How do I......an intercooler?

clairvoyant · 03-29-2011, 02:11 PM

How do I clean up an intercooler that soaked with engine oil? Thank You

Brey335i · 03-29-2011, 02:26 PM

Oil cleaner. It's the stuff they sell at auto places. Its used to clean off oil from different parts. That would be your best bet I guess

acdHQK713K · 03-29-2011, 02:35 PM

Kerosene.

bulldog_yyc · 03-29-2011, 02:39 PM

gasoline also works

cn555ic · 03-29-2011, 02:43 PM

Pour gasoline into the intercooler and turn it upside down and soak. Repeat process until clean. Make sure to let it dry

Brey335i · 03-29-2011, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cn555ic

Pour gasoline into the intercooler and turn it upside down and soak. Repeat process until clean. Make sure to let it dry

Then light it on fire! Lol jk

Beemw335 · 03-29-2011, 03:03 PM

Wow gasoline to clean the intercooler

The smell of gas is going to remain for a while I suppose

Thumperx · 03-29-2011, 03:07 PM

Ok, how necessary (what degree of urgency) is it to have the IC cleaned of oil?

Bodie217 · 03-29-2011, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cn555ic

Pour gasoline into the intercooler and turn it upside down and soak. Repeat process until clean. Make sure to let it dry

what is it about the gas that cleans the oil out of the intercooler?

I'm guessing you could use any sort of degreaser, but gas is safe to use since it doesn't matter if the fumes get in to your engine.

Express · 03-29-2011, 08:18 PM

i would flush the whole core. at the coast guard base i worked at, we had this mystery solution we would flush helicopter coolers with to get the oil out.

no idea what it was, but it was teh SHIT

JoosyJoos · 03-29-2011, 09:37 PM

Gasoline is a solvent. Just fill it with some gasoline, slosh it around and let it dry out and you're good to go.

Jesse@MBRP · 03-29-2011, 09:41 PM

^ This. Diesel works as well. I used diesel to clean out my Super Duty intercooler a couple times. It worked like a charm.

clairvoyant · 03-29-2011, 09:42 PM

Perhaps expert panels here can enlighten us on how important to keep the intercooler clean.
By all mean, I don't feel like crawling under the car to clean up an intercooler.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoosyJoos

Gasoline is a solvent. Just fill it with some gasoline, slosh it around and let it dry out and you're good to go.

acdHQK713K · 03-29-2011, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesse@MBRP

^ This. Diesel works as well. I used diesel to clean out my Super Duty intercooler a couple times. It worked like a charm.

Why would you use diesel? You just end up coating everything with oil again. Use kerosene and call it a day.

cn555ic · 03-29-2011, 10:26 PM

A clogged intercooler from oil will make the core less and less efficient as to cool the IAT temps going into the engine which in time will make it to the point it will take performance away...Get yourself a Catch can to help prevent this issue, although its not going to 100% get rid of all the oil it will help immensely

skiernan36 · 03-29-2011, 10:40 PM

so do you pour the gas into the front of the intercooler or through the piping? Does it matter?

acdHQK713K · 03-29-2011, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skiernan36

so do you pour the gas into the front of the intercooler or through the piping? Does it matter?

Dump in either side and swish it around.

cn555ic · 03-29-2011, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skiernan36

so do you pour the gas into the front of the intercooler or through the piping? Does it matter?

Pour it inside either hole of the intercooler(inlet/outlet) doesnt matter.

mycoupe · 03-29-2011, 11:42 PM

Make sure you take the intercooler OFF the car to do this! You seem a little lost, so just making sure you don't go pouring gas down the charge pipe and hoping it all evaporates

haha

blisstik · 03-30-2011, 12:48 AM

Should this be done every year or 12K miles? I don't have an OCC.

