Oil in my intercooler?

[90AWDEclipse]

So heres the story I bought this car for $400 as a project. It is automatic and I was planning on swaping it over to stick. But then I found out what was involed so I scratched that idea. The car needed a head, turbo, intake/exhaust manifold, injectors, fuel rail, radiator and some other stuff. Well I got all those parts, I just need to get these headstuds off of my friend. So today I decided to pull off my sidemount intercooler and clean it, well I took it off and it was black. So im cleaning it and im dumping out the water that got into it and a bunch of slimy blackish/brownish stuff comes out, and it smells like gas/oil. I asume it is oil but im not sure. Could this just be a bad intercooler or something worse. Any information is appreciated thanks.

Alex

 

[MrBoxx]

Two things that I'm aware of can put oil into the intercooler.

1. The valve cover breather hose: It's the nipple on the side of the valve cover that leads into your intake. Blow-by oil gunk is put into the intake tract and can coat the intercooler, reducing its efficiency. The vfaq recommends cleaning the intercooler. It sounds like you've already started that. You could clean it with either alcohol or gas, whichever you feel more comfortable with. I'm sure there are also other chemical cleaners available to buy at auto parts store that would work as well.

2. A blown turbo will usually dump large amounts of oil into the lower intercooler pipe and intercooler. If you're replacing the turbo, this obviously shouldn't be a problem for you.

Some people use catchcans to get rid of the VC nipple problem, some people put on mini-filters, some people use an inline fuel fiter in the line to catch the oil but allow the air to go through. I use the latter method. Everyone pretty much has their own preference.

 

[90AWDEclipse]

Thanks, but is there anything else that could be the cause of this.

Alex

 

[oldman]

Thanks, but is there anything else that could be the cause of this.

Yes, excessive crankcase pressure, kinked turbo oil return line, excessive turbo oil feed pressure/volume.

 

[90AWDEclipse]

Ok thanks guys

Alex

 

[Dasamary]

Two things that I'm aware of can put oil into the intercooler.

1. The valve cover breather hose: It's the nipple on the side of the valve cover that leads into your intake. Blow-by oil gunk is put into the intake tract and can coat the intercooler, reducing its efficiency. The vfaq recommends cleaning the intercooler. It sounds like you've already started that. You could clean it with either alcohol or gas, whichever you feel more comfortable with. I'm sure there are also other chemical cleaners available to buy at auto parts store that would work as well. .

I would suggest this is the most likely problem. Additionally look into getting a catch can; excessive pressure from the Valve Cover will blow oil gunk back into your intake then get launched through the turbo and collect in the bottom of your intercooler. A catch can will collect the oil before its put back into the intake.

Greddy makes a nice one. You can find them on e-bay for about $10 as well. The greddy is about $100

 

[n0c7]

I installed the $3 fuel filter catch can mod onto the hose off of the valve cover. In one summer its past 1/3 full, so think of the age of your car as well especially if you have any leaks.