F8X S55 owners BEWARE!!!!

[Machtavian]

I talked to my SA and he said he would take care of it under warranty since it was documented before it expired. He scheduled an appointment for Saturday. I will let you guys know how it goes.

BTW, Thanks to the original poster; I think I got a little lucky!

[ronin_pdx]

Originally Posted by hellokitty

What did they replace? IC + tank or just the IC?

Originally Posted by hellokitty

What did they replace? IC + tank or just the IC?

I dont know about tank. i dont think so the intakes from the core failed so they replaced IC. I've would never known about it if i didn't take it off to get to the dme for flashing. had to make up a story for the dealer to replace it. Otherwise i would never known pretty shitty my opinion. that was the only thing that gave me issues.

[Racer20]

Originally Posted by jpy1980

Ok very odd.

I just got a call from my service advisor that after doing three leakdown tests that my car was fine and there were no leaks. They said to come by and pick up the car and everything should be fine.

Being late, I’ll pick it up in the morning and I’ll check when I get there.

Maybe something was loose and now it’s tight after they put everything together?

So odd as I have photos showing a noticeable loss of intercooler coolant overnight.

Thoughts?

Could it be that it doesn't leak until it's up to temp under operating load and pressure? Maybe just filling it and idling won't show a leak. Given how little we know about this issue, I certainly would not trust that result. I'd be checking my intercooler before every drive.

[jmciver]

I am staring to question exactly what type of "pressure test" the dealer is doing. The factory fill procedure for the coolant has you use a vacuum fill device which uses the venturi method from shop air. If you were to use that device, even on a partially filled system, if it didn't hold vacuum, that should be an indication of a leak in the system...

[mfurse]

Could it be likely that this is a tiny fault in the chargecooler which only forces liquid out under boost pressure but not when tested with a low pressure vacuum or similar?

[jpy1980]

Well I am trying to be proactive and I’m documenting my coolant levels with time stamped photos. After I got it back from the dealer last week, I took a photo and then I’m going to check next week to see the level. At that point, I will probably contact a different dealer to diagnose. But so far, I’ve been driving the car normally, getting it up to operating temp and the intercooler is ice cold. I’m assuming as long as it’s cold, I’ll be fine no?

[WeekendWarriorz]

Originally Posted by jpy1980

Well I am trying to be proactive and I’m documenting my coolant levels with time stamped photos. After I got it back from the dealer last week, I took a photo and then I’m going to check next week to see the level. At that point, I will probably contact a different dealer to diagnose. But so far, I’ve been driving the car normally, getting it up to operating temp and the intercooler is ice cold. I’m assuming as long as it’s cold, I’ll be fine no?

Cold charge air cooler is a happy fluid holding one

[Kooch]

Originally Posted by Racer20

Could it be that it doesn't leak until it's up to temp under operating load and pressure? Maybe just filling it and idling won't show a leak. Given how little we know about this issue, I certainly would not trust that result. I'd be checking my intercooler before every drive.

I would think the leak would be under vacuum vs boost. If under boost the charge air would be higher pressure than the coolant so any leaks would be from the air side to the water side. But under vacuum the water would be higher pressure than the intake and water would leak toward the intake. Unless I'm thinking about that wrong?

[jmciver]

Originally Posted by Kooch

I would think the leak would be under vacuum vs boost. If under boost the charge air would be higher pressure than the coolant so any leaks would be from the air side to the water side. But under vacuum the water would be higher pressure than the intake and water would leak toward the intake. Unless I'm thinking about that wrong?

That actually makes sense. The charge cooling system is a low pressure system, based on the electric pump that circulates the charge air coolant. At full boost, I would be shocked if the water pressure from the pump is greater than the air pressure from the turbos...

Although, depending on the angle of the hole in the charge cooler core, there could be a Venturi effect at work, which would actually suck more coolant into the air intake tract with more boost pressure.

I would assume worse case, which is higher boost will suck more coolant into the engine.

[Kooch]

Good point. Venturi is a possibility as well.

