Do our cars really have intercoolers, or is the name misapplied?

[Rafs-T-Type]

Someone said "Technically, turbo cars have a CAC (charge air cooler) or aftercooler, but the name intercooler is commonly misapplied. A true intercooler is between sequential turbos." I was wondering what your guys thoughts on this are.

 

[PLAINWHITE T]

I agree it may be technically incorret, but "Intercooler" makes for better marketing.

 

[TexasT]

And it made for a cool little badge that fit the GN and T-Type logo.

 

[trixdout]

Then again it cools the air after the turbo and before the throttle body

Sent from my iPhone using Turbo Buick

 

[kidglok]

They have intercoolers, because that's what buick says they have

 

[novaderrik]

does it matter? the end result is the same...

 

[Rafs-T-Type]

does it matter? the end result is the same...

Kind of. My T-type had GN emblems all over it when I got it. Did it matter? Nope. Did I rip them off...Yup.

It's just nice to know correct information, whether it effects you or not.

 

[PLAINWHITE T]

It's just nice to know correct information, whether it effects you or not.

....and it gives those of us in Iowa, Minnesota, and Illinois something to talk about since it's too crappy out to drive our cars anyway!

 

[Gary Wells]

It's correct nomenclature is "Charge Air Cooler" because regardless of what other people call it, it is so named / termed by the Garrett Corporation . I believe that they were designed & constructed by Cliff Garrett in his garage for a contract for B-17 bombers manufactured during WWII. What was the Garrett Corporation is now the Honeywell Corporation, being bought out by Honeywell years back.
BTW, the charge air coolers, or "intercoolers" as we call them were manufactured by Garrett Corporation at the Lomita Street turbocharger facility in Torrance, PRK. They are also referred to as "heat exchangers" sometimes.

 

[dr_frankenstein]

you could always call it an Air Radiator.

 

[lightningdan]

i always wondered why some people call them "after coolers, or charge coolers" we call them intercoolers, either a2a (air to air cooler) or w2a (water to air) which ford uses in they production supercharge vehicles

 

[turbot3.8]

....and it gives those of us in Iowa, Minnesota, and Illinois something to talk about since it's too crappy out to drive our cars anyway!

X2 on that.

 

[TURBOPOWERED68]

you could always call it an Air Radiator.

Thats how i describe it to non car people that ask "what is that ? " Its a another radiator

 

[TexasT]

It's correct nomenclature is "Charge Air Cooler" because regardless of what other people call it, it is so named / termed by the Garrett Corporation . I believe that they were designed & constructed by Cliff Garrett in his garage for a contract for B-17 bombers manufactured during WWII. What was the Garrett Corporation is now the Honeywell Corporation, being bought out by Honeywell years back.
BTW, the charge air coolers, or "intercoolers" as we call them were manufactured by Garrett Corporation at the Lomita Street turbocharger facility in Torrance, PRK. They are also referred to as "heat exchangers" sometimes.

That charge air cooler wouldnt sound as cool or fit on the badge . I like intercooled.

 

[Rafs-T-Type]

That charge air cooler wouldnt sound as cool or fit on the badge . I like intercooled.

I am going to strip my car of the intercooled badge. It all lies lol. But seriously, they are coming off. The cowl badges are going too. I'm sick of battling the wax around those things, and I like the look with them off.

 

[TexasT]

I am going to strip my car of the intercooled badge. It all lies lol. But seriously, they are coming off. The cowl badges are going too. I'm sick of battling the wax around those things, and I like the look with them off.

One of the first things I did to mine was pull the 3.8 SFI TURBO chrome from the hood and deck lid. I left the BUICK, just for grins.

 

[MeanBuicks]

It's correct nomenclature is "Charge Air Cooler" because regardless of what other people call it, it is so named / termed by the Garrett Corporation .

Yep, that's what they said.

 

[Rafs-T-Type]

Yep, that's what they said.

Interesting....thanks for the pic.