FL5 Intercooler Reference Thread

[siwelnosaj]

Will there be a WOT variation of the new PWR intercooler? Also think it'd be cool if there was a WOT variation of the micro tubule one

The microtube is a WOT product in partnership with HPT, similar to my radiator in partnership with PWR.

There's no plans to have a WOT specific variant of the PWR unit, but I will be selling them as another option.

 

[r513ctr]

People have run it and it's gone well. Continued strong results on track. I have a few customers in Puerto Rico and it's doing very well in the heat. I have a couple in stock and ready to ship.

In fact the new PWR unit was birthed as a result of the microtube and since I have a good working relationship with them (they build my radiators and I use their cores in my oil cooler kits) I agreed to test on track against the microtube.

It'll be interesting to see how they stack up. I will likely be able to test at Sonoma in 5ish weeks.

BTW, if anyone wants I can take preorders on the PWR unit. The downside right now is there's an approx 12 week lead time.

Is the new PWR IC compatible with the HKS piping kit?

 

[siwelnosaj]

Is the new PWR IC compatible with the HKS piping kit?

So long as the hks piping maintains OEM connections (which I believe is does) then yes they will work.

 

[Da_Shnizzle]

I had emailed PWR awhile back asking if the new model has the same fitment as the current one:

“The new FL5 intercooler will have the same fitment, still will accept factory charge pipes, you will now have to remove the factory air guides like with every other intercooler on the market. But we have built in ducting on the intercooler as standard that replaces the factory air guides, so the intercooler will be fully ducted tor the lower grille opening.”

I should've asked if relocation of the sensor was necessary, but my guess is if it’s a bigger core, maybe????

 

[weaponx9x]

Anyone have the MDR tube and fin available?

 

[r513ctr]

I had emailed PWR awhile back asking if the new model has the same fitment as the current one:

“The new FL5 intercooler will have the same fitment, still will accept factory charge pipes, you will now have to remove the factory air guides like with every other intercooler on the market. But we have built in ducting on the intercooler as standard that replaces the factory air guides, so the intercooler will be fully ducted tor the lower grille opening.”

I should've asked if relocation of the sensor was necessary, but my guess is if it’s a bigger core, maybe????

Has there been any photos of any information of this release from PWR?

 

[siwelnosaj]

Has there been any photos of any information of this release from PWR?

If you go to the previous page on this thread, I posted a couple of pictures.

 

[Nikw91]

If you go to the previous page on this thread, I posted a couple of pictures.

How are you liking the new PWR T&F intercooler? You've had it on the car for a few weeks now correct?

 

[siwelnosaj]

How are you liking the new PWR T&F intercooler? You've had it on the car for a few weeks now correct?

I only put it on this past weekend to test at the track. The results will be coming out soon.

 

[HuyR]

People have run it and it's gone well. Continued strong results on track. I have a few customers in Puerto Rico and it's doing very well in the heat. I have a couple in stock and ready to ship.

In fact the new PWR unit was birthed as a result of the microtube and since I have a good working relationship with them (they build my radiators and I use their cores in my oil cooler kits) I agreed to test on track against the microtube.

It'll be interesting to see how they stack up. I will likely be able to test at Sonoma in 5ish weeks.

BTW, if anyone wants I can take preorders on the PWR unit. The downside right now is there's an approx 12 week lead time.

Do you have to relocate the ambient air sensor since it's larger than the previous version

 

[siwelnosaj]

Do you have to relocate the ambient air sensor since it's larger than the previous version

Yes

 

[siwelnosaj]

PWR Tube & Fin and WOT Microtube IC testing at Sonoma.

Just under 2 weeks ago on 8/22/26 I was at Sonoma Raceway for a track day. Along with trying to get records and such, another objective of mine was to test the new PWR Tube and Fin intercooler alongside the WOT Microtube intercooler to see how each performed on track.

My approach was to use the PWR T&F for the first 3 sessions, and then during the lunch session I would swap them out and run the WOT Microtube in sessions 4 and 5. Unfortunately there was a medical emergency in the paddock which required the ambulance to transport someone to the hospital. Obviously this is terrible. It also meant that session 4 was lost as we waited for the ambulance to return. Eventually they did return and we were able to run session 5.

The data comes from session 3 with the PWR T&F IC, and session 5 with the WOT Microtube since these sessions were the most similar in ambient temp and driving pace.

Data was collected over the course of complete 20 minute sessions, with 8 hot laps of data for each session. The various data points were all collected at exactly the start/finish line on each lap and averaged to provide a more consistent information.

Both IC's were on the same tune and boost level (28.2 psi), 500whp. Nothing on the car was adjusted or changed.

