Stock precoolers

[Ravien]

Could anyone knows how stock precoolers suppose to work?

[Bilfr3d]

They cool the air coming in to prevent your engines overheating while at higher altitudes and speeds

[allmhuran]

In real life they increase engine efficiency by creating a larger difference in temperature between the air going into the engine and the exhaust going out. But that's not what precoolers do in KSP. They just act as a part that absorbs heat... apparently somewhat faster than other parts. They also act as an air intake and unlike other intakes have quite a high heat tolerance. So if your intakes are exploding when you get to high speed, try using more precoolers. On the other hand, this no longer seems to happen in 1.0.2. But in any case, your engines were never going to be the first parts to overheat anyway, your cockpit, intakes, wings, and so on would always be destroyed first, so as an "engine cooler" they don't have a lot of use.

Edited May 2, 2015 by allmhuran