FL5 Intercooler Reference Thread

[blueroadster]

If your car is still sporting the OEM intercooler, then absolutely not since there is a large air gap across the bottom. Most if not all aftermarket intercoolers are taller and fill that gap.

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[timestamped]

If your car is still sporting the OEM intercooler, then absolutely not since there is a large air gap across the bottom. Most if not all aftermarket intercoolers are taller and fill that gap.

yea I have a larger intercooler and someone recently posted a picture of theirs after some miles showing the bottom couple inches not getting dirty (and presumably airflow).

 

[0x1d7]

Has anyone shaved the lower inside lip of the intercooler opening?

Buy a MY2027 CTR?

 

[timestamped]

Buy a MY2027 CTR?

I doubt the ‘27 facelift bumper’s opening is sized bigger than the OEM intercooler.

I’ll probably wait to take the bumper off again until I have a radiator to swap as well, but if anyone else is in there looking at it…

 

[jtlctr]

Has anyone shaved the lower inside lip of the intercooler opening?

I was going to ask the same question. I have the PRL tube and fin intercooler and I noticed recently that the 2 lower rows are blocked by that lip. I am considering either cutting it out or drilling some large holes across that lip.

 

[blueroadster]

I was going to ask the same question. I have the PRL tube and fin intercooler and I noticed recently that the 2 lower rows are blocked by that lip. I am considering either cutting it out or drilling some large holes across that lip.

It would be worth opening up that area if you are using an aftermarket intercooler and have the ability to make the modification look clean instead of a hack job. Square up the plastic trim along the bottom to align with the front surface area of the intercooler core itself and seal any surrounding gaps.

On the J's Racing intercooler for example, the top and bottom plates around the core include an extended and curled edge to help direct air into the core itself. Shaving the lower plastic lip and filling the small gaps on the sides should not be too hard. I decided to skip doing that because mine would have looked like a hack job even though I also noticed that the bottom two rows of fins on the intercooler core were blocked by the lip itself.

 

[Nikw91]

I was going to ask the same question. I have the PRL tube and fin intercooler and I noticed recently that the 2 lower rows are blocked by that lip. I am considering either cutting it out or drilling some large holes across that lip.

I have posted this a few times in different places. This was my PRL intercooler before I switched to HKS. You can see what’s blocked and what’s getting air by the dirt.

 

[jtlctr]

It would be worth opening up that area if you are using an aftermarket intercooler and have the ability to make the modification look clean instead of a hack job. Square up the plastic trim along the bottom to align with the front surface area of the intercooler core itself and seal any surrounding gaps.

On the J's Racing intercooler for example, the top and bottom plates around the core include an extended and curled edge to help direct air into the core itself. Shaving the lower plastic lip and filling the small gaps on the sides should not be too hard. I decided to skip doing that because mine would have looked like a hack job even though I also noticed that the bottom two rows of fins on the intercooler core were blocked by the lip itself.

Yeah, I think it would be difficult to cut that section out and make it look good. That’s why I am considering drilling some evenly spaced holes across the area, somehow I think that might look better.
plus, I’ll be shaving weight!

 

[pigfacedalarm]

I just ordered the PWR bar and plate intercooler directly from PWR. They’re currently built to order due to production backlog, so likely won’t see it until the end of Q1 2027.

I spent an extra $150 to not have the logo painted on. I absolutely loathe all intercoolers with logos. I hate the fact it costs an extra $150, bringing total closer to $2k than I’d like, but logos on intercoolers make me vomit.

Looking forward to the install. No cutting, trimming or relocating the temp sensor bracket was a huge sales point for me. Also lightweight and a reputable brand. It’s going to be a slow four or five months.

 

[Clark_Kent]

I just ordered the PWR bar and plate intercooler directly from PWR. They’re currently built to order due to production backlog, so likely won’t see it until the end of Q1 2027.

I spent an extra $150 to not have the logo painted on. I absolutely loathe all intercoolers with logos. I hate the fact it costs an extra $150, bringing total closer to $2k than I’d like, but logos on intercoolers make me vomit.

