11/21/2025
I know the microtube intercooler I shared last week seems alien to most everyone, so I want to give some background and explain why this is such a cool and effective product.
The technology has been around for a while and used in a number of high performance arenas including F1, Indy Car, LMP1 racecars, aerospace (NASA), and department of defense applications. Production costs have historically put it out of reach for regular consumers. Microtube intercoolers are a higher evolution of traditional bar-and-plate and tube-and-fin cores. They offer better heat transfer, airflow, with less weight (per volume) and less pressure drop.
What Is Microtube Intercooler Technology?
Instead of using large rectangular bars (bar-and-plate) or large oval tubes (traditional tube-and-fin), microtube intercoolers use hundreds to thousands of small thin-walled tubes (often only a few millimeters in diameter). Air flows through these tubes, increasing the surface area in contact with the charge air.
Why Microtubes Cool Better
1. Much Higher Surface Area
Microtubes massively increase heat transfer surface area resulting in faster and more efficient cooling. For example, an intercooler with 1.0 mm diameter microtubes will have a UA/volume ratio (surface area vs internal volume) 100 times greater than an intercooler with 10 mm diameter conventional tubes.
2. Thinner Tube Walls
Less thermal resistance than heavy bar-and-plate walls means heat transfers more quickly/easily.
3. Less heat soak
Microtube designs cool down more quickly between boost cycles, meaning they don't hold the heat and can be consistent in performance over long duration driving (track sessions).
4. Better engine coolant temps
The microtube structure allows for much greater air flow to whatever is behind the intercooler, in this case the whole lower half of the radiator. As a result radiator performance is greatly improved reducing coolant temps.
In summary, compared to tube-and-fin, and bar-and-plate cores, a microtube design offers:
Better charge temps, less pressure drop, lower weight, less heat soak, and much better airflow to the radiator (less blockage).
🏁 Track Use Benefits
Microtube intercoolers really shine on track because of:
Lower pressure drop → turbo works less hard, lower IAT temps
Better sustained charge cooling → less heat soak over a session, lower IAT rise
Better airflow to radiator → lower coolant and oil temps
Lower weight per volume → better handling and rotation
For testing I did a side by side on track comparison against the current gold standard track intercooler (I'm not listing their name out of respect and no desire to negatively promote against them. You can look at my previous posts to figure it out). The results with the WOT/HPT microtube intercooler were better across the board: significantly lower steady state and full boost IAT (≈ 9°F), lower steady state and peak coolant temps (≈ 12°F consistently), faster trap speed of 131 vs 128 mph, and lower lap times (1:58.0 vs 1:57.2). I ran the microtube unit for 2 more full track days and the results were very consistent in each session of those days.
Additionally, I collected data while street driving to and from work and observed that there's essentially zero heat soak, and throttle response is effectively immediate. So the microtube design can handle higher boost (I am at 30 psi, 500 whp), but is also great on lower power or stock builds because of the minimal pressure drop. Does not require a tune, but as usual a tune will maximize performance.
The WOT/HPT Microtube IC has 1102 microtubes that are 2.5mm in diameter. The forward facing tubes have thicker walls to make them more resistant to damage from road debris. The core dimensions are: 28.33” x 7.25” x 4.3”. The weight is 15.5 lbs. It comes with a 1 year warranty against manufacturer defects. Price is $1650 shipped, with an approximate 4 week lead time. The current batch is scheduled to be ready to ship around December 20th.
This unit works with the FL5 and DE5. Requires the ambient temp sensor to be relocated, and the air deflector pieces to be removed (couple of screws) similar to other larger intercoolers. We have an FK8 model in the works with a goal towards release in April ‘26.
Feel free to message me with any questions you may have.
