jgsx

Hello

My C32 is consuming large quantities of IC coolant.

My IC has a larger front mount heat exchanger, and the evosport washer fluid reservoir mod and upgraded IC pump. The evosport tank mod makes the washer fluid reservoir tank hold fluid to cool the intercooler.

I've been running this set up successfully for years, but recently my car began draining the washer/IC tank very rapidly. I have to add a gallon of fluid every couple hundred miles.

I cannot find any visible leaks in the system, but something is obviously wrong and it has me concerned.

Any ideas?

Redw20855amg

check for internal leaks

Lenin

I hope not but it may be the intercooler leaking? Check your intake runners.

jgsx

Can you be a bit more specific? What should I be checking and how? Thanks

Lenin

When my IC was leaking, i took off the intake manifold and could see and feel the residue from the mixture of the antifreeze/water on my intake runners. The coolant has to go somewhere. It winds up in your intake manifolds. Whatever can evaporate does evaporate. The rest becomes a oily residue on the intake runner walls. I hope that's not your case since these intakes are expensive, but if your coolant is not leaking under the car, than it has to go somewhere, and it would be mixing with compressed air and getting into the intake.

jgsx

What was the repair and how much did it set you back?

Lenin

I had to get a new IC. It was around $800. I thinnk it is more now. I don't know of anyone who can fix it, even though it feels like it should be possible. You would need to take our the old core and weld in a new core. Maybe someone will chime in who knows how to fix it. But first make sure that that is your problem. What brand IC pump are you running?

Gramma_Benz

New intercooler from Parts.com will be about $900 or so, plus Labor unless you're gonna do it yourself.

jgsx

I am using a Johnson pump.

It's a real issue because as soon as the tank empties, the car beings misfiring. Is that consistent with an IC leak?

How big of a job is it to swap out the IC?

Gramma_Benz

I dunno about the misfiring, but no apparent coolant puddles and the C32 being known for this....I'd say 80% chance its your intersooler leaking.

And personally, I wouldn't drive it till you get it fixed. Misfires....No Bueno at all! Dangerous!

And besides that, Coolant going into your cylinders can eat away at your cylinder walls making ring tolerances bad as well.

Get it fixed before you drive it anymore!

Kreuzfeuer

Classic symptoms of intercooler failure.

See below:

http://www.crossfireforum.org/forum/...much-funk.html

Kreuzfeuer

In case you need a replacement cheaper than $900...

http://www.crossfireforum.org/forum/...arts-sale.html

Located in Sweden but I wouldn't let that deter ya...

jgsx

Thank you for all the input. I have a leaking IC.

I sure would love to pick up a known good used IC. That one in Europe sounded good but the user isn't responding.

Does anyone in the USA have a used known good IC for sale?

Kreuzfeuer

He was asking for interest this morning, and I mentioned you.

http://www.crossfireforum.org/forum/701320-post15.html

Being in Sweden, he's a few hours ahead... I'd try again.

Newzchspy

X2, I'll bet it was the IC leaking!!! NOT the Heat Exchanger as you'd notice puddles toward the front of the car!!

ScottW911

Newzy, you missed this post. We've moved past the diagnosis phase.

loudandheard

I wish we could make our own I/C. I saw one that was being developed a long time ago and it looked promising, but who knows what happened to it or if it even worked.

. Charge temperatures. Since we are creating more boost we are also creating more heat. In addition, compressor efficiency falls off when it is near it’s redline.
Since stock Intercooler (IC) is already marginal, an upgrade to Laminova cores might be needed to keep charge temps under control.

Laminova cores for stock intercooler.



Link: https://mbworld.org/forums/c32-amg-c...7-r-d-9-a.html

ddtham

That laminova core looks impressive! I am thinking of rebuilding my original intercooler which was leaking, but it looks like our ic is welded shut from all sides.

loudandheard

Yeah, you would need to cut it open or fabricate something that will bolt up to our supercharger. I'd like to get my hands on a leaky intercooler to see what I could do to it.

Lenin

I would just gut it, leave it where it is and make top mounted Laminova based intercoolers merged with the intake manifolds. Somewhat similar to the SLR. Maybe one day.

loudandheard

That would be ideal, but I heard that there is an issue with getting the flow right on the top mounted intercooler. I forgot what I read, but it's a bit more difficult then what I imagined it to be. On top of that, no pun intended, we don't have a lot of space for top mounted intercoolers and it would be more expensive than a modified intercooler.

jason 1432

Make that two of us i need a new intercooler as well coolant loss<<<<<<<
checked all the above no leaks or sign of it on the floor this will be the second one I buy this year not to happy. any body has any idea what we can do to fix this or com up with.

what if i where to cap the two lines and gut it out what would happen any body kno. I do have a bigger heat exchanger would thath help????

Lenin

If you cap the lines then you would not need a HE, large or small. You need to cool the intake air or the SC will not run. Is you cooling separated?

jason 1432

no it's not.
so i dont understand this to much so what your saying it that i need to keed the temp cool for the sc to work.

but isnt the coolant that passes threw warm?
I tought the point of all this was to maintain certain temp am i incorrect?

Lenin

The ECU is programmed to take the car into "limp" mode if the intake air temps get too high. Can't recall exactly at what point but that's how it works. The coolant from the engine passes through the HE where it gets cooled off and then goes into IC for additional heat transfer from the compressed air to the coolant in the IC. The coolant is not iced cold but it still accepts a good amount of heat that was generated during the compression.
In a separated cooling system, the coolant is not pressurized. That, in my opinion, helps preserve the IC. An external reservour with the separated system is even better. Still not 100% guarantee due to the design and placement of the IC but less pressure in this case is a good thing.