03-29-2011, 02:11 PM	#1
clairvoyant Major 83 Rep 1,032 Posts Drives: Bavarian Manure Wagon (BMW) Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: 45°19′20″N, 75°50′0″W iTrader: (5) Garage List 2007 335i [5.24]	How do I......an intercooler? How do I clean up an intercooler that soaked with engine oil? Thank You
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03-29-2011, 02:26 PM	#2
Brey335i Banned 118 Rep 4,771 Posts Drives: e46 ///M3 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (11)	Oil cleaner. It's the stuff they sell at auto places. Its used to clean off oil from different parts. That would be your best bet I guess
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03-29-2011, 02:35 PM	#3
acdHQK713K Major 235 Rep 1,473 Posts Drives: Car Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (9)	Kerosene.
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03-29-2011, 02:39 PM	#4
bulldog_yyc Major General 136 Rep 5,040 Posts Drives: GT3RS Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: probably work iTrader: (28)	gasoline also works
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03-29-2011, 02:43 PM	#5
cn555ic 460 Rep 18,331 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: US iTrader: (6)	Pour gasoline into the intercooler and turn it upside down and soak. Repeat process until clean. Make sure to let it dry
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03-29-2011, 03:03 PM	#7
Beemw335 Colonel 62 Rep 2,013 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: My car is my home iTrader: (2)	Wow gasoline to clean the intercooler The smell of gas is going to remain for a while I suppose
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03-29-2011, 03:07 PM	#8
Thumperx Major 88 Rep 1,404 Posts Drives: 335I coupe Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: SE Michigan iTrader: (77)	Ok, how necessary (what degree of urgency) is it to have the IC cleaned of oil? __________________ Name: Blanca \| 07 E92 \| AW-Blk \| ZSP \| Alcon BBK \| M3 Bits \| VM RR Links \| Koni \| UUC Sways \| V5 \| Dinan CAI \| ETS IC \| Fge DV \| ER CP \| Cyba \| Raden. Exh \| Mod Step \| Trunk Drawer \| Perf LED Wheel \| Illum Dr Sills \| IS Shifter \| Parrot \| Philps D1S \| 6000k fog \| MTECH RR \| CSL Trunk \| Aero \| Roof Spoiler \| PSS on BBS RS-GT 19s
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03-29-2011, 08:18 PM	#10
Express Major General 382 Rep 8,688 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The Promise Land iTrader: (17) Garage List 2006 BMW 330i [8.30]	i would flush the whole core. at the coast guard base i worked at, we had this mystery solution we would flush helicopter coolers with to get the oil out. no idea what it was, but it was teh SHIT
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03-29-2011, 09:37 PM	#11
JoosyJoos Major 117 Rep 1,347 Posts Drives: 2011 335d Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i [0.00]	Gasoline is a solvent. Just fill it with some gasoline, slosh it around and let it dry out and you're good to go. __________________ 1997 M3 Coupe - BMWCCA I-Prepared #22 2006 M Roadster - 23,000 miles and slowly counting
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03-29-2011, 09:41 PM	#12
Jesse@MBRP Entrepreneur 62 Rep 344 Posts Drives: 2020 Lamborghini Huracan EVO Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Birmingham, AL iTrader: (3)	^ This. Diesel works as well. I used diesel to clean out my Super Duty intercooler a couple times. It worked like a charm. __________________ 2020 Lamborghini EVO 2020 Porsche 911 C2S 2020 Jeep Rubicon 2020 BMW X3M Competition
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03-29-2011, 10:26 PM	#15
cn555ic 460 Rep 18,331 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: US iTrader: (6)	A clogged intercooler from oil will make the core less and less efficient as to cool the IAT temps going into the engine which in time will make it to the point it will take performance away...Get yourself a Catch can to help prevent this issue, although its not going to 100% get rid of all the oil it will help immensely
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03-29-2011, 10:40 PM	#16
skiernan36 stick to your guns 22 Rep 441 Posts Drives: 2007 335i 2012 Audi Q5 2.0T Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Fredericksburg, Va iTrader: (0)	so do you pour the gas into the front of the intercooler or through the piping? Does it matter? __________________ "Speed has never killed anyone...suddenly becoming stationary, thats what gets you."-Jeremy Clarkson
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03-29-2011, 11:42 PM	#19
mycoupe Banned 60 Rep 1,495 Posts Drives: 07 335i coupe 6spd Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: cincinnati, Ohio iTrader: (5)	Make sure you take the intercooler OFF the car to do this! You seem a little lost, so just making sure you don't go pouring gas down the charge pipe and hoping it all evaporates haha
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03-30-2011, 12:48 AM	#20
blisstik Lieutenant Colonel 159 Rep 1,677 Posts Drives: E92 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: California iTrader: (14)	Should this be done every year or 12K miles? I don't have an OCC.
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