Looking forward to the install. No cutting, trimming or relocating the temp sensor bracket was a huge sales point for me. Also lightweight and a reputable brand. It’s going to be a slow four or five months.

Hopefully they don't spray the logo on the intercooler anyway. Ask a few of us how that could happen.

 

[pigfacedalarm]

Hopefully they don't spray the logo on the intercooler anyway. Ask a few of us how that could happen.

assuming you have the PWR as well? Curious to know if the air deflectors need removed from the stock bumper for this one? Easier than cutting the temp sensor bracket since they screw in, but just curious. Didn’t see any install instructions on their website.

 

[Clark_Kent]

assuming you have the PWR as well? Curious to know if the air deflectors need removed from the stock bumper for this one? Easier than cutting the temp sensor bracket since they screw in, but just curious. Didn’t see any install instructions on their website.

Correct. I have the hybrid unit they sold before the current tube and fin replaced it. Nothing was removed from the car for install. It is 100% bolt-on with zero modifications. I emphasize "zero modifications" because there are several manufacturers who have claimed "no modifications", and then you review the installation instructions and you see verbs that suggest otherwise. I posted some photos from the install about a year ago if you care to take a gander.

The PWR intercooler is a phenomenal product even if their customer service is cheeks. There isn't another intercooler I would buy for this platform. A distant second consideration would be the COBB Tuning intercooler.

Note: I cannot speak to fitment or installation of this newer version.

Edit: I initially stated bar and plate, it should've read "tube and fin" as that's what the new intercooler is.

 

[siwelnosaj]

Correct. I have the hybrid unit they sold before the current bar and plate replaced it. Nothing was removed from the car for install. It is 100% bolt-on with zero modifications. I emphasize "zero modifications" because there are several manufacturers who have claimed "no modifications", and then you review the installation instructions and you see verbs that suggest otherwise. I posted some photos from the install about a year ago if you care to take a gander.

The PWR intercooler is a phenomenal product even if their customer service is cheeks. There isn't another intercooler I would buy for this platform. A distant second consideration would be the COBB Tuning intercooler.

Note: I cannot speak to fitment or installation of this newer version.

Just out of curiosity I'm wondering what the aversion is to moving the ambient temp sensor and unscrewing the air deflectors behind the bumper? Both are pretty painless and quick to do, and aren't permanent, and by doing so you unlock the ability to use intercoolers with much higher potential.

 

[pigfacedalarm]

Just out of curiosity I'm wondering what the aversion is to moving the ambient temp sensor and unscrewing the air deflectors behind the bumper? Both are pretty painless and quick to do, and aren't permanent, and by doing so you unlock the ability to use intercoolers with much higher potential.

I internally debated between you and PWR, as you’re probably aware from the DMs. You don’t have a logo on it and cool better, AND are cheaper. I just didn’t want to cut the ambient air sensor bracket and relocate it because I’m extremely anal about keeping the car as OEM as possible, as I typically only keep cars for a few years. I had a 2023 FL5, sold it after two years, missed it so much that I just bought a 2026. I’d rather not cut or drill into the factory plastics so I know I can easily return it to stock if needed.

I know others place high value on not cutting/drilling due to classes on the track. I found a post on here by someone who chose PWR solely for that reason.

 

[siwelnosaj]

I internally debated between you and PWR, as you’re probably aware from the DMs. You don’t have a logo on it and cool better, AND are cheaper. I just didn’t want to cut the ambient air sensor bracket and relocate it because I’m extremely anal about keeping the car as OEM as possible, as I typically only keep cars for a few years. I had a 2023 FL5, sold it after two years, missed it so much that I just bought a 2026. I’d rather not cut or drill into the factory plastics so I know I can easily return it to stock if needed.

I know others place high value on not cutting/drilling due to classes on the track. I found a post on here by someone who chose PWR solely for that reason.

That's fair enough. It's possible to do it even without cutting if it just remove that plastic cover that's on the crash bar, and can zip tie the ambient temp sensor.

Just wanting others to know that both modifications can be done without any permanence and pretty easily.

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