TMIC Detailing?

Jngrbrdman

Jngrbrdman

New member
My Subaru has a top mounted intercooler that has gotten pretty dirty this winter. The fins are really easy to bend, so I'm not sure the best way to keep it clean. This is the only car I've had to deal with that has an intercooler on it like this, so I was hoping to get some advice from others who know the best way to clean it without hurting anything. I'm a detailer and not a mechanic. :confused: What you can and cannot put on an intercooler is knowledge that I haven't got yet. Advice would be helpful.

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yeah good question..........i just clean it when i clean the engine, i just spray some apc and rinse and hope for the best
is there anything else you can do?
 
I am not an engine detailer at all. Always am frightened what could happen if I spray something in the wrong place. Most of the time I take a MF towels that I have just finished using on quick wipe over using detail spray. The problem with that is my hands will not reach in some of the places because my hand is to thick.

The last time i went over the engine I found a foam brush that my wife had purchased for some painting project. Using Poorboy's trim restore I went over the whole engine wiping and brushing every nook and cranny. It is the best that the engine has ever looked.

So my suggestion is to use a foam brush and lightly clean the area that you mentioned. It should not damage anything and it certainly will look great when you are done.
 
Treat it as you would a radiator, that's what an intercooler is anyway. You can get it wet as it should let water pass through. You do NOT want to hit it with a lot of pressure, it can and will bend fins and the core. As for making it shiny, good luck, if you find a way to make it look pretty that doesn't take forever report back, that kind of area is really hard to keep looking nice.
 
Yeah, tell me about it. That hood scoop seems to cause me nothing but grief. Well, that and rippin good looks and power. :naughty I guess I'll take some dirt in exchange. :bigups
 
Wheel cleaner and a soft toothbrush look like it might do the trick...then rinse. CAn't hurt to try it out.

Another product that come to mind is CLR (calcium, lime, and rust remover) should be in the cleaning isle at your local grocery store; however, it may be called something different in the U.S
 
There are products made to clean the aluminum pontoons on pontoon boats that will leave a bright shiny finish, but most or maybe even all are acid based.
There are cleaners for commercial refrigeration condensors that might work, but I think they are also acid based.
My comfort level with any acid based product around the engine compartment wouldn't be very high.
Is the IC such that it could be removed for thorough cleaning once or twice a year?
What about info on the Suburu boards? Surely you aren't the only owner that would like to keep the IC looking good.

Charles
 
apc and soft bristle bruch is the best way to go. it will take a while but will be safe and gentle on it. just use a garen hose on a light spray to rinse and you will be fine.
 
Subaru owners aren't the pickiest about cleanliness of their engines. These are cars that are built to go fast across rough roads and snow. The typical Subie owner doesn't care about dirt on the intercooler. The Subaru boards haven't been much help at all.

It's not a part that I can detach and clean easily. It is pretty attached. It would be like detaching your radiator for cleaning. The real question I have isn't so much about what to use to get the dirt off, but rather how do I clean it without bending all the fins. They are really easy to bend and I don't want to ruin it.

You guys have given me great advice so far. I'll give some of this a try and see what I can accomplish. I'm thinking I just need to go shopping for the right tool to get it clean without bending anything and then I'll use some tweezers I've got that are have flat ends to straighten out any bent fins.
 
I'm not up on Subaru innercoolers......I think a "fin comb" could be used to clean and straighten any damaged fins....they can be picked up at most large home centers or contact a local air conditioning installer.........
 
That would work if the fins were like this |||||| but they are like this /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ You can't use a fin comb on those.
 
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