twelvehundred

I understand that the intake sucks in air and sends it to the engine. After the air leave the engine it spins the turbo which then sucks more air in and sends that to the engine. (Please stop me if I am wrong, I am incredibly ignorant) Where in this case does the intercooler come in, and what does it do?
TIA

Richard Solomon

<a href=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0837601606/>Maximum Boost</a> by Corky Bell.

In short, you're missing a few steps: air from the intake goes into the compressor portion of the turbocharger where it is compressed and heated, that air goes through the intercooler where it is cooled, and finally into the "engine" (really the cylinders but preserving your notation).

What leaves the "engine" is only nominally air - it's really combustion byproducts and it spins the turbocharger to do the work described above.

Read the book.

DrHandball

the turbo is to increase the density of the intake charge. This increases the amount of fuel that can be burned per power stroke.