[MiniMexico]

Hi every one, I´ve read in this forum that the intercooler usually dripps oil, and that on the long run this affects performance, but I´ve also read that it can be easily cleaned, have any mini owner done this? if so how dirty it was?? how many km before you did it?? and most important how did you do it???

thanks in advance

[MINIAC]

How To Clean Intercooler

[--Mike--]

I've been wondering this myself. Does anyone have a guide for removing the intercooler?

[k-huevo]

Remove the cover with a T30 Torx (I use a T-handle driver to speed things along), remove the front mounting bracket with an 8mm socket (take care to keep the right hand bracket from falling into the radiator support once un-secured), unscrew the clamp bolts with the T30, remove the top clamp halves, slide the intercooler output side bottom brackets from below the bellows, turning them sideways and routing towards the right, tilt the intercooler upwards from the output side while pushing towards the input side, and remove. Avoid any contact with the external intercooler fins.

Installation is in reverse order, put the input side bottom bracket halves in their respective bellow’s channels before sliding the bellow on the supercharger output duct, put the output side bellow on the intercoller output duct, push the input side intercooler end-tank into the input bellow and the output side slide in front of its bellow while pulling the top “ears” up over the lip of the output side end-tank, slide the lower bracket halves under the bellow, and place the upper bracket halves in their place on both sides, look closely to be sure none of the bellow’s ears have folded under a bracket and wiggle everything into a relaxed state. Secure the front mounting brackets; tighten the bellow brackets working from each side in stages to even the clamping force. All the fasteners require 7ft-lb or 84in-lb torque; this is also a good time to be sure all sparkplugs have 19-21ft-lb torque.

[bahawton]

I put a GP intercooler on my new JCW & was amazed how much oil was in the stock intercooler after only 5K miles!

[steve11]

Try fitting an oil/air seperator or oil catch can to the pcv - intake line. Most Mini tuning companies make one. Then you no longer have to worry about it, just empty the catch can regularly.

[--Mike--]

Thanks K-Huevo, I'll take a look and see what it looks like inside. Probably a bit of a mess after 5 years!!!

[Richard Crofts]

my car had done 25k when i got it. i did a further 10k and then just took the ic off and poured some fuel into it ans sloshed it around...there was loads of oil in it. left it to stand and then refitted

[Richard Crofts]

Haynes manual is brilliant for small stuff like this...I did it in 10 mins

[Drewski]

Quote: Originally Posted by Richard Crofts (original)

my car had done 25k when i got it. i did a further 10k and then just took the ic off and poured some fuel into it ans sloshed it around...there was loads of oil in it. left it to stand and then refitted

Did you notice any difference in how the car ran after doing it?

[--Mike--]

Well I cleaned out the intercooler over the weekend. After five years there was quite a bit of muck in there. Oil actually dripped out of the intercooler and rubber bellows.

Sloshed two lots of acetone around in it and left it to dry overnight before refitting.

Before cleaning, the right hand side after the intercooler was still quite hot, though cooler than the bit before the intercooler. Now after cleaning, it is stone cold even after a blast. Wasn't expecting that. Didn't notice any improvement in power though - oh well!!

[Ant FR]

when i changed my intercooler last week, there was not a single drop of Oil in there, was clean as anything, and thats at 5yrs old, i was quite pleased.

[Richard Crofts]

Some are better than others...mine was not full of oil but had a decent coating so change in power was minimal really...but yes it felt better (but that was seat of pants thing and could have been imagination) .... dont expect an extra 10hp to appear all of a sudden

[JCWMinster]

I cleaned out my intercooler today. I had seen the article on cleaning previously and thought it some good time to spend with the MINI!

JCW 2005 MCS done 53'000 km's. A fair amount of oil in the intercooler, you couldn't see clearly through the fins looking from end to end. Cleaned it out using acetone and grease remover and it has come up sparkling - can clearly see through each fin column.

Added Oil Catch Can so I wont hopefully wont have to do this again for some time.

Car drives better after clean - hard to say whether it is actually better or whether it is a mind thing knowing that I've spent careful hours making sure it was a neat job, reassuring either way knowing it is running with clear air flow.

Thanks for the info everyone that posted...

[batou]

http://www.mini2.com/forum/engine-dr...tercooler.html

[KitKat]

Sorry but what is the point of this if it makes no benficial difference?

[batou]

Quote: Originally Posted by KitKat (original)

Sorry but what is the point of this if it makes no benficial difference?

In a nutshell. Oil in the intercooler is bad for your engine. I'm sure someone technical enough can explain exactly why in detail

[KitKat]

Ah ok cool, just had a look on outmotoring, they had a bit about it as part of there sales spiel for an oil catch can.

Seems like a good idea....shame its 70quid

[James@fomsport]

70-80 is what youll pay of an OCC, some engines need them some dont, cleaning the I/C once in a while is much cheaper if your engine doesnt need one.

James

[paul46rider]

hmm this may have cleared something up for me, we picked up a cooper s yesterday, the whole engine area was filthy so i gave it a quick detail, this morning when the car drove off, on the road a watery/oil line was left, i don't know if it was from our car but i been worring about it all day, the car is running perfect with now warning lights etc,

do you think it may be what i washed off the cooler, don't think the engine bay had every been cleaned and it probably collected in the plastic covers then trail out when the car was driven off