Intercooler

STIstud2k7 · 05-24-2007, 09:10 PM

I'm new here and i just bought a sti last saturday. I salesrep told me that i need to fill up water for the intercooler that is in the trunk. The guy said i can fill up tap water that is fine. I heard from my friends that tap water has sodium in it so it will damage the intercooler. What kind of water should i put in the intercooler tank?

SonicBoom · 05-24-2007, 11:17 PM

Bump for an answer... I just used regular tap....

Pitcherman · 05-24-2007, 11:53 PM

Tap is fine but alot of people run RO water, or distiled water. I like to put ice water in it

KrazyKarl · 05-25-2007, 05:34 AM

I always run distilled, but de-ionized would be better (i just haven't seen any lately)

tap probably won't damage the intercooler since its aluminum, it won't rust. but it will build up calcium/lime/sodium (and whatever else happens to be in the water) deposits that will likely have a negative (if slight) effect on cooling. plus ive heard of people's intercoolers turning a dark grey due to running tap.

of course, if you almost never use the IC spray, it probably doesn't matter much.

brantdw · 05-25-2007, 06:35 AM

DI water will etch the aluminum. Use regular tap water. DI water has no minerals and will leach them from the intercooler

STIstud2k7 · 05-25-2007, 10:58 AM

so which is better Distilled water or tap water? I'll try to find out from subaru!

Partysub · 05-25-2007, 12:59 PM

Use distilled. Tap water can cause the hoses to get plugged.

andyman8662 · 05-25-2007, 01:01 PM

i use dat dere water from da fishin' hole

pt518sti · 05-25-2007, 01:21 PM

I never really noticed a difference by using the IC spray.
I think you could take a dump on it and produce the same results.

I used to put some rubbing alcohol in my tank to try to keep any funk from growing in there in the summer time

philbay40 · 09-12-2007, 11:52 AM

distilled is my drink of choice... all supermarkets have it..phil

**tyler_sti** · 09-12-2007, 11:54 AM

I ONLY use distilled. Works great for those hot days. And no clogging. Only thing I would ever recomend!

fullerton · 09-12-2007, 11:55 AM

i've run nearly 100 tanks of tap water through. no noticeable buildup here. if some occurs, i'll run some CLR through it and that should dissolve it.

i also run a small amount of ispropyl alcohol to prevent growth in the summer and freezing in the winter.

fullerton · 09-12-2007, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pt518sti

I never really noticed a difference by using the IC spray.
I think you could take a dump on it and produce the same results.

the spray does NOT add power. it PREVENTS the loss of power. s

FlybySTi · 09-26-2007, 06:16 PM

i use washer solvent
it has little bit of alcohol so it disapates heat good and fast..

sfe · 09-26-2007, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlybySTi

i use washer solvent
it has little bit of alcohol so it disapates heat good and fast..

+1 Also keeps its from freezing during the winter. Well depending on where you're at.

05-24-2007, 09:10 PM	#1
STIstud2k7 STI Driver Car: Blue w Gold 07 WRX S Fav Mod: Tune Location: Chicago,IL Posts: 243 Join Date: Apr 2007 Trader Rating: (1)	Intercooler I'm new here and i just bought a sti last saturday. I salesrep told me that i need to fill up water for the intercooler that is in the trunk. The guy said i can fill up tap water that is fine. I heard from my friends that tap water has sodium in it so it will damage the intercooler. What kind of water should i put in the intercooler tank? This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

05-24-2007, 11:17 PM	#2
SonicBoom Professional STI Racer Car: WRB 06 WRX STI Fav Mod: Protune Location: Atlanta via Motown Posts: 788 Join Date: Aug 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Intercooler Bump for an answer... I just used regular tap....

05-24-2007, 11:53 PM	#3
Pitcherman Village Idiot Car: 04 JVP STi Fav Mod: Blitz NUR Spec R Location: B.F.E, Texas Posts: 7,960 Join Date: Apr 2004 Trader Rating: (3)	Re: Intercooler Tap is fine but alot of people run RO water, or distiled water. I like to put ice water in it

05-25-2007, 05:34 AM	#4
KrazyKarl Professional STI Racer Car: '07 UGM STI Location: TX Posts: 729 Join Date: Nov 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Intercooler I always run distilled, but de-ionized would be better (i just haven't seen any lately) tap probably won't damage the intercooler since its aluminum, it won't rust. but it will build up calcium/lime/sodium (and whatever else happens to be in the water) deposits that will likely have a negative (if slight) effect on cooling. plus ive heard of people's intercoolers turning a dark grey due to running tap. of course, if you almost never use the IC spray, it probably doesn't matter much.

05-25-2007, 06:35 AM	#5
brantdw Amateur STI Driver Car: Blue 07 STI Location: Beaverton oregon Posts: 16 Join Date: May 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Intercooler DI water will etch the aluminum. Use regular tap water. DI water has no minerals and will leach them from the intercooler

05-25-2007, 10:58 AM	#6
STIstud2k7 STI Driver Car: Blue w Gold 07 WRX S Fav Mod: Tune Location: Chicago,IL Posts: 243 Join Date: Apr 2007 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: Intercooler so which is better Distilled water or tap water? I'll try to find out from subaru!

05-25-2007, 12:59 PM	#7
Partysub Grassroots STI Racer Car: 04 STi Fav Mod: All of them Location: Wappingers Falls, NY Posts: 507 Join Date: Mar 2006 Trader Rating: (4)	Re: Intercooler Use distilled. Tap water can cause the hoses to get plugged.

05-25-2007, 01:01 PM	#8
andyman8662 Silver Member Car: ugm limited #407 Location: white bear lake, mn Posts: 302 Join Date: Mar 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Intercooler i use dat dere water from da fishin' hole

05-25-2007, 01:21 PM	#9
pt518sti S204 Racer Car: 2005 White/Gold STi Fav Mod: TD06-20G/Tein Flex coilovers Location: New York Posts: 2,909 Join Date: May 2005 Trader Rating: (8)	Re: Intercooler I never really noticed a difference by using the IC spray. I think you could take a dump on it and produce the same results. I used to put some rubbing alcohol in my tank to try to keep any funk from growing in there in the summer time

09-12-2007, 11:52 AM	#10
philbay40 Junior STI Driver Car: cgm 05 sti Fav Mod: cf hood w/ painted sides Location: long island ny Posts: 89 Join Date: Mar 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Intercooler distilled is my drink of choice... all supermarkets have it..phil

09-12-2007, 11:54 AM	#11
tyler_sti Gold Member Car: '07 CMG STI Fav Mod: Not knowing how to "spell" hah Location: los angeles Posts: 3,728 Join Date: Aug 2006 Trader Rating: (15)	Re: Intercooler I ONLY use distilled. Works great for those hot days. And no clogging. Only thing I would ever recomend!

09-12-2007, 11:55 AM	#12
fullerton abracious Car: AW GDF-D Fav Mod: Track time Location: Near a 100oct pump Posts: 16,553 Join Date: Oct 2005 Trader Rating: (10)	Re: Intercooler i've run nearly 100 tanks of tap water through. no noticeable buildup here. if some occurs, i'll run some CLR through it and that should dissolve it. i also run a small amount of ispropyl alcohol to prevent growth in the summer and freezing in the winter.

09-26-2007, 06:16 PM	#14
FlybySTi Junior STI Driver Car: clean but slow 04STi Fav Mod: the driver! Location: arlington hts IL. Posts: 186 Join Date: Sep 2007 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: Intercooler i use washer solvent it has little bit of alcohol so it disapates heat good and fast..