Multi-passing liquid cooled charge air cooler with coolant bypass ports for improved flow distribution

A liquid cooled charge air cooler for use with an internal combustion engine comprises a plurality of separator plates supported in parallel spaced relation with one another to define a plurality of pairs of adjacent separator plates. The pairs alternatingly define a first set of adjacent pairs and a second set of adjacent pairs. A charge air inlet and a charge air outlet are each in fluid communication with the first set of adjacent pairs. A coolant inlet and a coolant outlet are each in fluid communication with the second set of adjacent pairs. Fins extend between adjacent separator plates of the first set of adjacent pairs to define a charge air flow path between the charge air inlet and a charge air outlet. A plurality of dams extend between adjacent separator plates of the second set of adjacent pairs in a select offset configuration to define a multi-pass coolant flow path between the coolant inlet and a coolant outlet in heat exchange relation with the charge air flow path. Each dam comprises an associated bypass port allowing a portion of coolant to bypass through the dams.