[Pokerpot]

FYI, when mine went out, I was pretty sure it was leaking internally, they pressure tested, said it was good, refilled. I was skeptical, picked it up, was back in shop bone dry two days later. They swapped it then.

[Machtavian]

The same thing happened to me. I wonder why the leak doesn't show in their testing? I know it's an internal leak so nothing would be leaking to the ground, but wouldn't the system be losing pressure on the gauge?

[FAKE__NEWS]

Originally Posted by Machtavian

The same thing happened to me. I wonder why the leak doesn't show in their testing? I know it's an internal leak so nothing would be leaking to the ground, but wouldn't the system be losing pressure on the gauge?

It should be. Honestly, the thing to do now if they say that is to say "as part of the diagnosis please pull the cold side charge pipe and check for coolant."

[overlook637]

Leaks could be temp specific. Various expansion rates during warmup or engine off/cooldown could allow for a leak.

Leaking radiators/egr coolers/ intercoolers are far too common. Many transmissions have been destroyed when the transmission cooler leaked with the radiator to cause SMOD (strawberry milkshake of death) in nissan trucks/suv. Failed EGR coolers are very common in diesel light duty trucks.

[milk242]

I just wanted to see how fast my charge cooler leaks so I filled it up and drove around for about 40 mins doing some WOTs here and there on the highway and came home and parked and waited the next morning to check the coolant and it was all gone. I did stop to eat and while idling in parking lot and saw smoke from the exhaust. Couldn't tell if it was white smoke or just the steam that forms when it's cold outside. I think it was white coolant smoke since it was only 60 degrees outside at night. Still no codes are being thrown.

[WeekendWarriorz]

Originally Posted by milk242

I just wanted to see how fast my charge cooler leaks so I filled it up and drove around for about 40 mins doing some WOTs here and there on the highway and came home and parked and waited the next morning to check the coolant and it was all gone. I did stop to eat and while idling in parking lot and saw smoke from the exhaust. Couldn't tell if it was white smoke or just the steam that forms when it's cold outside. I think it was white coolant smoke since it was only 60 degrees outside at night. Still no codes are being thrown.

Leave it empty and drive to the dealership, that water is being burned but also ruining your oil and your intake valves (see pics on first page)

[milk242]

Dealer is replacing as I type. No hassle at all just explained the situation. Also asked for a free oil change in case it mixed in with my oil.

Have EOS on order too so will replace the warranty replacement with the EOS cooler and hold the stock if/when I sell vehicle.

[WeekendWarriorz]

Originally Posted by milk242

Dealer is replacing as I type. No hassle at all just explained the situation. Also asked for a free oil change in case it mixed in with my oil.

Have EOS on order too so will replace the warranty replacement with the EOS cooler and hold the stock if/when I sell vehicle.

Your oil is going to look like your username

[jmciver]

Originally Posted by milk242

Dealer is replacing as I type. No hassle at all just explained the situation. Also asked for a free oil change in case it mixed in with my oil.

Have EOS on order too so will replace the warranty replacement with the EOS cooler and hold the stock if/when I sell vehicle.

What made you choose EOS over the other options?

[milk242]

Originally Posted by jmciver

What made you choose EOS over the other options?

Purely based on looks. They all use bar and plate radiator cores, so probably no real performance difference.

[hellokitty]

Originally Posted by jmciver

What made you choose EOS over the other options?

I'm really starting to like EOS's customer support. I reached out to them on IG and not even 5 minutes passed before I got a response.

Here is a recap of my conversation:

- Cast and Billet versions use the same core
- Lifetime warranty on both versions (customer pays for shipping both ways)
- 7 whp / 15 wtq gain on stock ZCP F8X
- 20 degree reduction of IATs compared to stock cooler on the track consistently
- Cast in stock, billet 4-6 week lead time

[milk242]

So this is how my dealer diagnosed

Pressure tested the turbo cooling system and found a 7psi loss after 10 minutes
Removed all splash guards to inspect if any coolant was present (found none)
Removed spark plugs and found slight moisture of coolant
Removed intercooler and found coolant present in the cold side
They performed a "burn off" of the spark plugs and replaced the intercooler and bled the system.