While installing my gauges the other day I also took off the intercooler to fiddle away at straightening some of the bent fins and clear out the bug guts etc between them. I also noticed that there was quite a bit of oil inside the intercooler thanks to the crankcase vent recirculation system so figured it was time for a bath. Gave the intercooler a nice warm bath in some engine degreaser for around an hour and then gave it a good rinse with the garden hose. Now it is nice and clean inside and out and all the fins are more or less factory straight again.
Do I notice a difference behind the wheel?...no...but I feel better with it nice and clean.
Bent Fins:
Oily Intercooler:
Jug o' degreaser:
Initial Dip...water went black very quick:
The waste water...aka Intercooler Sludge Soup. Black black blaaaaaaaaaaack. Dispose of properly in a salmon spawn creek site.
