOT microtube: $1650
PWR bar and plate: $1749

I’m sure the MDR is a nice intercooler like the rest of their products and great for the streets. I’ve heard nothing but great things about the owner of MDR.

From a track perspective:

I am curious on much turbo lag it added? My PRL bar and plate intercooler added a noticeable, roughly 200 rpm lag, the bigger MDR has to be more I would assume.

And what about on the track? The MDR is roughly 20% thicker then the PRL, and I was having overheating issues in 50 degree weather at Sebring in November with the PRL installed.

HKS intercoolers were $870 until last month when they had price increases across all their products.
Have you noticed any significant difference in temperatures between your PRL B&P and now HKS T&F intercooler? Or minimal?
 


AspecR

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Current prices:

RV6 tube and fin: $749
PRL bar and plate: $799
PRL tube and fin: $999
HKS tube and fin: $1040
Mishimoto bar and plate: $1195
MDR bar and plate: $1199
WOT microtube: $1650
PWR bar and plate: $1749

I’m sure the MDR is a nice intercooler like the rest of their products and great for the streets. I’ve heard nothing but great things about the owner of MDR.

From a track perspective:

I am curious on much turbo lag it added? My PRL bar and plate intercooler added a noticeable, roughly 200 rpm lag, the bigger MDR has to be more I would assume.

And what about on the track? The MDR is roughly 20% thicker then the PRL, and I was having overheating issues in 50 degree weather at Sebring in November with the PRL installed.

HKS intercoolers were $870 until last month when they had price increases across all their products.
TBH cars that get tracked regularly should stick to using T&F intercoolers especially if you're still on the stock turbo. B&P intercoolers from brands like MDR, Airtec and Mishimoto really start to shine when the turbo is upgraded.
 

Nikw91

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Have you noticed any significant difference in temperatures between your PRL B&P and now HKS T&F intercooler? Or minimal?
I have not gone back to the track yet (March 12).

When I swapped out the PRL intercooler I also upgraded to the CSF radiator, added the WOT plate and HEL oil cooler…. so I won’t be able to give any real data on the HKS intercooler. To many changed variables.

However, the HKS intercooler did help getting rid of the turbo lag. Intake temperatures do vary a lot more with the HKS in traffic but drop significantly faster.
 

weaponx9x

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I have not gone back to the track yet (March 12).

When I swapped out the PRL intercooler I also upgraded to the CSF radiator, added the WOT plate and HEL oil cooler…. so I won’t be able to give any real data on the HKS intercooler. To many changed variables.

However, the HKS intercooler did help getting rid of the turbo lag. Intake temperatures do vary a lot more with the HKS in traffic but drop significantly faster.

How much modification did you do to fit the HKS?
 

Sporky McGeuschky

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Everybody has a budget so I put more than 1 into the categories to relate to everyone. Not everybody needs or has the budget for PWR or HKS. Either wait I will always stick with MDR been the best of 3 intercoolers I used and yes I used PRL before I started my company. I’m excited to see what the MDR T&F brings to the table next month
Is it wrong of me to consider buying the MDR intercooler... just because I like the MDR rear wiper delete "Racing Snail" logo?

 


weaponx9x

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On stock charge pipes?
I just popped the bumper off and swapped the HKS in. I had cut and moved the sensor when I originally did the PRL install.

Pics are just for reference.
IMG_0446.webp
EC0BCFFE-2B54-4855-AD37-07EFA67EBCBC.webp
 

Nikw91

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On stock charge pipes?
Yes, stock charge pipes work just fine. I will upgrade them in a couple of years probably.

I just put charge pipes in the category of look good and very minimal gains (like aftermarket inlet pipes and aftermarket front pipes on stock exhaust).

i would rather spend the $300-400 on other mods right now that make bigger changes like say Canflex or springs.
 

Chilly613

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I just popped the bumper off and swapped the HKS in. I had cut and moved the sensor when I originally did the PRL install.

Pics are just for reference.
IMG_0446.webp
EC0BCFFE-2B54-4855-AD37-07EFA67EBCBC.webp
Nice, I just ordered the HKS Intercooler from @Unity Performance
 
 







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