So I blew an intercooler boot
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 368
Likes: 1
From: Berwick, PA
So I blew an intercooler boot
I am pretty sure I blew the boot under my air filter last night on the way home from Maine pulling my 30ft camper. Passing a car up a mountain and woosh and no power
. So I guess my question is since everything was dark and hot and I drove it the last 2 1/2 hours home is there anything I should be worried about as far as damaging it? It sounded ok when I got home. Things got a little warmer than normal but nothing horrible. The .mountains were a @&#$%. It was dark but I'm pretty sure I was fogging people when I had to get on the peddle and I used alot of fuel. I didn't even go out there yet and look at it yet Gonna order the riff raff boots and clamps.
. So I guess my question is since everything was dark and hot and I drove it the last 2 1/2 hours home is there anything I should be worried about as far as damaging it? It sounded ok when I got home. Things got a little warmer than normal but nothing horrible. The .mountains were a @&#$%. It was dark but I'm pretty sure I was fogging people when I had to get on the peddle and I used alot of fuel. I didn't even go out there yet and look at it yet Gonna order the riff raff boots and clamps.
Senior User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 374
Likes: 1
Good Luck. Mine didn't blow any boots until I installed the Riff Raff boots. Now I blow one every time I leave the house with the fifth wheel. The Riff Raff boots don't have the lip on the inside of the boots like OEM ones do. I ordered a couple of "rings" that fill the grooves to help hold them on. You install the clamps directly over the rings and that will hopefully work.
Use brake cleaner to clean the boots and tubes. Clean, clean, clean. You can use hair spray as well. Some use it with luck and some don't need it. Then tightened the clamps down pretty good. One thing I noticed with mine was after a long pull, one or more of the clamps would be pretty loose after everything cooled down. I am now, adding to my pre-towing inspection, to tightened the clamps while the engine is cool. I have never blown one on the cool side (driver side). Mine has always been on the intercooler side of the passenger side except once when I blew the one at he turbo.
Use brake cleaner to clean the boots and tubes. Clean, clean, clean. You can use hair spray as well. Some use it with luck and some don't need it. Then tightened the clamps down pretty good. One thing I noticed with mine was after a long pull, one or more of the clamps would be pretty loose after everything cooled down. I am now, adding to my pre-towing inspection, to tightened the clamps while the engine is cool. I have never blown one on the cool side (driver side). Mine has always been on the intercooler side of the passenger side except once when I blew the one at he turbo.
Senior User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 374
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Im not the one to ask about what is a better option, lol. Many people have had no problems with the Riff Raff boots. I bought my truck last year from a woman that pulled a 6 horse trailer with living quarters and never had a problem. I noticed the turbo side boot was really deteriorated, so I replaced them along with replacing the driver side plastic tube with the metal one from Riff Raff as well. The factory boots were literally stuck on. I tried to tighten the clamps like it calls for and popped the turbo boot on my first outing, empty. I read to tighten them much tighter than what the factory calls for. I have never had a problem since while empty, but every time while loaded pulling big hills. We are leaving for Yellowstone in less than 3 weeks for a total of over 4000 miles round trip. I am hoping the "rings" that I have coming will take care of my problem.
I think they will end up working just fine, but if I had it to do over again, I would have bought the OEM boots because of the lip inside the boots.
I think they will end up working just fine, but if I had it to do over again, I would have bought the OEM boots because of the lip inside the boots.
Senior User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 374
Likes: 1
I also don't pay as much attention to the ones that don't tow heavy. I have run my truck really hard with the SRL tune and never had a problem. Not until I put over 13k behind it and start up the large hills do the problems with the boots show their heads.
Senior User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 374
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Master of Strokes
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,808
Likes: 25
From: CA
I would suggest riffraff boots, I have run them on all of mine over the years and haven't ever had any real issue. The one time I did it was my own fault, I reused a stock clamp and didn't get it tight enough. I switched it out for a new clamp, tightened it down and haven't ever had a problem since. Most the time when I have to pull something apart I have to peel the Riffraff Diesel boots off with a screw driver because they are practically glued to the pipe. From my experience those stock ribs don't help hold a boot on, and if anything make it harder to get everything lined up. My riffraff boots that I have had on for years now have ribs formed in them because they actually form to the tube so well. If you have an issue I would just give clay over at Riffraff at call. He always seems happy to help.
Complete CAC Intercooler Boot Kit 03-07 - Riffraff Diesel Performance
Complete CAC Intercooler Boot Kit 03-07 - Riffraff Diesel Performance
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,348
Likes: 110
From: Lakeland, Fl
Use these BD Power - Product: Hose & Clamp Kit or Motorcraft if you don"t want them to blow off again. The Riff Raff boots are just plain smooth hose.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2009
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Same think happened to me coming home from our trip up north, doing 70-75 up a grade with truck camper. Really gets your attention quick. Ended being the lower CAC hose under air filter. Just kept driving after I relized what it was.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 368
Likes: 1
From: Berwick, PA
I was gonna wrap it with gorilla tape but it was dark and hot so I just ran it the rest of the way. I wasn't entirely sure where exactly it broke at the time. I wrapped the crap out of it with gorilla tape yesterday and I am babying it till I get new parts. Seems to be holding ok and I don't have to tow. I hit 20lbs with it. Gotta get to work the next couple days and that's my daily driver. Lol.