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Anybody have a thread for the intercooler cleaning? I can't seem to find an RDX specific one and I'm thinking my RDX could use one. If there isn't one, I'll be sure to make one when I do it.
My OEM intercooler would get a lot of debris, small pebbles stuck in intercooler, dead bugs, and bent vanes from living in the southwest with hwy speed limits of 75-80 mph. I upgraded to ETS intercooler a few years ago and I haven't had to clean, straighten out vanes, or pick out pebbles since. I wish my OEM condenser/radiator in my front grill was made the same way.
I second Mr. Gold there on the ETS Intercooler. I do not know if it is better than the OEM one or not performance wise, but I do know I do not see the debris in there when I open the hood.
My intercooler definetly works great performance wise, I saw a huge difference. I love the performance the intercooler gave me. I got lots of more torque and horsepower. The responsiveness of the turbo during spool is way quicker. It really lowered the air temperature as well.
It definelty looks way better too. It’s much thicker and stronger than the oem one. They are way less prone to being damage by bugs and road pebbles. Debris will have a much easier time bending the stock one than the ets one. I think it’s a great buy.
I've just recently purchased the 2008 RDX and I'd like to fix her up some. While looking it over some, I noticed the intercooler looks pretty rough (imo anyway..opinions?). Does it look like it's necessary to replace it and if so, how difficult of a job is this and where is the best place to get one?
That is one jacked up intercooler! You are probably down on hp/tq and mpgs with that intercooler. I would look into contacting ETS to see what their magic number would be to consider making intercoolers for an Acurazine group buy. I'm +100,000 miles with my ETS intercooler and it still looks and performs as day one (handed the RDX down to daughter in 2019).
Is that what causes the intercooler to become so worn like that? I had been wondering...
Yes, it's caused by pressure on the fins. Large bugs, rocks or any high speed debris will bend them, or a cat sleeping on it without the factory cover. You can use a fin straightener (carefully) to open them up for flow. The screen helps deflect/slow any junk going in. Works good for radiator too.
