MollyNomad

Well-Known Member
Okay, another day sat in Spain sweating my 'nads' off..

But a couple of questions..

My hoses on the Freelander TD4 have quite a bit of oil in them....have just changed the Crankcase Breather set up for a BMW item(it was done already but the part was non BMW (AFAIK) and was't working that well.)

My question is this. The intercooler obviously collects 'said' oil when it arrives there if its not redirected into the engine by the 'stuck' EGR valve....Has anyone cleaned their intercooler out? If so whats the best way to tackle it and best cleaning agent.

Secondly, one thing that I have noticed but forgot to mention before...When I try to remove the dip stick to check the engine oil it is extremely difficult to remove. Is this normal or is there a possible cause(vacuum in the sump or something?) and if so possible causes??

Bit vague I am afraid but thats the condition I have(in the TD4)

TIA
 
The intercooler obviously collects 'said' oil when it arrives there if its not redirected into the engine by the 'stuck' EGR valve.
a Small amount of oil in the intercooler hoses be normal
( it be from the turbo )
if the egr valve is in place
the exhaust gas heat + said oil mist causes the baked on gunk found in the egr valve and manifold

if the egr has been deleted .. same oil will just go thru the manifold into the cylinders ..
leaving a fine coating inside the intercooler and its hoses ..
that oil does have a tendency to weep thru regular silicone intercooler hoses
( no idea about the standard rubber hoses )

so .. that same oil will always be running thru the intercooler ..
don't know if there be any advantage to cleaning said oil out of the intercooler ..

one reason i use synthetic oil .. be that it does not coke on like mineral oil .. under high heat
( mainly with the turbo bearings in mind )

as for cleaning out / flushing .. the intercooler ..
can only guess as to a suitable substance ..
i'll leave it for those in-the-know to answer :)
never done it myself ..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

the sticky dipstick ?
mines like that .. just takes a twist 'n tug ..
be sure to take it out twice to get a proper level reading ..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Okay no worries and thanks for the info..

Thought I would have to 'double up' on the porridge when I struggled to pull out the dipstick..

Just seems I need to 'Man Up' a bit more, if thats acceptable in this 'gender neutral' days and age..??
 
It's common for the dipstick to stick in. Mine has lost its pull ring, which makes removal even harder. :(

As for cleaning the intercooler out. You can use standard pump petrol, as a cleaner. It has the advantage of drying out completely, which is good. The downside is, it needs to be removed to clean it. That is a lot of messing about, for very little gain. However if you do decide to clean it. Make sure you pressure wash the outside fins too. It'll collect large amounts of debris, which will lower it's efficiency.
 
It's common for the dipstick to stick in. Mine has lost its pull ring, which makes removal even harder. :(

As for cleaning the intercooler out. You can use standard pump petrol, as a cleaner. It has the advantage of drying out completely, which is good. The downside is, it needs to be removed to clean it. That is a lot of messing about, for very little gain. However if you do decide to clean it. Make sure you pressure wash the outside fins too. It'll collect large amounts of debris, which will lower it's efficiency.

Hi Nodge

Yes was thinking of the gains against 'no gains' so just asking for now. Also, looking online petrol seems to be the way forward if I go ahead. Will post some photos if I do it and maybe video (unedited, with appropriate amounts of 'Effing and Blinding' for entertainment purposes of course) I know a few 'naughty' words.....
 
Hi Guys
I know its on older thead but the info in here is currently of interst to me. I have recently changed the turbo hoses for pollyprob and deciced today to pull off the EGR as im sure it's giving me a power problem at low reves when the truck warms up( it looks solid but that may change when hot). I too have found oil in the pipes, if this is coming from the turbo is it teling me that the turbo seals are on the way out? I have seen engines run on as the oil ignites in the cylinders and finally blows thers is no excessive smoke from the exhaust but hate for the wife to be in traffic and it get it's groove on there is a good smear in the pipes and wondered how much is too much ?
Cheers.
 
Out of curiousity, has anyone fitted a larger intercooler - and does it make any difference?
 
Hi Guys
I know its on older thead but the info in here is currently of interst to me. I have recently changed the turbo hoses for pollyprob and deciced today to pull off the EGR as im sure it's giving me a power problem at low reves when the truck warms up( it looks solid but that may change when hot). I too have found oil in the pipes, if this is coming from the turbo is it teling me that the turbo seals are on the way out? I have seen engines run on as the oil ignites in the cylinders and finally blows thers is no excessive smoke from the exhaust but hate for the wife to be in traffic and it get it's groove on there is a good smear in the pipes and wondered how much is too much ?
Cheers.

Oil in the pipes is normal and not necessarily a sign of impending turbo failure. Oil running along the bottom of the pipes is a cause for concern however.

Yes if the seal fails in a big way, then it is possible for the engine to run on the oil.

Keep a sharp knife under the bonnet where it can't get into the mechanics. You use the knife to cut the elbow pipe by the EGR valve, should it start to race, running on the oil. A replacement elbow pipe is cheaper than an engine change. ;)
 
a larger intercooler will make difference I keep saying I will get one but from some people that make them they are very expensive
 
Out of curiousity, has anyone fitted a larger intercooler - and does it make any difference?

The cooler the air entering the engine, the more power is made, providing the extra fuel is also added. The TD4 intercooler is pretty small and would benefit from a larger unit being fitted.
 
Last edited:
I might look into this then ;) The cheapest option would be to find a larger intercooler from another car that can be made to fit :)
 
I might look into this then ;) The cheapest option would be to find a larger intercooler from another car that can be made to fit :)

I read somewhere of an RS500 Cosworth intercooler being fitted to a TD4. It is also possible to buy "universal" intercoolers in many sizes and styles. One if those could potentially fit the TD4 too. There's plenty of room in front or the rad for a much larger intercooler than the factory unit fitted.

A larger capacity intercooler will help performance of the engine. I've seen induction temps of ovrt 50°C on my own TD4. So anything that reduces that to a lower level can only be a good thing.
 
Last edited:

Similar threads