4L Q7 upgraded heat exchanger question

[bjtgtr]

I have a new to me gas powered 2015 Q7 premium plus with about 76k on the clock. I’ve done an APR stage 1 tune, APR hi-flow air filter, RKX Tech silicone intake tube and have performed all other required basic maintenance including a transmission fluid and filter service. I use this vehicle as my daily driver when I’m not working, I have a company provided work truck I use during the week. I bought the Q7 to use to tow my family’s boat with during the boating season here in Maryland.

I’d like to upgrade to a larger heat exchanger unit to help with IAT’s during the summer months when pulling the boat. We go out to the western part of the state to hit our favorite lake and have to travel over some mountain passes. These are east coast Appalachian mountains so nothing too crazy. We go from a few hundred feet above sea level to about 2500 feet above sea level when we are on the lake.

That being said, I’ve searched around and haven’t found a good answer to this question. From the factory I believe that the 4L has an heat exchanger located in each front corner of the bumper behind the fog lights. When doing an upgraded unit from a company like Merc Racing or JHM that mounts behind the bumper support, are the factory heat exchangers eliminated or does the upgraded unit get added into the coolant circuit?

Any pictures or info would be greatly appreciated!

[Hawkpilot6060]

I did an AWE cold front system on my S4 and it helped here in Florida. The stock intercoolers continue to cool the engine, the additional intercooler just cooled the supercharger. So they separate the systems and you get a cooler supercharger. I will probably do the same system on my new to me Q7 but may look at the APR system. Hope this helps.

[blackfunk]

Before you delve too deeply into this project you should know that if you have the factory installed tow package it came with uprated cooling vs the non-tow equipped cars. The heat exchanger in the tow cars are definitely on par with the Merc racing cooler I had installed in my S4.

I say all that to say additional cooling is not needed on this platform.