So I have done my research on doing a full flush of the radiator and switch to Delo ELC as per Gooch, posted by Stuart_H. Now the question is how do you service the Intercooler system? Do you have to pull it to flush and clean it?

I am sure it has been covered, my search didn't yield much so please point me in the right direction....

 

There's no such thing as servicing a intercooler that is air cooled, like our trucks. The 2011 ford trucks have water cooled intercoolers, that would need service some time.

 

I'm pretty sure that you can service it, I have seen vague mention of it, especially after installing a ccv kit to eliminate any oil that had previously built up.

 

You can put a good quailty set of boots on the pipes, when you find out how to service a air to air intercooler let us know.

 

yea new boots all around is on the list, which keeps growing, as well as ccv kit, plenum inserts, FRx, Hpx, 6637 filter, Itnl. up-pipes .....keeps going. I just want to get all the stock systems up to optimal working condition after buying the truck 2 months ago. It has 209,500 on it and I doubt the PO went out of his way to keep it in shape.

Anyone have info on intercooler maintenance/cleaning...?

 

As old as our trucks are I'm sure there's"some" oil build up setting in the bottom of the IC,as far as cleaning it maybe remove it and flush it out with some Simple Green and run some clean water through it,be sure to let it dry completely.Of course this is just my.02 worth....

 

My thoughts exactly. If your tubes look clean then why do it. If not as above would be my guess. Chet

 

There isn't anything you can really flush out such as fluids but if you want to do something then pull it out and clean the inside and outside with water and simple green. Thats the only thing I can think of.

 

Sounded like a lot of work to me, so I just cleaned the oil out of the pipes, boots, plenum, and everything else, and left any oil that was present in the intercooler in the intercooler. I don't expect residual oil from my intercooler to get blown back up into the outlet piping. But I'll check the return pipe after I've driven my truck ~1000 miles.

 

If we have to clean one we pull it and run hot water through it. Set it upside down with inlet/outlet down to drain and make sure its good and dry prior install. Usually the only reason for this is cause of a blown turbo and a LOT of oil in the cooler.

 

My end tanks are aluminum and I've thought about drilling and tapping for a drain plug but so far I've never gotten around to it. I have no idea if there is any oil in there and if so how much would/could be in there. 263k miles so I suppose some has accumulated over the years...

Might just be a waste of time though...

 

I removed my stock aluminum tanked IC and stood it on its end for over a week before sending it to one of our OBS 7.3 members. After ~170k miles with a closed CCV system with trap routed back to the intake for about half that time, I drained only 1 TABLESPOON of oil from the end tank. Hardly worth the trouble of pulling one unless you had a turbo failure.

 

I did the same thing when I upgraded my intercooler. At just under 100k miles, I didn't even get a drop of oil to come out.

 

I found the same in mine after 345000. I did clean it but noticed no difference.

 

awesome, I appreciate the first hand accounts that was really what i was looking for...one less thing to worry about then.

Thanks again