Next Level Performance
August 21, 2026 • 9 min read
Upgrading the intercoolers on a 2014–2019 Porsche 911 Turbo is the single most effective way to kill the heat soak that robs your 3.8L twin-turbo flat-six of consistent power on back roads, at the track, and on repeated pulls. The factory 991 and 991.2 Turbo run two side-mounted air-to-air intercoolers, and on a hard 4th-gear pull those stock cores can begin heat soaking almost immediately. The AWE Tuning Porsche 991 (991.2) Turbo/Turbo S Performance Intercooler Kit swaps them for high-flow bar-and-plate cores with 17% more volume, dropping charge-air temperatures and holding power steady lap after lap. This step-by-step guide covers exactly what the kit does, how it installs, and whether you need a tune to see gains.
Our Verdict
The AWE 991 Turbo Performance Intercooler Kit is a direct bolt-in fix for heat soak — larger cores, cooler intake temps, and zero tune required.
For any 2014–2019 991 or 991.2 Turbo/Turbo S owner who tracks the car, lives somewhere hot like our home base in Tampa, FL, or plans to add a tune, this is the foundation upgrade. Cores are 17% larger (523 vs 448 cubic inches), charge temps drop roughly 20%, and it retains the OEM look. Budget a weekend in the driveway or about 4–6 hours at a shop.
Shop Our Top Pick →
The AWE ColdFront intercooler kit for the 2014–2019 Porsche 911 Turbo (991 / 991.2).
Why Do the 991 Turbo's Stock Intercoolers Heat Soak?
The 991 Turbo heat soaks because its factory side-mount intercoolers are sized for street driving, not sustained boost. Porsche mounts two air-to-air intercoolers behind the rear quarter-panel intakes, where they cool the compressed charge air from the twin turbos before it reaches the engine. That layout is clean and OEM-quiet, but the cores are relatively small — and on a dyno, testers have watched intake air temperatures (IATs) climb into heat-soak territory after a single hard 4th-gear pull on the stock system.
Heat soak matters because hot intake air is less dense, carries less oxygen, and forces the ECU to pull timing to protect the engine. The result is inconsistent power: the first pull feels strong, the second and third feel flat. On a stock 991.1 Turbo (520 hp) or Turbo S (560 hp), and even more so on the 991.2 Turbo (540 hp) and Turbo S (580 hp), that inconsistency is exactly what owners feel on a hot autocross day or a canyon run. The fix is more core volume and more fin area to reject heat faster than the turbos can make it.
AWE's bar-and-plate core carries far more internal volume than the OEM 991 Turbo intercooler.
What Do the AWE ColdFront Intercoolers Actually Upgrade?
The AWE Tuning 991 Turbo Performance Intercooler Kit upgrades every part of the cooling path that limits the stock system. The cores are a high-flow bar-and-plate design with 523 cubic inches of volume — 17% larger than the 448 cubic inches of the factory units — and AWE builds them to a specific charge-row and fin count. Per AWE's testing, that yields roughly 20% lower charge-air temperatures and about 50% improved pressure resistance through the cores, so you keep boost integrity as well as cooler air.
Just as important for a clean install, the kit includes precision cast end tanks, thick-wall 6-ply silicone hoses with gentle curves that resist bursting under boost, and bolt-in carbon fiber ducts that mate directly to the intercoolers. Nothing needs to be trimmed or cut. The whole assembly hides behind the factory bumper, so the car still looks stock — the only tell is a car that no longer wilts on the third pull.
Precision cast end tanks feed a high-flow bar-and-plate core with 17% more volume than stock.
Key Specifications
How to Install AWE Intercoolers on a 991 Turbo: Step by Step
Installing the AWE intercoolers on a 991 Turbo is a bolt-in job that most mechanically confident owners can complete in a weekend, or a shop can knock out in about 4–6 hours. Because the intercoolers live behind the rear bumper and quarter-panel intakes, the bulk of the labor is careful disassembly and reassembly of the rear clip — the intercooler swap itself is straightforward. Always work on a cool engine and follow the printed AWE instructions for your exact model year.
Tools and Prep You'll Need
Have a metric socket set, Torx and Phillips drivers, trim panel removal tools, a torque wrench, and a helper on hand for lifting the rear bumper cover. Park on a level surface, let the car cool completely, and disconnect the battery per Porsche's procedure. Lay out the AWE cores, cast end tanks, 6-ply silicone hoses, clamps, and carbon fiber ducts so you can identify left and right before you start.
The complete AWE ColdFront kit: cores, cast end tanks, silicone hoses, and bolt-in carbon ducts.
Step 1: Remove the Rear Bumper Cover
Remove the rear underbody fasteners, wheel-liner screws, and the bumper cover mounting bolts, then carefully unclip and lower the rear bumper cover. Disconnect any sensor or lighting connectors as you go and set the cover on a padded surface. This exposes the factory side-mount intercoolers and their charge piping.
Step 2: Disconnect and Remove the OEM Intercoolers
Loosen the factory charge-pipe clamps on each side and separate the OEM hoses from the intercooler end tanks. Remove the intercooler mounting hardware and lift each stock unit out. Inspect the charge pipes and boots for cracks or oil residue while you have access — a smart time to address any tired factory couplers.
Step 3: Install the AWE Cores and Silicone Hoses
Mount the AWE intercoolers using the supplied hardware, then connect the thick-wall 6-ply silicone hoses to the cast end tanks and factory charge pipes. Seat every clamp squarely and torque them evenly so there are no boost leaks. Double-check that left and right cores are on the correct sides and that hose routing follows AWE's gentle-curve design.
