minmet

For intercooler, not always the larger the more efficient the better. Oversized or over efficient intercooler generates more pressure drop between Turbo and intake thus reduces performance for stock setting. It might help in tuned setting. It would be interesting to hear from the members with this blocking plate removed. How you feel the performance change if there is any?

A5Newbie

Exactly, it's important to match the part for the usage. The bigger intercooler won't affect performance increase, just prevents loss when the stock intercooler exceeds it's thermal capacity and heat soaks under certain situations, not really applicable to most daily driving situations. On a positive note, Audi has given the A4/A5 a free intercooler upgrade for those who want it!

yb28

I have asked wdimengineer and can confirm that it is the same part # as s4/s5 intercooler... i'm still debating if it should come off.. it actually makes sense that they use the same cooler between the high hp 2.0Ts a4/a5 and 3.0T in s4/s5 because they can save A LOT of money to make a plastic piece rather than a small one, the new q5 probably has the same and so is macan,.

In ROW there's the 1.8T engine and that might use a smaller intercooler? now thinking about it I might just leave it till i find further info on it

speedyp

Knowing all these facts and while living in Canada, would a large aftermarket intercooler cause any issues during winter or humid conditions?

Fantasiamon

You get an upgrade and you get an upgrade, you get an upgrade, and you too get an upgrade...

A5Newbie

I think you just figured out who the engineer at Audi behind this ingenuity is.......OPRAH!!!

WesternAudi

seven0five

I stopped by my local Audi dealer last weekend and had a look at a 2018 A4 and it didn't have the intercooler cover. My 2017 intercooler cover has been off for 3 months now in temperatures ranging from -30c (-22f) to +30c (86f) without any problems.

justbreddy

My 2018 has the blanking plate so maybe this was a midyear change?

If I took it off, what problems would I notice? I'm really skeptical it would do any good on a stock car...

Dirty_bourbon

18' B9 here- mine does not have the covering. Located in the North East, car was also shipped, delivered and destined for north east per port documents.