intercooler split ?

[11redrex]

my maverick has always had a mystery oil leak which I've never been able to trace. Had amechanic round yesterday and he reckoned the intercooler could be split. Has this happened to anyone else ? How could I test it ? are the £30 off ebay any good ?

 

[extreme-4x4]

they are air pressure tested same as a radiator, mine is coming off in a week or two if your interested

 

[11redrex]

could I do that myself ? Bung the holes and force some air in with my compressor, See where the oil comes out ?

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

Yes they do leak sometimes, I had this on mine the tell tale sign is black oily patch on the cooler where some of the oil vapour from inside has been getting through. In my experience it is often the front left hand corner. I had 3 used ones before I found one that didn't leak and had them all tested, so that made 4 out of 5 that did leak

 

[11redrex]

exactly my symptoms, as well as oil all over everything down the left hand side of the engine bay !
So, I suspect it's leaking from at least one other place.
The oil has eaten the anti roll bar bush on that side, and it could have contributed to the cause of all the other bushes that failed the mot - they were all on that side.

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

next question, what grade is your engine oil? synthetic or mineral?

 

[11redrex]

Mineral for the last top up. Changed the arb bushes for poly things which are resistant to petrochemical stuff. Had to change the drop links too as both sides were knackered. Only put them on in January !
How much for your intercooler extreme ? The £30 ebay ones I mentioned are not what they seem, reading the advert they're actually brake pads. Confused ? Bloody idiots have got about 100 ads on there for terrano intercoolers but none of them are actually for the intercooler itself.

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

what grade oil? I ask as i put 5/30 in mine and had all sorts of problems at the sametime my intercooler leak showed up!

 

[11redrex]

Oil's oil, pretty much.:nenau It's been leaking ever since I got the car, guess I'll have to get it off and check it over......

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

oil is oil? how very wrong, sorry but it's true. From experience have learned that these vehicles don't like thin oil, or synthetic oil. go for a good 15/40 mineral oil (as recomended by nissan)and you wont look back. It is wise to avoid mixing grades.

This wont have caused your intercooler leak but it is worth bearing in mind, another member told me this and I took no notice at the time - I wish I had!

 

[11redrex]

its 10 40 mineral (Morrisons finest at £11 a litre). And it says its for high mileage engines.

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

the oil sounds fine then
also check and maybe change the clips in the IC hoses.

 

[11redrex]

not £11 a litre :Eek £11 for 4 litres

The hoses look pretty grotty so I may change them for silicone, and Ill put new jubilee clips on just in case.

Will be doing this work tonight or tomorrow so should have some news soon hopefully.

 

[extreme-4x4]

upload some pics of this oily mess, please . you cant be getting that much oil out of your intercooler ffs not enough to cover the engine. you have another problem !

what fuel are you using ? honestly !
how much pressure is the if you replace you oil filler cap with your hand ?

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

that's why I asked about the oil, when i had the 5/30 synthetic stuff in I had high consumption and it seemed to be everwhere. almost seemed to be coming straght through the rubber IC hoses. It was fine in the cold winter but as the weather warmed up it got worse and worse!

 

[11redrex]

quite a bit of pressure from the filler cap, more than I expected actually. Also from the three way valve above the alternator. Removed that and there's no pressure from the sump breather hose. could something be blocked and causing the oil to come out wherever it can ? The more I look at it, the more I think it's coming from the filler cap ?

 

[makeitfit]

Is this on the truck you were trying to sell ? :augie
if so you must try harder :lol quickly

 

[11redrex]

This is the truck I sold, took a 2001 alfa 156 in px, and gave it back again after I found out it wouldn't rev over 4k. Lovely car apart from that.
It's only an oil leak, not worried about it but there's nothing else wrong with the car so I might as well try and fix this.

 

[cncfabs]

This is the truck I sold, took a 2001 alfa 156 in px, and gave it back again after I found out it wouldn't rev over 4k. Lovely car apart from that.
It's only an oil leak, not worried about it but there's nothing else wrong with the car so I might as well try and fix this.

That sounds like a good alfa most of them dont go at all:lol

 

[11redrex]

Found out afterwards he'd only paid £250 for it - he must have thought he'd won the lottery.