Cleaning Intercoolers

[Primordial]

My intercooler has developed an unhealthy brown colour after dealing with years of exhaust smoke and crap like this.

I wanted to clean it, but the fins are quite brittle so i cant really use any contact on it.

I was thinking of using alloy wheel cleaner on it. Can anyone think of any reason why I shouldnt do this? eg. damaging the intercooler or something?

Has anyone tried it before?

[evil_weevil]

Hi Jon!

Might sound silly but what about degreaser? A small mixture so its not as strong?

Ive never cleaned mine either - but then again its kinda newish!

Would be interesting to find out what others do

[R33S2]

Aluminium sucks for this reason, it tarnishes easily and you have to take a fine layer of actual metal off to get that clean look again, there are products that we use to clean up ali after welding it, it evil stuff though as it can cause bone cancer.

[mad082]

just hit it with degrease and a soft-ish bristled brush, like a broom head.

[$weetDreamZ]

Primordial, I haven't tried cleaning my intercooler yet, but using alloy wheel cleaner sounds as though it shouldn't cause any harm. When it comes time I think it'll either be using alloy wheel cleaner or degreaser and make sure it's rinsed off well.

Just have to be really careful with the fins, just like the radiator core. The only downside I can see with the liquid/spray cleaners is how to get any solids, such as bugs and dirt, out without damaging the core?

What about the inside of the intercooler? Are you going to clean the inside as well? What are others opinions/advice on doing this?

[mad082]

you can hit them with a high pressure cleaner. provided you keep atleast 6 inches away it shouldn't do any harm. i wash mine with it all the time and the fins are still prefect.

[Primordial]

Thanks for some great ideas guys!

Tomorrow i'm gonna pull the core off and give it a clean. I'm going to start with alloy wheel cleaner, and if that doesnt work, i'll try degreaser. I'm going to use a high pressure hose to blast the residue off (from a distance obviously!).

For the inside, I've heard that a 50/50 mix of metho and turps is the go!

Ill give it a go and let you know!

[dangaz]

I read a tech tip from hot 4's and gave it a go ....don't know issue number

something like this

I removed the core taped a plastic bag to one end of the end tank then emptied 3 cans of degreaser into the core....

then taped another plastic bag over the other end tank.....

invert back forth then empty....repeat if real dirty then wash out with water.....

i used tap water but i imagine de min wouldn't harm........

stand so excess water can drain out ....

(leave in the sun)....hope this helps.....

whilst the cores off use tweezers to straighten fins.....and remove insects....I noticed a dif when I did this as the core had been on the car since I bought it....very dirty

hope this helps.

[Primordial]

Hot4's had a helpful tech tip!? What the?

lol

sounds good, i might give this a go!

[alieas_neo]

Hot4's had a helpful tech tip!? What the?

lol

sounds good, i might give this a go!

The soarer forums recommdended doing two treatments, first with just kerosene as this will disolve alot of the oil, but as well all know kero leaves a film of crap, then flood it again with metho which removes the layer, a 50/50 mix may leave some residue.

[noisia]

use this stuff called "cobra". its coil cleaner used in the aircon/refrigeration industry to clean coils. very good stuff, but is corrosive if not washed down thoroughly after, so after applying, give her a good rinse down

[black33gtst]

just a tip for you all i use a product called Shellite (also known as lighter fluid in some brands).

Shellite is a product called x55 from shell and is also used as automatic transmission cleaner as it is the fastest drying solvent, it is also the carrier used in tyre shine it drys off and leaves the silicone to coat the tyres.

Shellite (x55) is also brake cleaner i have displayed this to several mechanics who were paying up to $100 for a 20 litre drum of brake cleaner and i gave them 1 litre of shellite (x55) and they said that hey thats the same, i know it is because i used to pour shellite (x55) into 20 litre drums and place brake clean stickers on them and freight them to victoria.

a 50/50 mix of shellite and mineral turps is used as wax and grease remover.

to clean out my intercooler i pour 2 litres of shellite (x55) into it place my hands over the in/ outlet and shake it up and down then pour the now very black shellite out and let it dry (drys quickly as i said it is the fastest drying solvent.

Edited January 15, 2008 by black33gtst

[Craved]

My intercooler has developed an unhealthy brown colour after dealing with years of exhaust smoke and crap like this.

I wanted to clean it, but the fins are quite brittle so i cant really use any contact on it.

I was thinking of using alloy wheel cleaner on it. Can anyone think of any reason why I shouldnt do this? eg. damaging the intercooler or something?

Has anyone tried it before?

best thing i have seen is high concentrate truck wash

as used on everyones dirt bike i know - spray on with high concentrated water/wash mix .. let it sit, then hose off.

alot of other suggestions have been for cleaning the inside of the cooler- but if you aint already taking the cooler out, try some C16 truckwash first.

[tanweer]

for the outside try spray degreaser and brush with a soft dust pan brush and hose off...works for me...

[POLICE]

easy off bam, BAM and the dirt is gone