Intercooler Leaking From Scoop...

[thepremier]

I am having a problem with my intercooler, it seems as though it is trickling down and leaking from the scoop.

It only happens when the car is parked and turned off, I notice a small puddle everytime I go somewhere after my car has been sitting for a short/long period of time. I wiped the puddle with my finger to see the appearance of the liquid, and it didn't appear to be oil, but it had an orangish appearance?? Could it be a radiator leak?

Has anybody experienced this problem before, and if so, what was the problem? Is this a sign of needing to purchase a new intercooler? I would appreciate it if you guys could inform me about this situation.

Thanks

 

[noslo6]

Intercooler

There shouldn't be any liquid in your intercooler, unless you have a air/water intercooler. You may need to have it pressure tested to see if it is leaking and have it welded up. But first see why there is liquid in it.

 

[BlackMetal]

Like noslo6 said, there's no liquid directly related to the intercooler unless you have a liquid IC. It IS common for coolant to puddle up on the intercooler mounting bracket near the oil filter if you've ever disconnected your radiator hoses or anything like that, spilled coolant will puddle there and drip off.

Hard to figure out a leak without being able to look at the car. Try to look from above and under the car and try to see the leak in action.

 

[Bruce Urie]

Intercooler leak

I am having a problem with my intercooler, it seems as though it is trickling down and leaking from the scoop.

It only happens when the car is parked and turned off, I notice a small puddle everytime I go somewhere after my car has been sitting for a short/long period of time. I wiped the puddle with my finger to see the appearance of the liquid, and it didn't appear to be oil, but it had an orangish appearance?? Could it be a radiator leak?

Has anybody experienced this problem before, and if so, what was the problem? Is this a sign of needing to purchase a new intercooler? I would appreciate it if you guys could inform me about this situation.

Thanks

In my honest opinion, you should clean out your intercooler anyway. Just unbolt it, hoses and all, wash it out with soap and water, then blow out the water with a compressor hose. Make sure it's absolutely dry. I've heard you can even clean it out with carburetor cleaner, however, if I'm wrong on this point, I hope the others here can correct me. Then clean out the in/out going hoses of all liquid, oil or water. Those intercoolers should be cleaned out periodically. Maybe in removing the intercooler assembly, you might have more viewing area to find what the leak really is. I hope that that "orange stuff" isn't antifreeze in your Grand National/Tubo Regal. In those cars you should be using the "green stuff." This has been discussed on this forum before, and I take these guys' words as gold.

Bruce '87 Grand National

 

[jcawley3]

I'm, betting the leak is somewhere else take it out and inspect it good......get 2 cans of O2 sensor safe cleaner plug one end of intercooler with a rag or something and spay the entire can in the other opening...shake it around real good pour it out....repeat until it pours out clean....I then taped the rag over one opening and stuck a shop vac in other side let it run for about an hour....

 

[TurboDave]

Orange liquid? Almost has to be antifreeze, and in the interest of common sense, I'd guess you have a radiator leak that is somehow dripping onto some part of the intercooler scoop, and only appears to be coming from the intercooler.

 

[corsair231]

Orange liquid could be rusty water. Could be a coolant leak running forward on the bracket.