The intercooler cores we supply are aluminum. Beyond that, the right construction depends on boost level, airflow and how the car is used - which is why core and end tank design is specified per part rather than as one universal answer.
It contains radiant heat so nearby wiring, hoses, mounts and bodywork are not cooked by the exhaust. On turbo and header applications it also keeps heat in the gas stream - one of the cheapest protections you can add to a build.
Standard silicone swells and softens when it is exposed to fuel, oil or solvent over time. Where that contact is expected the construction has to change - fitting the standard hose there is a common and entirely avoidable failure.
There is no single number. Continuous service temperature depends on the construction, the fluid inside the hose and how it is routed - so here is how to get a figure that actually applies to your car.
A plain single-wall hose can, especially when it is hot and soft. If the hose you are replacing sits on the suction side of the system, that one detail decides whether the replacement lasts.
Match the construction to the job: plain silicone for coolant and low-demand air, multi-layer reinforced for boost, fluorosilicone-lined where fuel or oil is present, wire-reinforced where vacuum collapse is a risk.
Some do. A stainless steel wire helix resists collapse, which is what you want on the suction side of a system where a plain hose can flatten under vacuum.
Nomex is a heat-resistant aramid layer built into the hose wall. Burst strength comes from the reinforcement layers - and the combination stops the hose ballooning under boost.
