3.3TT Agency Power intercooler - Install + Tests

[Toddasaurus]

For those of you that don't know how to install this thing, Tork made a simple how-to video showing the whole process. It's easy, VERY easy. My car is a G70, so a couple things were slightly different - i didn't have to trim my radiator shroud (though I have VT snorkels which remove the shroud anyway, but the G70's shroud isn't nearly as intrusive as the Stinger's shroud). Also, the inlet coupling on the G70 is different than the Stinger - mine doesn't have the spring clamp, instead it uses a regular screw style clamp.

Tork Installation video, for reference...

And here it is installed on my car....








Now, onto the comparison and testing... First off, upon receiving the intercooler I took some up close pictures of the interior and exterior core, along with the inlet and outlet....







And this is an interior shot of the core, using my borescope....



The intercooler weighs 22.2lbs, according to the scale I had access to.

 

[Toddasaurus]

The OEM intercooler weighs 10.4lbs on my scale, and has plastic end tanks with a sharp 90º angle where the tank transitions to the inlet/outlet.



Now, my install wouldn't be complete without some testing with datalogs to provide objective information. So what I did is before the install, I started up the car (cold) and went out to a safe highway where I could do some logged runs. This is a 2 road highway, that has a median in the middle with designated u-turn points. I did 4 back to back WOT runs, from 0mph to the top of 3rd gear. I did not give the engine time to cool down inbetween runs; as in, immediately after hitting top of 3rd gear I would press the brakes and turn into the next designated u-turn point (it's almost right there after hitting top of 3rd gear), stop, wait for traffic to clear (a few seconds), then turn onto the road and do the exact same thing all over again.

After installing the new AP intercooler, I repeated the same test; but I waited until the next day to do so as I wanted to start out with a cold engine again. I drove to the exact same location, repeated the test in the exact same manner. A couple variables that I could not control, though.. First, it was 5ºF cooler the second day, and second, the traffic was slightly different. So I had to wait longer inbetween some of the runs, and wait a little less between others, but the difference was only by a few seconds.


Now, onto the data. I compared all 8 datalogs between eachother, and I found the very last run from each day to be the most telling. You are welcome to see my data before I summarize...

Mods: VT Snorkels, ARK Midpipes, MF exhaust, AEM intake w/larger filters, dual catch can, JB4 using Map 2, Brisk Silver spark plugs (1 step colder than stock).

OEM Intercooler Datalog, 4th/last run...

datazap.me | Toddasaurus | OEM IC

datazap.me

AP Intercooler Datalog, 4th/last run...

datazap.me | Toddasaurus | AP IC (next day, 3-6 runs)

datazap.me

As you can see, with the new Agency Power intercooler at the top of 3rd gear AIT's are 16ºF cooler than the OEM intercooler. Also, the boost curves are essentially the same. Also of note, ignition timing advance looks very stable in 3rd gear, mirrors the boost as it should, and I'm not seeing any drops. Considering this, it's clear that the new intercooler is better than OEM in terms of cooling. It also shows that there is no significant difference with flow or pressure drop, at least to the extent that the ECU & JB4 can't manage, with the new intercooler.

All in all, I think this is a good upgrade. Are there better ones out there? Sure! But, are they worth the price increase over this one? Only you can answer that for yourself. For me, it was a no-brainer. Vividracing cut me a sweet deal, $490 shipped to my doorstep. Can't complain about that.

 

[STINGER]

Good review and good data

 

[cncBilly]

The OEM intercooler weighs 10.4lbs on my scale, and has plastic end tanks with a sharp 90º angle where the tank transitions to the inlet/outlet.
View attachment 45792


Now, my install wouldn't be complete without some testing with datalogs to provide objective information. So what I did is before the install, I started up the car (cold) and went out to a safe highway where I could do some logged runs. This is a 2 road highway, that has a median in the middle with designated u-turn points. I did 4 back to back WOT runs, from 0mph to the top of 3rd gear. I did not give the engine time to cool down inbetween runs; as in, immediately after hitting top of 3rd gear I would press the brakes and turn into the next designated u-turn point (it's almost right there after hitting top of 3rd gear), stop, wait for traffic to clear (a few seconds), then turn onto the road and do the exact same thing all over again.

After installing the new AP intercooler, I repeated the same test; but I waited until the next day to do so as I wanted to start out with a cold engine again. I drove to the exact same location, repeated the test in the exact same manner. A couple variables that I could control, though.. First, it was 5ºF cooler the second day, and second, the traffic was slightly different. So I hate to wait longer inbetween some of the runs, and wait a little less between others, but the difference was only by a few seconds.


Now, onto the data. I compared all 8 datalogs between eachother, and I found the very last run from each day to be the most telling. You are welcome to see my data before I summarize...

Mods: VT Snorkels, ARK Midpipes, MF exhaust, AEM intake w/larger filters, dual catch can, JB4 using Map 2, Brisk Silver spark plugs (1 step colder than stock).

