For those running a JRC FMIC in the snow/salt

[pinder91]

This is for all of you who are running a Johhny Race Car FMIC in the snowy states... or anywhere for that matter.
My question is concerning the fins and how they are holding up. My worries started when a friend of mine's (Agent11br) JRC FMIC started getting the most fragile fins I've ever seen. If you looked at these things wrong they would crumble. At first I thought since he bought one of the original ones that Tyrus wasn't using the best materials at the time.
Anyway, I bought one and istalled it in early November. It was holding up fine until today when I walked outside and noticed I had my first bent fins. As I was trying to straighten them, they basically turned to dust right before my eyes.
Is anyone else having this problem? How are your fins holding up?

Cliffs: A friend and I are having problems with our JRC FMIC fins crumbling, possibly due to the salt on the roads.... are you?

 

[LRS95TSI]

i have the jrc and i havent had any problems except for rocks and bugs. they are brittle then. the metal is so thin it allows them to crumble very easily. just ast your radiatior does.

 

[Cool Mr Steve]

Rocks and large bugs upset my fins pretty easily. As far as snow, though, my car (and thus my JRC FMIC) has acted as a snow plow on a few different occasions and it hasn't done any sort of noticable damage to any fins. It doesn't seem as though the fins on my JRC intercooler are any thinner or more prone to damage than the ones on the Greddy FMIC I had prior.

 

[wishihadatalon]

could be one of the many reasons they are so cheap. A stock core will hold up fine to our conditions for several year like they have been for 16 years.

 

[Mike1992]

Mine hasnt seen snow yet, and I dont notice any abnormal wear on my fins. Smile

 

[blackGSX2g]

My eBay core has been on all summer and all winter so far. It still looks shiny and the fins are still plyable. Picked it up for a little over $200 shipped, cheaper than the JRC core.

 

[pinder91]

Thanks Lafond... rub it in my face some more.

 

[pneumo]

Bare aluminum can corrode easily. I learned that by using many different bicycle parts over several decades. Most mass produced aluminum parts have some sort of coating on them, either paint or anodization. Many times the paint is the same color as aluminum, so you don't notice it, such as our DSM valve cover. I'll bet the crumbling IC fins had nothing on them.

 

[Ryan95tsiAWD]

running one for over a year and we live near the beach, the salt air hasnt made any noticable problems...wish I could say the same for the IC pipes that i didnt paint

 

[pinder91]

The sad thing is that I was going to give it a coat of clear before I installed it, but forgot. I think I'll give it a shot before it's too late.

 

[aero_sallee]

Alodining is an option. It will not affect the cooling properties nearly as much as a clearcoat, and will probably provide more protection.
You can search for alodine on google for more information I'm limited on time right now to find any more links
http://www.poly-metal.com/alodine.shtml

 

[blackGSX2g]

The sad thing is that I was going to give it a coat of clear before I installed it, but forgot. I think I'll give it a shot before it's too late.

Well you could always flip it around after you coat it so you have the 'good' side facing front. It'll look brand new again!