Turbo and Intercooler Pipes: The Boost-Carrying Hardware

The pipes and hoses between turbo, intercooler and engine carry pressurised air at temperatures up to 150°C. They’re a system of rigid plastic and aluminium pipes connected by short flexible silicone or rubber hoses at each end. The pipes rarely fail; the hoses do — particularly on engines where the hose is exposed to engine heat or radiator heat.

How they fail

Split rubber hoses — the most common failure. Heat and age crack the rubber, eventually opening a split that releases boost. Symptoms: whoosh or hissing noise under load, loss of power, sometimes black smoke from over-fueling.

Cracked plastic pipes — less common but more annoying to fix. The plastic ages and brittles, eventually cracking at a stress point.

Loose hose clamps — sometimes the clamp loosens over thermal cycles, allowing a hose to creep off its fitting.

Brand

OE-equivalent rubber and silicone hoses from Vaico, Febi, Topran, Corteco. Performance upgrades to silicone hose kits from Forge, Mishimoto, Roose Motorsport.

Find turbo and intercooler pipework for your engine on the Turbo Intercooler Pipes & Hoses collection.