A heat exchanger that's added to a turbocharged engine to cool the air after it leaves the turbo This increases the air's density and means more air can be pumped into the engine The result is roughly a 10 to 15 percent improvement in horsepower
A device that helps to cool a forced induction intake charge In example, the turbo sends the charged air to the intercooler where it cools off then flows to the intake manifold The purpose for cooling the intake charge is that cool air compresses better and helps to prevent detonation
A heat exchanger that cools the air (or, in some installations, the intake charge) that has been heated by compression in any type of supercharger An intercooler resembles a radiator; it houses large passages for the intake flow, and uses either outside air or water directed over it to lower the temperature of the intake flow inside
A heat exchanger (water or air cooled) to remove the heat of compression between stages of a multi-stage compressor Usually also condenses and removes a significant amount of moisture