Haven't seen this posted before so I thought I'd share. For those of us with stock intercoolers, I took mine out yesterday and cleaned it out with some gasoline (just sloshing it around for a few minutes) in case any oil etc had built up in there over time and 88,--- miles. When I put it back together I did feel a slight improvement. Yay to free hp!

 

Except for the gasoline, it sounds like a good idea. You really ought to use a safer solvent. The local auto parts store should have a number of degreasers available...

 

I cleaned out mine too a while back... Got some leaky turbo's (small amount of blowby during high boost)

I used Carb Cleaner and I'd say I got a cup or so of oil outa there. Pulled off the intake elbow and man! was my throttle body black!

I used a whole can of Carb Cleaner just on that, and after I noticed a better idle and throttle response.

 

Oil in i/c is bad for their performance obviously. Cleaning them out every now and then is good. I'll segue this to radiators and oil coolers too. Next time you have a chance to wash you car at one of those car washes that have high pressure hoses, clean out the fins. With high pressure, just spray the fins headon and it should take away years of road grime. I did this on a buddies oil cooler when we were cleaning out his engine bay. It looked clean before I started, but the water looked like mud when it started breaking up the road grime. Cleaner is better for heat transfer.

 

"Next time you have a chance to wash you car at one of those car washes that have high pressure hoses, clean out the fins. With high pressure, just spray the fins headon and it should take away years of road grime"

The above referenced quote is a BAD idea. /If the fin edge is the SLIGHTEST bit bent or rolled,or if you spray at the wrong angle, you fold over a bunch of FINS. If it is really grungy take it out yo a radiator shop and have it cleaned, if it is an oil cooler I highly recommend having a FAA repair facility flush and test it. This is my oil cooler following a clean flush and test.

Here are some pics:
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...threadid=90190

 

I've been doing this for years without any problems. I'm not talking about using a high pressure fire hose, but a strong spray of water. Having a oil cooler cleaned professionally is the right way to do it in the long run. But what I suggest is something to do to when you're washing your car. Those hoses will not flow enough water to bend them, unless you try real hard that is. Just spray the water head on from a few feet away and everything will be OK. My oil cooler and radiator still look practically new from the outside. Like any other suggestion on a forum, do it your own risk. If you do it, be careful.