Oxidizing Intercooler Help!!!

[240sx2jz]

anyone know how to get rid of oxidation on an intercooler?? i have some oxidation on the endtanks but im not that worried about that, its more the tubes and fins im worried about. i was forced to drive it to work in a thin layer of snow (i think there was salt on the roads) last year and its been in storage but unfortunately the oxidation has continued. i need to stop it in its track before my greddy four row goes bye bye. any ideas??

Dane

[nuclearz]

Aluminum oxidation forms a protective layer of oxidation. Once it has formed it will stop. Not like Iron rust.

Just wash it off really good to get rid of the salt.

[NemeGuero]

sand + paint?

[Ian]

the fins? haha


Yeah just wash it off...it's something you have to deal with...

[NemeGuero]

sand blast.. lol.. didn't read the fins was the problem

[180sx Fan]

wouldnt a sand blaster bend the fuck out of the fins?

[NemeGuero]

Yeah probably.

[240sx2jz]

nuclearz, didnt even think of that, i weld aluminum all the time, so i am aware of the super thin very hard and heat resistant oxidation layer :duh:. but im sure you guys have seen when aluminum sits for a while it gets the white spots on it?? i didnt know if there was some sort of chemical solution that would take that off. but thanks for the responses guys.

[MegasquirtCA]

get your shit anodized, will form a protective layer.

[nsany(atl)]

you can use a diluted acid that detail shops use, will make it nice and shiny, only downfall is it may leave streaks

[byhi]

yes acid works, as well as using xylene (xytol alcohol)

or you could have it sand blasted, im sure that wouldnt hurt anything too much so long as you used a less abrasive material, just to sort of scuff the surface, then clear coat it!

[axiomatik]

yeah, the oxidation is purely cosmetic, it won't corrode through like rust will. Anodizing is actually just oxidation with a few other materials mixed in, which is why it prevents oxidizing, it is already fully oxidized. I'm sure there are some chemicals that will clean it right off, but unless you do something to coat it, it will just naturally oxidize again.

[240sx2jz]

ok thanks a lot guys, i think ill try the xylene, i got some kickin around from boostin the octane in my gas for some higher boost pulls :coolugh: .

[RightWheelDrive]

maybe you should try vinegar first. Vinegar+Salt if you want it stronger. Much cheaper. I haven't needed to try it yet but I hear it works. My water resource prof. told me they use that method to clean big machines and prevent build up in pipes.

[SANdisk]

also a s.s. wire brush very genltly would do the trick.

[MegasquirtCA]

Also if you anodize your intercooler Black gives it a form of stealth, security, and protection to the environment. Getting a intercooler anodized the size of those on SSAC are around $80 to the whole intercooler. This wont affect the cooling characteristics as like mention before, anodizing oxidizes the aluminum and while its being oxidized they add a DYE which is whatever color you want and the DYE pretty much is soaks into the metal by the use of electricity which than seals it in. It adds a layer I believe about 0.003 of an inch.