my intercooler is starting to look a little brown and chalky

what should i clean it with

or what is good to clean cast with

thanks

 

Steam cleaner..
or a pressure washer at low pressure so you dont bend the fins..

 

i'm talking about the outter edges

the end tanks

 

Polish?

 

What ever you do. DON't USE WATER! it wil get in teh intracooler and ***** your engine later with watre lock.

I say use anything you want. Personally i just go to the self-car wash and use the high pressure hose, then i go home get a flathead screw driver and get the bugs out without bending fins. I even straighten out some fins that got hit with rocks while I'm at it

 

Some Castrol Super Clean mixed 1/2 with some clean water, and a brush to clean it. Work for my old Trust/Greddy IC that I have for like 4 years or so... it looks like a new one except for some fins loll

 

thanks guys but its not polished its cast, like the compressor housing on the turbo, i tried polish turned it dark gray, any other suggestion, simple green and sand paper?

 

Use wet/dry sandpaper, then Mothers.

 

precisions intercoolers are aluminum correct? just use some diluted hydrophloric (i think, might be hydrochloric, need to check) acid./ we use that on our aluminum trailers all of the time. works like a charm

 

Here's what I did ...

Originally my intercooler end tanks were very grainy (cast). I used low grit sand paper then went to a higher grit. Finally, wet sanded it and polished it up with red rouge on a buffer wheel:

(I wish I had the before pictures)

 

sweet thanks man

i know i have tried to polish the center where the bars and fins are it didn't take to well to mothers polish

 

or you can always do what i did...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by adseguy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What ever you do. DON't USE WATER! it wil get in teh intracooler and ***** your engine later with watre lock. </TD></TR></TABLE>

lol... i remember that thread!

 

i've used water to clean mine before whats wrong with that?

 

up

 

I work at acura and use some kind of acid from cougar detailing supplies. works great. I am sure there are similar chemicals that are easier to get.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TURBODC4TEG &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i know i have tried to polish the center where the bars and fins are it didn't take to well to mothers polish</TD></TR></TABLE>

I wouldn't have done that. That **** gets in the crevices, and is a pain to get out.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by wantboost &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">precisions intercoolers are aluminum correct? just use some diluted hydrophloric (i think, might be hydrochloric, need to check) acid./ we use that on our aluminum trailers all of the time. works like a charm</TD></TR></TABLE>

Please find out if hydrochloric acid is safe to use on the fins. They're so delicate, and nothing I've used seems to work well. I used Castrol Super Clean, but it left a residue, and even water pressure from a garden hose bent the fins. Hydrochloric acid would dissolve the bugs trapped in there.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by J-Brooks &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I work at acura and use some kind of acid from cougar detailing supplies. works great. I am sure there are similar chemicals that are easier to get.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I think I know what you're talking about. Is it wheel cleaner?

For the inside of the intercooler, there's a parts store near me that sells gallon containers of CRC chlorinated brake cleaner, instead of the cans that run out of propellant and leave a little in the bottom. I just capped one end, poured it in, let it sit on end, turned it over, let it sit, then shook it and emptied it out. Just to be thorough, I poured some more CRC in to flush it out some more. Obviously, I had time to let it completely dry out. If you do this, make sure to use the chlorinated stuff, which is non-flammable. It would be interesting to use the flammable stuff, then start the car.

 

you can use aluminum wheel cleaner or go to a welding supply and get aluminum cleaner which is almost the same thing you can also get aluminum cleaner at most big truck shops

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B16A Grenade &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I think I know what you're talking about. Is it wheel cleaner?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

In detail we mostly use it on wheels yes. Its almost a clear substance.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by J-Brooks &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

In detail we mostly use it on wheels yes. Its almost a clear substance.</TD></TR></TABLE>

muratic (sp?)acid. we use it on wheels

 

thanks

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by adseguy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What ever you do. DON't USE WATER! it wil get in teh intracooler and ***** your engine later with watre lock.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I hope you mean dont fill it up with water.. If you clean the outside of it, it isnt going to get inside the intercooler..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by wantboost &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

muratic (sp?)acid. we use it on wheels</TD></TR></TABLE>

hehehe.. I've used this before.. just pour it on and brake dust runs off.. Also if you have white lettering on the sidewalls of a car it will make then bright and shiny..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tgreaves &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I hope you mean dont fill it up with water.. If you clean the outside of it, it isnt going to get inside the intercooler..</TD></TR></TABLE>

Notice how I wrote it. I was kidding

 

Muriatic acid = hydrochloric acid.

Truckers have been using it for years as aluminum wash.
Just make sure you don't leave it on too long as it will actually
etch/eat the surface of the metal. Then flush with plenty of cool
running water.

And don't get it on paint. or let it sit on anything you want to keep nice,
including concrete.