Owner reviews for intercooler

Downpipe, intake, tune, and upgraded intercooler and you have a car that can keep up most everything out there.

I run the full APR intake system and, most importantly, the APR Intercooler. My large intercooler keeps IATs (and therefore EGTs) down. This keeps the oil temps in the safe zone where 0W-20 still protects the bearings.

Depo 3.5 intercooler.

Personally, I drove at Stage 2 for a while and then went up to 3 for 93 AKI gasoline. I am happy I did. I have noticed more lag, but it is with respect to faster acceleration; I have not noticed more lag with respect to how the car drove at Stage 1 or 2. The lag is there, but as others were discussing above, I start out in race mode using the manual paddle shifters and allow the RPMs to go higher than the TCU would normally allow to build up exhaust gases in 1st gear. I then flip the vehicle into S-mode to allow the TCU to take over and the car will quickly shift through 2nd into 3rd gear, where most ppl with these cars feel the acceleration really kicks in. Also, turn off the ESC stability control; it really hampers acceleration in 1st and 2nd gear as well.... though you better keep those hands well-gripped on the steering wheel when you stop the accelerator ;-)

In 2 years/ 27k miles, I never had to add oil between oil changes. My MK7 was the same way.

The APR intercooler is very good and more than adequate for anything stock turbo. The stock intercooler is the devil, I can feel that turd heatsoaking in our current 35ish temps and anything over 40 and it feels like it's heat soaked before I even have full oil temps.

Thanks for this great thread. I was about to pull the trigger on the EQT update for full torque on my Mk8R but I'm similarly skeptically about the possible long term consequences. Frankly speaking, it's darn quick already and I appreciate the overall flat torque curve. I feel it will be better for the track as well when I'm really revving it out..

The mk8 is certainly less subtle than the mk7, especially in Lapiz Blue. I've had my fair share of guys wanting to run. Elantra n, civic type r, a few Audi s's, WRX. On an empty highway I'll enjoy a few friendly 40-90 pulls in good fun.

with aftermarket intercooler and exhaust, make sure it is also (mildly) tuned otherwise you might find it goes into self protection (limp mode).

Lot of work had to be done the past 12 months - intercooler replacement, front upper AND lower control arm, transmission flush, NOx sensors…