PRODUCT DETAILS
PRL Motorsports Intercooler Charge Pipe Kit (HCR-CP) - 2017-2021 Civic Type R (FK8)
This kit improves the FK8's charge path in two specific ways: it reduces heat soak into your charge air, and it flows more smoothly than the factory routing. A larger cold side carries cooled air to the throttle body with less restriction, the hot side stays at factory diameter to protect spool, and 4-ply silicone couplers keep engine bay heat out of the air you're trying to keep cool.
Heat Soak Is The Real Gain
Worth understanding, because it's what this kit actually addresses.
Charge air leaves your intercooler cool and then has to travel to the throttle body. Along the way, anything hot that it passes close to transfers heat into it. The engine bay on a working turbo car is a hot place, so that heat soak partly undoes what the intercooler just accomplished.
The 4-ply silicone couplers matter here specifically because silicone conducts heat far less readily than metal. Where a metal coupler sitting in a hot bay pulls heat into the charge air, silicone insulates against it. Your air arrives at the engine closer to the temperature the intercooler left it at.
On a Type R that sees sustained load, keeping charge temperatures down through the whole path is what keeps power consistent rather than fading as the bay heats up.
Smoother Flow Through The Bends
The other real benefit, and it's about how the air moves.
Custom molded silicone allows smoother, larger radius bends than the factory routing. Air moves through a smooth bend more efficiently than a tight or abrupt one, with less turbulence and less pressure lost getting around corners.
The larger cold side diameter works alongside that, giving cooled air a freer path from the intercooler to the throttle body. The hot side outlet stays at factory diameter deliberately, since keeping that section tighter maintains velocity where the turbo needs it for spool.
Better Fitment, Especially With A Bigger Radiator
Practical benefit worth knowing if your cooling is upgraded.
PRL found the factory routing doesn't package particularly well alongside an aftermarket radiator. Their silicone actually fits better than the factory arrangement in that situation, which is unusual for an aftermarket part and useful if your build has moved past stock cooling.
One note: with an aftermarket radiator, minor trimming of the radiator or fan shroud may be required for clearance. Plan for it rather than being surprised mid-install.
Keeps Your Vacuum Connections
The charge pipe comes with fittings to retain the factory vacuum connections, plus a 1/8" NPT auxiliary service port.
Your existing vacuum lines plug in where they belong, and the service port gives you a ready location for a boost gauge, sensor, or leak tester. A charge pipe bracket is included so the pipe is supported properly rather than hanging on its couplers.
Works With Either Intercooler
Compatible with all factory intercoolers, and PRL recommends their own intercooler upgrade for optimal fitment and results.
Fit this now on a stock intercooler and upgrade the cooler later without replacing the piping. Sensible if you're building the car in stages.
No Tune Required
Charge piping changes how air reaches the engine, not how it's measured or metered. The factory calibration remains correct, so this is a genuine bolt-on.
What's In The Kit
- (1) Cast aluminum intercooler outlet piece
- (1) Aluminum charge pipe, wrinkle black powder coated, with vacuum fittings and 1/8" NPT service port
- (1) Charge pipe bracket
- (2) M5 x 0.80 x 10mm BHCS bolts
- (3) 4-ply silicone couplers
- (6) 304 stainless steel lined clamps
- All hardware needed for install
Fitment
2017-2021 Honda Civic Type R (FK8)
All variants including right-hand drive and international models. Part number HCR-CP.
Who Should Grab This
This is for the FK8 owner who wants charge temperatures kept down through the whole path, not just at the intercooler. Silicone that insulates against heat soak, smoother bends for better flow, and a larger cold side feeding the throttle body. Bolt it on and keep the air cool from the cooler to the engine.
Fits: 2017-2021 Honda Civic Type R (FK8), all variants. Part number: HCR-CP. Benefits: reduced heat soak and smoother airflow over factory. Cold side: larger diameter for increased flow. Hot side: factory diameter to preserve spool. Construction: aluminum pipe and cast outlet with 4-ply silicone couplers and stainless lined clamps. Includes: vacuum fittings, service port, bracket, and all hardware. Tuning: no ECU calibration required. Compatible with: factory intercoolers, PRL intercooler upgrade recommended.
2017-2021 Honda Civic Type R