Testing Results:

Ambient Air Temp: PWR - 75.1*F, WOT - 80.6*F

Post IC IAT: 114.8*F, WOT - 117.6*F

Delta IAT-Ambient: PWR - 39.6*F, WOT - 37.0*F

Avg Coolant Temp: PWR - 208.2*F, WOT - 202.4*F

Avg Oil Temp: PWR - 238.2*F, WOT - 233.8*F

Peak Coolant Temp (at any point in session): PWR - 216*F, WOT - 210*F

Avg Speed (MPH): PWR - 115.9, WOT - 117.1

Avg Lap Time: PWR - 1:45.7, WOT - 1:46.1

Conclusions:

Both are very strong options. Likely the best 2 intercoolers on the market for the track. PWR's is a tube and fin construction with built on ducting, WOT's is a microtube construction with just over 1100 tubes and no fins.

Both units have a very similar core size and weight: PWR - 28 x 6.75 x 4.5", 14.6 lbs (850.5 cubic in), WOT - 27.75 x 7.25 x 4.4" (885.2 cubic in), 14.6 lbs.

From my testing the WOT Microtube performed better on the day. It had the burden of a 6*F higher ambient temp, but still managed to have lower coolant and oil temps, lower IAT/ambient delta temps, and resulted in slightly faster speeds at the start/finish line.

That said the new PWR tube and fin IC is a strong improvement over the previous bar and plate model, and this is in my opinion is likely the second best intercooler available for the FL5/DE5 platforms.

The PWR Tube and Fin is listed at $1749, and the WOT Microtube is listed at $2000. Currently there is an estimated 12-16 week lead time on the PWR units as they are all being built to order. There are 10 WOT units in stock at the moment.

Let me know if you are interested in either unit and I can get one headed your way.

 

[Robo7]

PWR Tube & Fin and WOT Microtube IC testing at Sonoma.

Just under 2 weeks ago on 8/22/26 I was at Sonoma Raceway for a track day. Along with trying to get records and such, another objective of mine was to test the new PWR Tube and Fin intercooler alongside the WOT Microtube intercooler to see how each performed on track.

My approach was to use the PWR T&F for the first 3 sessions, and then during the lunch session I would swap them out and run the WOT Microtube in sessions 4 and 5. Unfortunately there was a medical emergency in the paddock which required the ambulance to transport someone to the hospital. Obviously this is terrible. It also meant that session 4 was lost as we waited for the ambulance to return. Eventually they did return and we were able to run session 5.

The data comes from session 3 with the PWR T&F IC, and session 5 with the WOT Microtube since these sessions were the most similar in ambient temp and driving pace.

Data was collected over the course of complete 20 minute sessions, with 8 hot laps of data for each session. The various data points were all collected at exactly the start/finish line on each lap and averaged to provide a more consistent information.

Both IC's were on the same tune and boost level (28.2 psi), 500whp. Nothing on the car was adjusted or changed.

Testing Results:

Ambient Air Temp: PWR - 75.1*F, WOT - 80.6*F

Post IC IAT: 114.8*F, WOT - 117.6*F

Delta IAT-Ambient: PWR - 39.6*F, WOT - 37.0*F

Avg Coolant Temp: PWR - 208.2*F, WOT - 202.4*F

Avg Oil Temp: PWR - 238.2*F, WOT - 233.8*F

Peak Coolant Temp (at any point in session): PWR - 216*F, WOT - 210*F

Avg Speed (MPH): PWR - 115.9, WOT - 117.1

Avg Lap Time: PWR - 1:45.7, WOT - 1:46.1

Conclusions:

Both are very strong options. Likely the best 2 intercoolers on the market for the track. PWR's is a tube and fin construction with built on ducting, WOT's is a microtube construction with just over 1100 tubes and no fins.

Both units have a very similar core size and weight: PWR - 28 x 6.75 x 4.5", 14.6 lbs (850.5 cubic in), WOT - 27.75 x 7.25 x 4.4" (885.2 cubic in), 14.6 lbs.

From my testing the WOT Microtube performed better on the day. It had the burden of a 6*F higher ambient temp, but still managed to have lower coolant and oil temps, lower IAT/ambient delta temps, and resulted in slightly faster speeds at the start/finish line.

That said the new PWR tube and fin IC is a strong improvement over the previous bar and plate model, and this is in my opinion is likely the second best intercooler available for the FL5/DE5 platforms.

The PWR Tube and Fin is listed at $1749, and the WOT Microtube is listed at $2000. Currently there is an estimated 12-16 week lead time on the PWR units as they are all being built to order. There are 10 WOT units in stock at the moment.

Let me know if you are interested in either unit and I can get one headed your way.

Thanks for the excellent write up! The results are hard to compare without a control like using the OEM intercooler. No doubt these both are effective but by how much is hard to determine. These are definitely both at the top of my list now regardless. Thanks again.