OEM Intercooler Datalog, 4th/last run...

datazap.me | Toddasaurus | OEM IC

datazap.me

AP Intercooler Datalog, 4th/last run...

datazap.me | Toddasaurus | AP IC (next day, 3-6 runs)

datazap.me

As you can see, with the new Agency Power intercooler at the top of 3rd gear AIT's are 16ºF cooler than the OEM intercooler. Also, the boost curves are essentially the same. Also of note, ignition timing advance looks very stable in 3rd gear, mirrors the boost as it should, and I'm not seeing any drops. Considering this, it's clear that the new intercooler is better than OEM in terms of cooling. It also shows that there is no significant difference with flow or pressure drop, at least to the extent that the ECU & JB4 can't manage, with the new intercooler.

All in all, I think this is a good upgrade. Are there better ones out there? Sure! But, are they worth the price increase over this one? Only you can answer that for yourself. For me, it was a no-brainer. Vividracing cut me a sweet deal, $490 shipped to my doorstep. Can't complain about that.

Thx for this T. Been waiting on Mishi, like you running out of patience and thinking about moving on. Looks like this could be the option. Cheers

 

[CKeeler]

Good review

 

[cncBilly]

Good review

Agreed

 

[Mr. Tech]

All in all, I think this is a good upgrade. Are there better ones out there? Sure! But, are they worth the price increase over this one? Only you can answer that for yourself. For me, it was a no-brainer. Vividracing cut me a sweet deal, $490 shipped to my doorstep. Can't complain about that.

Great review! Also, have you noticed a difference in throttle response? I've read one review about increased throttle response, but the rest of the review led me to believe it may have been placebo.

 

[Spaceme17]

That's good information but I am honestly more impressed with the factory intercooler.

While the AP intercooler does improve things, the factory intercooler is very consisent and a 16F improvement with the AP is not really that much.

Most factory intercoolers are pretty bad after several pulls and will be pushing 150, 160+ F after back to back pulls.

Was this on the factory calibration or were you running a tune chip such as a JB4?

 

[Toddasaurus]

Great review! Also, have you noticed a difference in throttle response? I've read one review about increased throttle response, but the rest of the review led me to believe it may have been placebo.

No change in throttle response as far as I can tell.

That's good information but I am honestly more impressed with the factory intercooler.

While the AP intercooler does improve things, the factory intercooler is very consisent and a 16F improvement with the AP is not really that much.

Most factory intercoolers are pretty bad after several pulls and will be pushing 150, 160+ F after back to back pulls.

Was this on the factory calibration or were you running a tune chip such as a JB4?

Apples to Oranges comparison. We can only conclude that the AP intercooler brings in 16°F cooler air than OEM under the exact testing environment that I described above. There are several variables that impact IAT, and I guarantee that under different testing circumstances that the OEM IC would show substantially higher IATs than what I saw during my test, and likewise the AP IC would yield a different decrease than what I saw in my test in said environment. In addition to this, considering that my intercooler is black it is reasonable to believe that a noncoated version would yield better results than mine.

Also, I posted my mods above on the last page of my review....

Mods: VT Snorkels, ARK Midpipes, MF exhaust, AEM intake w/larger filters, dual catch can, JB4 using Map 2, Brisk Silver spark plugs (1 step colder than stock)

In the end, I'd love to see someone else do a before/after comparison in a similar way, or as close as possible, to what I did. But so far I have yet to see anyone on this forum do a real world test like I did.

 

[Houstinger1]

What's the password for getting such a sweet sweet discount on the IC from vividracing?

 

[Toddasaurus]

What's the password for getting such a sweet sweet discount on the IC from vividracing?

They had a sale going on at the time I purchased. Then I talked to them (Vividracing) over the phone, and without even asking the guy offered me an even bigger discount than what was advertised on the website. I lucked out!

 

[Davidsg]

I installed my AP Intercooler yesterday on my Australian GT but it seems to be a very tight fit. Looks like the Australian Stinger has 2 additional vertical members (see attached) do you think it could rub through the Intercooler over time?

 

[Toddasaurus]

Huh... That's interesting. USDM Stingers and G70's definitely do not have those metal brackets welded to the crash bar.

I honestly don't know if it would wear through, but, I suppose it's possible over a long period of time. The intercooler is aluminum, and those plates/brackets are probably steel. Personally, I'd either squeeze some 1/8" (~5mm) rubber sheets in-between the brackets and the intercooler. Or, just cut off the brackets (that's actually what I'd do). Would save a couple lbs. Haha.

Good luck, and let us know what you end up doing!

 

[Davidsg]

Huh... That's interesting. USDM Stingers and G70's definitely do not have those metal brackets welded to the crash bar.

I honestly don't know if it would wear through, but, I suppose it's possible over a long period of time. The intercooler is aluminum, and those plates/brackets are probably steel. Personally, I'd either squeeze some 1/8" (~5mm) rubber sheets in-between the brackets and the intercooler. Or, just cut off the brackets (that's actually what I'd do). Would save a couple lbs. Haha.

Good luck, and let us know what you end up doing!

Just did this should help cut some rubber hose and silicone to make sure it sticks

 

[Toddasaurus]

Nice!

 

[Hawk853]

Used one might still be available...

For Sale - Agency power intercooler

Less than 3k miles on it paid 600 would love to get 500 for it or best offer

stingerforum.org

 

[runner1]

Agency Power Intercooler order....disappointed

lol not even close Haha, explain!

stingerforum.org