One intercooler or two? (Stupid question)/ clean or replace?

SDHA4SLine

SDHA4SLine

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I'm gonna look a right dumb &@£! here but I need to ask...

I have an a4 Avant 2.0 tdi 170 (BRD engine), loads of crud in intercooler boost pipes so imagine a shed load has fallen in to the intercooler. Was thinking of getting them cleaned out but worried about doing this as have read it's a bad idea.

Some questions:
What would the likely cause for this slimy crud be?
Is it ok to clean intercooler?

Now the stupid question...
I was looking at prices of new intercooler but only kept coming up with left side intercooler only. I always thought there was two of them, one on left and one on right?

Can anyone advise of part number or numbers! For intercooler(s) for my car and if it would have sensor in it/them? Options for aftermarket ones say check if you have sensors before ordering.
 
Possibly just the oily muck that most tdi's produce, usually just oil vapours from the crankcase that can't be burnt off so gather in the intercooler/pipework. Not really much to worry about at all and perfectly normal across various cars these days, catch cans are supposed to help prevent it.
 
Just remove it or them, drain out and forget about it then?
 
Can anyone answer the stupid question one or two coolers:tocktock:
 
I would but I'm not really sure what the best answer is tbh mate.

From personal experience I've drained it out on occasion but only when I've been replacing hoses or the "O" rings on the joints on my previous cars. I'm not sure cleaning it out properly is really worth it unless you're going for a catch can set up and I wouldn't have thought washing it through with water or a degreaser would be a great idea. From my limited understanding I really don't think it's worth worrying about and is perfectly normal as long as it's not a huge amount.
 
Pretty sure the V6 tdis have two, 4 cylinder tdi's only have one on the passenger side
 
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Thanks, think I will take it off and at least give it an external clean
 
Yeah just phoned Audi to ask about prices they confirmed that there are 2 at £248 each.

Out of interest I found some made by J Deus as direct replacements for £80. I researched the company to see they supply the likes of Audi & VW, Porsche, Volvo with OEM parts.

Anyone else used these as aftermarket options? Or does anyone know if these are the actual manufacturers of the original factory fitted A4 intercoolers?
 
You can clean the intercoolers out just by swilling them through with something like engine degreaser or white spirit . Just make sure all the fumes and vapour has evaporated fully before you put it back on the car.
Warming with a hair dryer and blowing through with a vacuum can accelerate this process. stuff like petrol will also work but it is incredibly flammable.

They get coated in oil because the crank case breather fumes are sent to the turbo intake, this then blows them through the complete intake system intercoolers and all to be burnt in the engine.
If you have had a turbo failure, and I have just replied to another of your posts regarding BV43's then it's quite usual for the intercoolers to end up full of engine oil.

Karl.
 
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