CSF Intercooler System for Ferari 488 / Pista / F8

The 488 was a landmark model being the first turbocharged mid-engine Ferrari since the legendary F40. While the reasons for returning to forced induction range from technology progression to environmental regulations, there is no denying it has been a welcome update. The performance potential of forced induction raises the performance potential of any engine astronomically. Also, with updated versions of this engine (Ferrari F154 CB/CD/CG) being used in the Pista and F8 you can expect to see a lot of aftermarket support.

With multiple tunes available for the Ferrari 488/Pista/F8, there was an obvious demand for upgraded cooling systems. A big limiting factor in tuning has been high Intake Air Temperatures (IATs) produced by the turbos which already produce around 35 PSI of boost from the factory. Because of this, many Ferrari owners and tuners have been waiting for the world’s first high-performance intercooler for the 488/Pista/F8.

CSF and it’s strategic manufacturing partner PWR have developed a reputation for producing some of the best cooling products available. The CSF by PWR intercooler systems have seen overwhelming success and popularity for vehicles like the Porsche 911 Turbo, Porsche 911 GT2 RS, Lamborghini Urus, and Audi RS6/RS7. Given that track record, they have teamed up again to bring the most advanced cooling technology to the Ferrari market

The Ferrari 488/Pista/F8 has a lot of untapped potential that can be unleashed with higher boost levels. That is, if there is a way to control the extra heat. While already prone to heat soak power loss under hard driving, any additional boost only exacerbates the issue. With some help from the team over at World Motorsports along with M-Engineering, CSF was able to design and test the solution. Tuning experts from M-Engineering drove out from Arizona just to test the new system.

Design & Engineering

The Ferrari 488/Pista/F8 Intercoolers were carefully designed and engineered to fit exactly like the OEM units they replace. The installation uses all the factory mounting points, shrouds, and fans for a true “drop-in fitment”. No cutting or other modifications are required. CSF pre-installs a high density foam to seal the area around the intercoolers just like the factory units.

One of the challenges of designing a true drop-in system is the size limitations. While most aftermarket intercoolers achieve a good percentage of their improved efficiency with increased size, the CSF by PWR Intercoolers rely on a ultra efficient core. PWR manufactures and uses these same cores on the intercoolers it supplies for the majority of Formula-1 race teams.

Ferrari’s F154 is a marvelous piece of engineering (testing performed on the 488 but results will be similar for the Pista & F8). Extracting 660 hp and 560 lb-ft (710 hp & 568 lb-ft on the Pista & F8) out of 3.9L is no small feat, and it takes around 35 lbs of boost to achieve. Even with the high efficiency twin scroll turbos, there is still a massive amount of heat generated. The air leaving the turbos can reach temperatures well over 200°F. While the factory intercoolers do a decent job of bringing those temperatures down before entering the engine, we still see the ECU pulling engine timing and drastically decreasing power output. The CSF by PWR Intercoolers resolve this issue and allow the engine to perform at optimal levels consistently and for prolonged periods of time.

Dyno Testing

Performance gains are very significant throughout the RPM range. The test vehicle was equipped with a set of Down-Pipes, Pure Turbos, and tuned by M-Engineering. The gains from just adding the intercoolers without any tune adjustments produced significant gains across the RPM range.