A top mounted intercooler (TMIC) is an automotive intercooler mounted within the engine bay, above the engine. Because of restricted airflow to this location, a hood scoop is virtually a necessity for a TMIC. An intercooler is a device used on turbocharged and supercharged internal combustion engines to improve the volumetric efficiency and increase the amount of charge in the engine, thereby increasing power. ... A hood scoop is an air vent on a car hood which usually sends air over an intercooler. ...

The engine bay of a 2005 MINI Cooper'S - the TMIC is circled in red

The BMW or New MINI is a car produced by BMW since 2001. ...

Advantages

• The TMIC may be placed close to the turbocharger and/or supercharger compressor and to the engine's intake. As a result, the intake tubing can be kept short. The longer the path from the intercooler to the engine, the more air must be pressurised within the hoses when a change in pressure is demanded - and the greater the lag imposed. When used in combination with quick-spooling turbochargers, such as ball bearing turbochargers, the result is a more responsive engine.

• Unlike front-mounted intercoolers, TMICs do not block any airflow to the radiator and/or oil cooler, allowing better engine cooling.

This article describes the internal combustion engine component often known as a turbo. ... A supercharger (also known as a blower, or a centrifugal pump) is a gas compressor used to compress air into the cylinders of an internal combustion engine. ...

Disadvantages

• Heat from the engine may be conducted through to the intercooler, usually while trying to escape through an open hood vent. Because of this; hot, cramped or poorly ducted engine bays (commonly the case with rotary engines) do not fair well from TMICs.

• TMICs tend to be less efficient than similarly sized front mount intercoolers, due to the smaller amount of cold air flow through the hood scoop compared to the grille in most car designs.

This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Grille is the name of a German self-propelled artillery vehicle. ...

Applications

TMIC's are used in many cars, such as all current intercooled Subarus, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, the MINI Cooper'S and also in older cars such as the Mazda RX-7 (86-91 model). Subaru (In katakana: スバル), a Japanese car company, is a subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI). ... 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX GSR The Lancer Evolution (colloquially known as the Evo) is Mitsubishis flagship sports car. ... The BMW or New MINI is a car produced by BMW since 2001. ... The Mazda RX-7 (also called the Savanna and Efini RX-7) is a sports car that began production in 1978. ...

A properly designed top mount intercooler's advantage in responsiveness is preferred over more lagging front mount intercoolers in situations where responsiveness is more important than total power - notably in rallying, drifting, autocross and touge. Rallying (international) or rally racing (US) is a form of automobile racing that takes place on public roads with modified production or specially built road cars. ... A drifting exhibition in Atlanta in 2005. ... Autocross course with Mazda Miata Autocross (also known as motorkhana in Australia and New Zealand, Solo2 by the Sports Car Club of America) is a popular form of motorsports competition. ... A Japanese word meaning pass (noun, not a verb; Japanese: ?, t?ge). ...

See also

• Intercooler
• Front mounted intercooler
• Supercharger
• Turbocharger