Intercooler cleaning

[rammertide07]

My uncle is planning on going on a trip next week and he's planning on doing some maintanence on his 99 F250 7.3. He said he was going to clean his intercooler pipes as well. He's done them on big trucks, but not a 7.3. Just collecting some advice about methods/advice because I want to do mine too...so I plan on helping him out on his so I can do mine as well.

I've googled for information on this, found some info on other forums. Are you suppose to just wash it out...or do you scrub it out. I've seen a guy on youtube do his y-pipe with a wire brush wheel on a drill...is that ok? Also I saw some guys talking about cleaning out the condenser with an air nozzle from the inside out. Advice for any of this is appreciated....thanks

 

[JLDickmon]

I'd turn it on it's side and put a mild solution of Dawn dishsoap and water through it, then let it drip dry

Big Joe and I were the ones that said blow the condenser out from inside out with compressed air.. clean out all the mouse hair and bugs

I sat down with a fin comb and picked away at mine for an hour or so last week..

 

[BIG JOE]

Just one way ?

Hot soap'n water (Dawn), let everything soak, ream everything out with rags on a wire 'til it feels right. Let dry. use Windex as a re-assembly lube.

What JLD sez too.

 

[JRJ04]

are you talking about cleaning out the actual guts intercooler itself or just the pipes?

Do you have to remove the intercooler to clean it, or cold you attempt to do it with it on the truck? JL, did you remove your's to comb through it all or did you do it on the truck? Just doenst look like that would be too easy to do while its still on the truck...

 

[rammertide07]

are you talking about cleaning out the actual guts intercooler itself or just the pipes?

Do you have to remove the intercooler to clean it, or cold you attempt to do it with it on the truck? JL, did you remove your's to comb through it all or did you do it on the truck? Just doenst look like that would be too easy to do while its still on the truck...

Pipes as far as I know And if you mean remove the radiator...I hope not. I read another forum that said it doesnt have to.
Not real familiar with the intercooler system other than just the principles.

 

[JRJ04]

pipes should be a piece of cake...just flush water through them with some soap and let it all dry. i know dpantzis has taken out the entire intercooler and cleaned the insides before...

does anyone know if oil accumulates inside of the intercooler or will it just all fall to the bottom of it where the pipes connect?

 

[BIG JOE]

are you talking about cleaning out the actual guts intercooler itself or just the pipes?

Do you have to remove the intercooler to clean it, or cold you attempt to do it with it on the truck? JL, did you remove your's to comb through it all or did you do it on the truck? Just doenst look like that would be too easy to do while its still on the truck...

Pipes as far as I know And if you mean remove the radiator...I hope not. I read another forum that said it doesnt have to.

FWIW guyz ?

Years ago, us 7.3 types were (over maybe ?) concerned about oil in the inter-cooler itself.. nowadays that doesn't seem to be as big a concern. What little oil there may be, in it.. is just not worth [removing] the inter-cooler.. to get rid of it. Improving on the OEM CCV set up is the way to go.... IF.. you don't like Any oil in the I/C system. (?)

Just doing a Periodic (frequency, driven by use)) cleaning of the tubes/pipes and boots seems to be "The Thing to Do" these days ?

And.. I think JLD was talking about back-flushing the A/C condenser, I/C core and the radiator... with water & air.. Using a brush or comb on the A/C condenser... to remove the bugs'n crap.. and straighten the cooling fins.

It's been my experience.. the I/C core and Radiator don't collect much crap.. the A/C condenser takes 95% of the Hits ? Cleaning the other two.. with 60 psi air, then flushing them with house pressure.. water, will restore the Air Flow we need.

Joe

 

[rammertide07]

FWIW guyz ?

Years ago, us 7.3 types were (over maybe ?) concerned about oil in the inter-cooler itself.. nowadays that doesn't seem to be as big a concern. What little oil there may be, in it.. is just not worth [removing] the inter-cooler.. to get rid of it. Improving on the OEM CCV set up is the way to go.... IF.. you don't like Any oil in the I/C system. (?)

Just doing a Periodic (frequency, driven by use)) cleaning of the tubes/pipes and boots seems to be "The Thing to Do" these days ?

And.. I think JLD was talking about back-flushing the A/C condenser, I/C core and the radiator... with water & air.. Using a brush or comb on the A/C condenser... to remove the bugs'n crap.. and straighten the cooling fins.

It's been my experience.. the I/C core and Radiator don't collect much crap.. the A/C condenser takes 95% of the Hits ? Cleaning the other two.. with 60 psi air, then flushing them with house pressure.. water, will restore the Air Flow we need.

Joe

Thats what I was looking for....Thanks Joe

 

[BIG JOE]

Thats what I was looking for....Thanks Joe

But we need to be clear here.

If anyone were to remove the I/C pipes... and noticable amount Oil ran out of the lower Inter-cooler core.. and the pipes and boots are overly wet with oil, and/or there's is an oil consumption issue ? there May Be.. a Turbo or CCV issue that needs to be looked into ? The I/C core would need to be removed and drained too ?

 

[rammertide07]

But I wana be clear here.

If anyone were to remove the I/C pipes... and noticable amount Oil ran out of the Inter-cooler core.. and the pipes and boots are overly wet with oil, and/or there's is an oil consumption issue ? there May Be.. a Turbo or CCV issue that needs to be looked into ?

That happened to me last year. Seals and bearing in my turbo went out while I was on a trip. Luckily, where I was going, i have my own persoanl Ford mechanic that had his own shop. Before I got it to him, I was blowing smoke out the exhaust and I could hear my turbo scrubbing through the exhaust when it spooled down after I shut it off.

Would there be anything I would need to check after that issue...it has been over a year since that happened.