A true intercooler with improved performance for the 997.1 Turbo/GT2 and 997.2 GT2RS.
This is the most refined product we have today, MERA was launched in October 2021!
– Cooler inlet air temperature under the same conditions: 37°C/98.6°F (55°C/131°F), 18°C/32.4°F lower. See diagram below.
– More air to the engine, less backpressure, and better airflow! Airflow at 0.175 bar/2.54 psi pressure drop: 700 CFM (564 CFM), 24% more! See diagram below.
– Cast end tanks with a 3D freeform design.
– Custom carbon fiber ambient air guides.
– Supplied with high-quality silicone hoses and installation accessories.
MERA, as in more, means more cooling, better airflow, more performance. Simply put, MERA!
Beginning with thorough market research at the outset of developing our 997 intercooler, we realized that not many of the upgrade products on the market were truly upgrades, but rather on par with the standard 997.2 units, or in some cases even subpar. We realized we couldn’t cut corners to keep costs low; we had to create the best possible solution for the space available in the car!
When we launched this intercooler kit in 2016, we chose to use a UK-made Tube & Fin core, which allows for excellent cooling and airflow combined with low weight. It has proven itself very well over the years, featured on various 1000 HP builds. Fall 2021 is the time for the next phase in the ongoing development of do88 products. After extensive testing, we chose to upgrade to a motorsport-grade Garrett Bar & Plate core, taking this already highly effective upgrade to the next level.
General Differences:
11°C lower IAT than the previous version.
12% higher airflow than the previous version.
New, lighter air duct made of real prepreg carbon.
3kg increase in weight per intercooler compared to previous DO88 intercoolers.
The core is new, but the end tanks and all accessories are the same as before. The intercoolers feature cast end tanks that distribute airflow very precisely across the entire core. This is very important, as a good tank design will benefit both pressure drop and cooling efficiency. To fit an intercooler with the appropriate thickness for the job, a new upper ambient air guide also had to be designed. This was designed in our 3D scanning environment to ensure a perfect fit with the vehicle’s integrated air ducts and the intercooler. To further eliminate bottlenecks, the MERA intercooler kit features 70 mm (2 3/4 inch) intercooler connections to truly allow air to flow unrestricted. This also means new hoses are included for each location, all 3D designed with maximum airflow in mind. All hoses are CFD tested to ensure this. The turbo outlet hoses are made of a high-temperature material, rated for a continuous temperature of 240°C (464°F). To truly harness the full heat transfer from the ambient air, the carbon ducts are fitted with appropriate seals to the body, forcing all air to pass through the core and not leak around it.
Overall, the weight gain over OEM units is relatively small considering the size of the intercoolers and the fact that they are a dense, all-aluminum construction. Our intercooler weighs 8.45 kg (18.10 lbs) each, while the OEM 997.2 intercooler weighs 3.30 kg (7.27 lbs). While this may seem like a significant weight gain, it’s more than compensated for by the performance gains these intercoolers provide!
The intercooler kit comes with hoses adapted for OEM or DO88 (70 mm) Y-pipes. The only difference is the included hoses. Choose your version from the drop-down list above.
When it comes to performance, DO88 intercoolers significantly reduce intake temperatures! The graph below shows the difference compared to the OEM 997.2 units. The data was collected with an AIM race recorder over 5 consecutive runs in a single file. Full-throttle acceleration between 50-250 km/h (30-155 mph) in a Stage 1-tuned Porsche 997. No mid-range cooling, just full traction. During each test, the car was driven in Sport Plus with the AC off.
The test was conducted as follows:
First, 5 runs were performed with the car equipped with the OEM intercooler. Stop, quickly swap parts for the DO88 intercoolers. Shakedown for a few minutes, and then 5 runs performed exactly the same way as with the OEM parts. The decrease in inlet air temperature is significant, with a peak delta of 18°C ??(32.4°F), see the graph below!
Cooling is important, as is airflow. After many hours of development, fine-tuning the final tanks, and choosing a core to meet our requirements, the result is a much more efficient intercooler in terms of heat transfer and airflow. Using our in-house Superflow SF-1020 Probench, airflow is verified as a complete system, with both inlet and outlet hoses, for both OEM 997.2 intercoolers and do88 performance intercoolers. What you see is what you get: MERA performance from do88!