Denied my trip to the states, I decided to bring forward a job which I've been planning for a bit - cleaning out the intercooler and radiators with the able assistance of my father. This means he did the work and I passed spanners and made coffee.
With the guidance of GTR, we drained the coolant and removed the air filter, top air pipe and the top part of the engine fan coweling. The cooling fan itself was a bit of a challenge, as we didn't have the special tool required to hold the pulley wheel in place whiel the fan is unthreaded. However, a big screwdriver jammed into the whole thing gave just enough counter-force to get it started. The fan off, the bottom half of the cowelling could come out.
Various pipes come off at various times in the procedure, but unfortunately we mistook the A/C condenser lines for the gearbox lines. A loud (and expensive) hiss meant that I now have to get the A/C system regassed. If you see one of these in your engine bay, don't undo it
We took the radiator and intercooler out in one big lump. The instructions seem to suggest that you can detatch the radiator from the intercooler, but it was going to be pretty awkward. That's not to say it was easy getting the combined lump out.
The radiator didn't look too bad when it was out, and it only took about half an hour to hose through until the water was running clear. The A/C condenser was even easier, taking only a couple of minutes to clean out.
The intercooler, however is another story
This took a good two hours to get to the point where water would run through it. It was absolutely solid with mud. It now weighs less than half what it did when it came out.
Reassembly of the whole lot is a job for tomorrow. I've actually got a new intercooler and radiator coming from Saint Nick. An unnecessary extravagance as it turns out, but the initial plan was to swap over and clean later.
isn't there an weasier way to clean the intercooler out?
You can do it in situ. However, when it's as choked up as this, it just doesn't work. (I tried ) You need to be able to turn it over and get the water going down through it.
@ AndrewS - Can't wait!
18th Mar 2008 7:45 pm
AndrewS Tarquin of the Desert
Member Since: 06 May 2005
Location: Y...... because I can
Posts: 10438
TazDaz wrote:
isn't there an weasier way to clean the intercooler out?
Stand your D3 on its boot and pour water through the lower grill opening. Oh make sure your windows are closed In the Beginning there was nothing, which exploded.
18th Mar 2008 7:48 pm
DiscoStu
Member Since: 09 Apr 2006
Location: London
Posts: 11412
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damn... and brave.
