Can anyone tell me how to check whether I need to service/clean my intercooler and then also provide info on how they have done this work on theirs and with which products.
All info much appreciated.
TC
Affiliate Member
Your turbo sucks in air through the air filter and compress this lot creating heat in the process, this lot is pumped through the inter cooler by the turbo to cool things down before being forced in to the intake system. For all practical purposes the stuff going through the inter cooler is clean and dust free. You might get some blow past and condensate from the PCV valve but this is not much and would settle on the turbo and pipes before entering the inter cooler.
Unless there is clear evidence of a grimy oily deposit on the pipes leading to the turbo I would leave well enough alone.
Cleaning it is a matter of removing the unit and spraying a can of carb cleaner through the unit, taking care to let each little tube get its fair share and leaving for 10- 15 min. Rinse out the unit with petrol and let it dry (evaporate) before refitting. Treat the unit with care as each dent in the fins is a spot that would not work anymore. Make sure the boost pipes are tight and seal properly. I have an adaptor that fits in the intake and attaches on the compressor that allows me to check for boost leaks, that is a major robber of power
Unless there is clear evidence of a grimy oily deposit on the pipes leading to the turbo I would leave well enough alone.
Cleaning it is a matter of removing the unit and spraying a can of carb cleaner through the unit, taking care to let each little tube get its fair share and leaving for 10- 15 min. Rinse out the unit with petrol and let it dry (evaporate) before refitting. Treat the unit with care as each dent in the fins is a spot that would not work anymore. Make sure the boost pipes are tight and seal properly. I have an adaptor that fits in the intake and attaches on the compressor that allows me to check for boost leaks, that is a major robber of power
Henk Bannink
Some people are wise, some people are otherwise
Some people are wise, some people are otherwise
Thanks very much Henk for the info as well as the warning. I will discuss with my resident friendly mech.