Just been cleaning my engine bay, intercooler looked dirty after the rest of the engine bay looks mint, so stupidly I rubbed my cloth down and bent three rows of fins, I've straightened them back as much as I can but there so soft it's hard to get them back to the way they were!!! Arggh man, school boy!!! What sort of damage will I cause driving it like this??? How much will I expect to pay for a new one??? Cheers guys and girls!!

 

Oh nooo, not bent fins!!!

No seriously mate it will be fine

 

Ahhhhh ****, if I were you I would scrap the car now.

P.s. isn't there some sort of comb designed to straighten bent fins?

 

Haha.... Mate they just bent like hot butter, what do they actually do? Cool or heat?? Or just disturb the air flow??

 

http://www.turbosmart.com.au/technic...rcooler-works/

That should help

 

Get yourself one of these and you will be able to straighten out the fins, this what is used on refrigeration condenser coils, used many times, as long as you take your time will sort it.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RADIATOR-A...item3f25dd9bdf

 

Might need a remap ;-)

 

They bend so easy, a few wont do any harm,

 

Haha cheers lads!!! Think il get a comb, see if that works!! Haha just had that sinking feeling when I sore what I had done!!! Rest of the bay looks great, mind the battery is holding its charge, so getting a new one from the garage on tue, only had the car a wk!! One owner from new 03 wrx 72k on the clock, was looking for months, went to see 4, but this is one well looked after wrx!! Then u come along and try to clean the intercooler, t!t haha!!

 

If you want to make a proper job of knackering IC fins try hitting them at close range with a power washer!

 

Haha!! I'm sure that's how it properly done!! I just wiped mine with a cloth, bent around two rows, whist I pulled down it looked all shiny where my cloth had been then I took a closer look and my hart sank!! Haha!! I hardly put any pressure on but they look really ridged, obv not!!!

 

My intercooler looks like I sat on it!

Unfortunately if you give a hatch a bit of beans in the snow the intercooler fins get really bent.

I've got a comb for it but I've actually found that an amalgam carver and toothpick to be best for straightening them out, I don't get on with those combs. One of these afternoons I'm going to remove the intercooler to do it.

To prevent the problem in future try fitting one of these



(and you might want to look also into the Zero Sports Cool Action to prevent wind damage to the intercooler if it has affected you)

 

Cheers Richard, yeah ur mesh protector looks a good idea seeing how easily the fins car bend!!

 

Appreciate the good advice & options as a few on mine need straightening up

 

I spent 1 happy hour straightening mine then I was still not happy untill I bought this

 

Put the intercooler on your lap and give it a good seeing to !

 

They hear the air going in to the engine as much as possible, if you have bent the the air might not get up to tempriture and. Aide seriouse damage to you engine. You need to straighten the find then I'd get it to a mapper to make sure it's not running to cold, if it is you may need a uprated thermal capasiter to take into account the bent fins !

 

They hear the air going in to the engine as much as possible, if you have bent the the air might not get up to tempriture and. Aide seriouse damage to you engine. You need to straighten the find then I'd get it to a mapper to make sure it's not running to cold, if it is you may need a uprated thermal capasiter to take into account the bent fins !

 

Another reason added to the list of reasons to be afraid to visit the dentist.

 

Haha, many an instrument has been lost to the toolbox.

Killed two burs today drilling holes in some carbon fibre bits for my front bumper but realised when I got home I haven't taken quite enough off so will kill a couple more tomorrow

 

People, be warned.............