This page contains a summary of intercooler specifications and flow performance for a range of brands and types of intercoolers available for the Mk7 GTI and Golf R.
The table below summarizes data I have gathered on various intercooler options:
| Manufacturer | Location | Design | Length (in) | Height (in) | Depth (in) | Frontal Area (in^2) | Core Volume (in^3) | Weight (lbs) | Charge Rows | Fin/In. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OEM GTI | DF | Tube & Fin | 24.25 | 16.25 | 1.25 | 394 | 493 | 7.4 | 29 | 8 |
| OEM R | DF | Tube & Fin | 24.25 | 16.25 | 1.46 | 394 | 540 | 7.8 | 29 | 11 |
| Airtech | DF | ? | 16.45 | 2.36 | 24 | |||||
| AMS | DF | Tube & Fin | 24 | 16 | 2.25 | 384 | 864 | 17.0 | 27 | 22 |
| APR | DF | Bar & Plate | 24 | 16.25 | 2.25 | 390 | 878 | 27.8 | 25 | 12 |
| Burger | DF | Bar & Plate | 24 | 16 | 2 | 384 | 768 | 26 | 23 | |
| CTS | DF | Bar & Plate | 25 | 16 | 2.25 | 400 | 900 | 23 | ||
| Direnza | DF | Bar & Plate | 23 | |||||||
| do88 | DF | Tube & Fin | 24.96 | 16.69 | 2.24 | 417 | 933 | 23.0 | 26 | 12 |
| ECS Tuning | DF | Bar & Plate | 24.5 | 16.5 | 2.0 | 404 | 808 | 26 | ||
| Forge | DF | Bar & Plate | 25.6 | 16.7 | 1.97 | 428 | 842 | 25.8 | 24 | 10 |
| HG | DF | 24.4 | 16.1 | 2 | 393 | 786 | 31 | |||
| HPA | DF | Tube & Fin | 25 | 16 | 2.17 | 400 | 868 | 19.6 | 25 | |
| IE v1 | DF | Bar & Plate | 24 | 16.4 | 2.25 | 394 | 886 | 29.2 | 24 | 11 |
| IE v2 | DF | Bar & Plate | 24.4 | 16.7 | 2.75 | 407 | 1121 | 31.4 | 24 | |
| Leyo | DF | Tube & Fin | 24.8 | 16.3 | 2 | 403 | 794 | 27 | ||
| Mabotech | DF | Bar & Plate | 25.5 | 16.125 | 2.8 | 411 | 1149 | 30.0 | 23 | |
| Majesty | DF | 24.6 | 16.14 | 2.52 | 397 | 1001 | 28.6 | 27 | ||
| Mishimoto | DF | Bar & Plate | 24.4 | 16 | 2.2 | 390 | 859 | 30.2 | 28 | 14 |
| MTC | DF | Tube & Fin | 24.8 | 16.3 | 1.97 | 400 | 789 | 25 | ||
| Pro Alloy | DF | Tube & Fin | 25 | 16.14 | 2.36 | 404 | 952 | 16.5 | 25 | |
| PWR Performance | DF | Tube & Fin | 24.4 | 15.74 | 2.16 | 384 | 830 | 24 | 16 | |
| Revo | DF | Bar & Plate | 23 | 16.54 | 2 | 380 | 761 | 29 | ||
| Unitronic | DF | Bar & Plate | 23.5 | 16.5 | 2 | 388 | 776 | 24.4 | 24 | |
| VWR | DF | Bar & Plate | 25 | 16.19 | 2.58 | 405 | 1044 | 29.8 | 22 | 11 |
| Wagner | DF | Tube & Fin | 25.2 | 16.1 | 2.2 | 406 | 893 | 18.5 | 25 | |
| ARM Motorsport | FMIC | Bar & Plate | 22 | 9 | 3.25 | 198 | 644 | 18.0 | 13 | |
| Baun (Vibrant) | FMIC | Bar & Plate | 22 | 9.25 | 3.25 | 204 | 661 | 17.0 | 13 | |
| CTS | FMIC | Bar & Plate | 24 | 8 | 2.75 | 192 | 528 | 16.2 | 12 | |
| eBay v1 | FMIC | Bar & Plate | 24.4 | 6.7 | 2.55 | 163 | 417 | 10 | ||
| Majesty | FMIC | Bar & Plate | 25.2 | 7.5 | 3.54 | 189 | 667 | 19.4 | 10 | |
| ECS Tuning | FMIC | Bar & Plate | 25.5 | 8 | 3 | 204 | 612 | 18.0 | 12 | 11 |
| Forge | FMIC | Bar & Plate | 24.5 | 6.25 | 2.5 | 153 | 383 | 10.2 | 7 | |
| G-Plus | FMIC | Tube & Fin | 9.6 | |||||||
| JD Euro (TR8L) | FMIC | Bar & Plate | 24 | 7.8 | 3.5 | 187 | 665 | 16.2 | 11 | |
| Mabotech | FMIC | Bar & Plate | 25 | 8 | 3.55 | 200 | 710 | 19.5 | 8 | |
| Neuspeed | FMIC | Bar & Plate | 23.5 | 6.5 | 3 | 153 | 458 | 9 | ||
| Neuspeed IS38 | FMIC | Bar & Plate | 26 | 6.5 | 3 | 169 | 507 | 11 |
Flow Chart Explanation:
The chart below is a comparison of airflow data that I have measured. The intercoolers were tested using a flow bench set to a depression of 28″ of H2O.
Caution: This test is only of flow performance, this test does not correlate with cooling performance. Review the intercooler test page for more direct comparisons.
FMIC units only:
Note: With this test summary airflow readings are being transitioned to a new standard setup. Over the past year and a half the test equipment used for flow testing has evolved. A newer bell mouth design was created that uses a thinner wall inside the inlet hose to open the intake slightly. When repeating tests using the new bell mouth design there is approximately 2 CFM more airflow through the intercoolers. This is approximately equal to the maximum margin of error.
On the outlet side the adapter to the bench has been revised to more closely approximate the throttle body, and this has produced a reduction in the overall airflow. For larger stock location intercoolers a decrease of approximately 12 CFM has been measured. With the lower flowing intercoolers, mainly the FMIC products, the change is less, only around 2-3 CFM less.
Products or combinations that have not been tested with the latest equipment are indicated in the chart with a (-) to show that they likely would flow a few CFM less if tested with the current equipment.