Intercooler pipe size for small engine/turbo?
07-17-2017, 10:02 AM
#1
Intercooler pipe size for small engine/turbo?
2 inch turbo outlet
2 inch intercooler inlet/outlet
2 inch throttle body
What size piping would you use and why? The biggest pipe I could fit would be 2.5 inch for either. I’m seeing guys use 2.5 inch piping and saying things like the larger 2.5 inch piping helps produce more power for various reasons like expansion/suppression, air temp, air velocity…etc. But I'm not sold on it.
2 inch intercooler inlet/outlet
2 inch throttle body
What size piping would you use and why? The biggest pipe I could fit would be 2.5 inch for either. I’m seeing guys use 2.5 inch piping and saying things like the larger 2.5 inch piping helps produce more power for various reasons like expansion/suppression, air temp, air velocity…etc. But I'm not sold on it.
07-17-2017, 10:46 AM
#3
2 inch turbo outlet
2 inch intercooler inlet/outlet
2 inch throttle body
What size piping would you use and why? The biggest pipe I could fit would be 2.5 inch for either. I’m seeing guys use 2.5 inch piping and saying things like the larger 2.5 inch piping helps produce more power for various reasons like expansion/suppression, air temp, air velocity…etc. But I'm not sold on it.
2 inch intercooler inlet/outlet
2 inch throttle body
What size piping would you use and why? The biggest pipe I could fit would be 2.5 inch for either. I’m seeing guys use 2.5 inch piping and saying things like the larger 2.5 inch piping helps produce more power for various reasons like expansion/suppression, air temp, air velocity…etc. But I'm not sold on it.
07-18-2017, 11:29 AM
#6
I bought the CX Racing intercooler kit for my 2012 Cruze and it uses 2.25 tube. And unless they changes the turbo for the 17's, I'm pretty sure it's a 1.75 outlet. I need to get this thing on my dyno and see what kinda power it's actually making with this tune, lol. But it is kinda dumb that from the factory, they put the intercooler between the AC condenser and the radiator, 
07-19-2017, 08:36 AM
#7
You are right, one guy said 2 inch outlet and the other guy measured and came out to 1.75 inch.
My 2017 has it in the lower valance and is actually a Front mount inter cooler. I'm actually in the process of upgrading to the Malibu with the 1.5 engine. I'm guessing its the same turbo, IC and TB sizes.
So interesting numbers here.
Cruze - 1.4 turbo engine makes 153hp/177tq
Malibu - 1.5 turbo engine makes 160hp/184tq
Malibu - 2.0 turbo engine makes 250hp/260tq
I highly doubt I can talk my way into the Premiere Malibu with the 2.0 engine but man that's a hell of a power upgrade from the factory.
My 2017 has it in the lower valance and is actually a Front mount inter cooler. I'm actually in the process of upgrading to the Malibu with the 1.5 engine. I'm guessing its the same turbo, IC and TB sizes.
So interesting numbers here.
Cruze - 1.4 turbo engine makes 153hp/177tq
Malibu - 1.5 turbo engine makes 160hp/184tq
Malibu - 2.0 turbo engine makes 250hp/260tq
I highly doubt I can talk my way into the Premiere Malibu with the 2.0 engine but man that's a hell of a power upgrade from the factory.