Step 4: Fit the Carbon Fiber Ducts and Reassemble
Bolt the carbon fiber ducts to the intercoolers — they drop in with no trimming — so incoming air is channeled straight through the cores. Reinstall the rear bumper cover, reconnect all connectors, refit the wheel liners and underbody panels, reconnect the battery, and confirm everything is torqued. Take a short test drive, then re-check the charge-pipe clamps after the first heat cycle.
Precision cast end tanks and 6-ply couplers keep boost sealed under sustained load.
Do You Need a Tune to See Gains?
No, the AWE intercoolers do not require a tune — they are a direct-fit upgrade that works with a completely stock ECU. Their primary job is consistency: by keeping charge-air temperatures low, they let a stock 991 Turbo repeat its power pulls without the ECU pulling timing. In AWE's dyno testing, the intercoolers showed no heat soak even after four consecutive back-to-back pulls, where the factory system was already soaking.
Peak power gains grow when you stack the intercoolers with other bolt-ons. AWE recorded dyno-verified max gains of 26 hp and 21 ft-lbs at the crank on a 991 Turbo S when the intercoolers were combined with AWE's Performance Exhaust, S-FLO Carbon Intake, and GIAC Stage 2 software — roughly a full second quicker in the 60–130 mph pull. On their own, the intercoolers unlock the headroom that lets a tune deliver its numbers safely, which is why most builds start with cooling before turning up boost.
Cooling first: the AWE cores give a Stage 2 tune the thermal headroom to make power safely.
991 vs 997 Turbo: Which AWE Intercooler Kit Fits?
Fitment is generation-specific: the 523 cu in kit is engineered for the 2014–2019 991 and 991.2 Turbo/Turbo S, while earlier 997 Turbo owners need AWE's dedicated 997TT/GT2 intercoolers. They share the same bar-and-plate philosophy and 6-ply silicone hoses, but the cores and mounting are unique to each chassis — a 991 kit will not fit a 997, and vice versa. If you drive a 2007–2009 997 Turbo or GT2, the kit below is your match.
| Kit | Fitment | Core | Hoses | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AWE 991 (991.2) Turbo/Turbo S KitTop Pick | 2014–2019 991 Turbo/Turbo S | 523 cu in bar-and-plate (+17%) | 6-ply silicone + carbon ducts | $3,545.00 |
| AWE 997TT/GT2 Intercoolers | 2007–2009 997 Turbo/GT2 | High-flow bar-and-plate | 6-ply silicone (black) | $1,745.00 |
The 997TT/GT2 kit shares AWE's bar-and-plate design with black 6-ply silicone hoses.
AWE 991 Turbo Intercoolers: Pros and Cons
What We Like
- + 17% larger 523 cu in cores that stop heat soak even after four consecutive pulls
- + True bolt-in fit with 6-ply silicone hoses and carbon ducts — no cutting or trimming
- + No tune required, retains OEM appearance, and unlocks safe Stage 2 headroom
Things to Consider
- – Rear bumper removal makes it a multi-hour job best done with a helper or a shop
- – Non-CARB: this kit cannot be shipped to California addresses
Frequently Asked Questions
How much power do AWE intercoolers add to a 991 Turbo?
On their own, AWE's 991 Turbo intercoolers add little peak power on a stock tune — their value is consistency and lower intake temps. Combined with AWE's exhaust, S-FLO Carbon Intake, and GIAC Stage 2 software, AWE recorded dyno-verified max gains of 26 hp and 21 ft-lbs at the crank, and roughly a one-second improvement in a 60–130 mph pull.
Do I need a tune with the AWE 991 Turbo intercoolers?
No tune is required. The AWE intercoolers are a direct-fit upgrade that works with the stock ECU and improves charge-air temperatures on their own. A tune is optional and stacks on top — the cooler intake air simply gives a Stage 2 tune the thermal headroom to make its numbers safely.
How long does it take to install intercoolers on a 991 Turbo?
Plan on about 4–6 hours of shop time, or a full weekend for a careful DIY install. Most of the labor is removing and refitting the rear bumper cover to reach the side-mount intercoolers; the AWE cores themselves are a straightforward bolt-in swap with the supplied silicone hoses and carbon ducts.
How much bigger are the AWE cores than stock?
The AWE cores hold 523 cubic inches of volume versus 448 cubic inches for the factory 991 Turbo intercoolers — about 17% larger. AWE builds them as a high-flow bar-and-plate design to specific charge-row and fin counts, yielding roughly 20% lower charge temperatures and 50% more pressure resistance.
Will the AWE 991 kit fit my 997 Turbo?
No. The 523 cu in kit fits only the 2014–2019 991 and 991.2 Turbo/Turbo S. For a 2007–2009 997 Turbo or 2008–2009 GT2, AWE makes a separate 997TT/GT2 intercooler set. Intercoolers are generation-specific and are not cross-compatible between the 991 and 997 chassis.
Do AWE intercoolers change the look of the car?
No. The AWE intercoolers and carbon fiber ducts install behind the factory bumper and quarter-panel intakes, so the 911 Turbo keeps its OEM appearance. There is no external evidence of the upgrade — only cooler, more consistent power on repeated hard pulls.
Ready to Stop Heat Soak in Your 911 Turbo?
Shop AWE ColdFront intercoolers and thousands more Porsche performance parts at NLP Performance.
Shop the CollectionFree shipping on select brands • Located in Tampa, FL