Intercooler Cleaning IC [Merged 11-7] clean smic fmic

[Atari007]

I have read a lot about cleaning your intercooler... I was just wondering if any of you guys have done it, and can you feel a differance? I took a look at mine this morning and it does look pretty nasty...........

 

[kicker91laser]

All i did was spray that thing down with allot of power clean scrubbed the outside, and for the inside i sprayed allot and just shaked it and sprayed it with water for about 1 minute... and just let it dry! it worked fine for me!

Did you have any oxide built up on the inside?

 

[kicker91laser]

If i did the power clean would have took it off! its very strong buy a small bottle and try it out. (do not use on colored cars, or rims)

What did you use it on? I am just concerned about damaging a $1000 liquid/air cooler. Thanks

 

[fourreGsixty3]

I cleaned mine using this>>> http://www.vfaq.com/mods/wayback/BradBauer/misc/cooler.html. I had oxidation on the end pipes that the silicon couplers fit over, and I just took a razor blade and gently wewnt over it, and it all came off. Im also sure break clean would work well too.

Dustin

 

[Jungy]

I've heard that hydrochloric acid and a scotchbrite pad can romove oxidation from aluminum.

 

[1990talon]

I used some mag and alumminum wheel cleaner worked exelent but can not remember the name of it I will let you know the name tomarrow.

 

[greytalon26]

fine steel wool seems to work really well.

 

[zero97tsi]

Well I should be getting my Dejon LICP from a kind member of the forum this week, and since the blowout of my T-25 there is still residual oil floating around in there. I think it may be in the intercooler. anywho. What should I use the get the oil out? I plan on taking it apart so if I could use some sort of solvent... that'd be greeeaaat.

 

[forcefed4]

Gas works great to clean the intercooler, just be careful with it and make sure you flush all of it out before you put it back on.

 

[ROOKIE1]

2nd that . I would let it sit for several hours . Must be sure it is dry inside .

 

[peypey's ride]

+1 Gas

 

[vmac]

i think alcohol would be your best bet. first of all, you would have to deal with the fumes with gas, then you have to wait for it to dry. gas is for gas tanks, not intercoolers.

 

[97 4G63]

Simple green works great thats what i used and you don't have to worry about your intercoler blowing up you can get it at autoparts or walmart

 

[Defiant]

Regardless what you use to clean an intercooler or the intake piping, the air volume the engine's sucking will have it dried out within two minutes, and the volume of what's being dried out will be inconsequential to the combustion process.

 

[marsh63]

i secound simple green worked great for my car.

 

[DSMunknown]

Regardless what you use to clean an intercooler or the intake piping, the air volume the engine's sucking will have it dried out within two minutes, and the volume of what's being dried out will be inconsequential to the combustion process.

Personal experience with this statement?

 

[Defiant]

Do the math, work out the moles. Under boost, the air's coming out of the turbo at over 200°F, and at 3000RPM you're moving ....ah.... well, lots of cubic feet of air through an intercooler and intake pipe that's only ....er..... not much volume. It'll be dry before you finish reading this.

 

[Daveed]

I've just spent about 35 minutes reading every single post in this thread and every link posted as well as every other thread that came up on a search

I cleaned my SMIC as instructed. No probs or Qs theres (also cleaned my intake and throttle body as per the VFAQ and threads on here).

HOWEVER I still got one Q on a related subject. I have oil in the stock rubber intercooler PIPES (hoses). I was concerned that carb cleaner or gas may have a detrimental effect on these if I just spray it down them. If you've ever seen what carb cleaner or gas do to regular plastics or rubber then you know what I mean.

What is the best way to clean the oil and sludge out of the insides of intercooler pipes (hoses)?

 

[Defiant]

Gasoline, with all the usual warnings, or just replace them with new. If there's enough in there to make a difference, your issues are greater than some oily pipe walls.

 

[asd_gst]

ok so i was taking out my intercooler, just stock side mount, i didnt have any problems, just cleaned it with gas and parts cleaner, but here's the thing i found glasses somewhere as i was taking out the air vent thing (whatever its called) that goes to the intercooler from by the fog lights, but anyway i take it off and some glasses where somehow on top of it, like they fell off someone into the engine bay! , ill post pics of the glasses tomorrow

 

[white90gsx]

I have to pull the intercooler to clean it because I blew my turbo and there's oil in it..The intercooler is real dingy and has some paint on it can I use aircraft paint remover and then Brillo the intercooler to get a little shine out of it and make it look new again?

 

[fwdmaster]

I would just use carburetor cleaner to take out the paint and use brillo at the end to get that shine, and simple green to clean out the core

 

[Anarchology]

I cleaned mine inside and out by sitting it in a couple gallons of mineral spirits for a couple nights, then letting it all dry. It will allow every nook and cranny to be cleaned and have all the deposits of old sticky oil dissolve.

BTW, the red 1G in your avatar looks just like mine, but with a better paint job!

 

[turbohans]

Aircraft paint remover?!?!? Brake cleaner will work fine, and buff all you want just dont burn through the core.

 

[white90gsx]

I cleaned mine inside and out by sitting it in a couple gallons of mineral spirits for a couple nights, then letting it all dry. It will allow every nook and cranny to be cleaned and have all the deposits of old sticky oil dissolve.

BTW, the red 1G in your avatar looks just like mine, but with a better paint job!

Yea its pretty clean..

Yea Ill try mineral spirits for the paint...Yea maybe ill soak it..Because in the fins it real dirty.

Does anyone suggest a way to clean in fins.... Pressure washing doesn't work I tried it.

 

[talontsiboy24]

is it ok to clean the outside of the intercooler with super degreaser spray and a rag? then rinse off with a hose? also since my car has a oil catch can wouldnt the inside of my intercooler be clean? when should i replace my oil catch can?