The Charged Air Cooler or Turbocharger Intercooler

The turbocharger is supported by an air-to-air charge air cooler system, which uses fresh air drawn through a heat exchanger to reduce the temperature of the warmer compressed air forced through the intake system. Inlet air temperature can be reduced by approximately 30 % or greater, which enhances performance. This is due to the higher density of oxygen in the cooled air, which promotes optimal combustion. The charge air cooler is connected to the turbocharger and to the throttle body by flexible duct work that requires the use of special high torque fastening clamps. In order to prevent any type of air leak when servicing the duct work, the tightening specifications and proper positioning of the clamps is critical. The ECM monitors the efficiency of the Charge Air Cooler for deterioration that would cause vehicle's emissions to exceed specific emission levels. The overall efficiency of CAC is calculated using the absolute temperature difference between the applicable air temperature sensors for a given application. The efficiency is determined using calibrations that equate to DTC P0127 or P026A, depending on the available air temperature sensors.