S55 owners be aware! Intercooler leaking

[FakeF80]

I had my SSR intakes installed about a month ago, the day after I installed it I drove aggressively for like 10 minutes and I had drivetrain malfunction. I thought it maybe air leaking cuz I installed myself, shut off the car and restart everything works fine. A week or two later I connected my MHD and read codes, shows charge air temperature high. I thought it was because of the intake, it's not front mount, maybe because of the weather and intake sucking too much hot air from engine bay. Last night I was heading home and check engine light came on, checked codes, shows charge air cooling system dry running so I checked my IC coolant, it's empty. Did some research and found out it's a common issue, and the coolant might drained to intake manifold and cause more damage. Towing the car to shop tomorrow, will update. Here are DME codes from MHD.

[///M4 F83]

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1570544

[FakeF80]

Originally Posted by ///M4 F83

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1570544

Yea I saw this, looks like a common issue

[Downeaster1]

You'd have to get a whole lot of coolant in there to cause a misfire. Hopefully it isn't too bad.

[Nadeemp8]

new charge cooler, spark plugs, and an oil change should get you back on the road!

[FakeF80]

It looks really bad, might have some in piston, anyone have idea how to clean that?

[VroomBahpop]

wire brush and a shop vac? should try to get some wd40 into the pistons to keep the rings from rusting. Hope you get this sorted out soon...makes me feel better about changing mine out with an aftermarket, warning to others, if you buy the generic off from ebay installation is difficult requiring special gaskets for charge tubes and U joint for a good seal. I recommend a better unit, I only went the generic route to keep a stock look.

[BayAreaM4]

Mine just started leaking

[FakeF80]

Originally Posted by BayAreaM4

Mine just started leaking

Get an aftermarket one man, don't put more coolant in there. Agency power works pretty good, fitment much better than VTSF, my IAF now is like 90 degree. And before you get a replacement, better flash it back to stock if you are tuned, higher turbo boost could cause this issue and make it worse if you drive aggressively

[icebiker]

Originally Posted by FakeF80

It looks really bad, might have some in piston, anyone have idea how to clean that?

Sorry to see that! Just curious: is this from just one reservoir-load of coolant leaking suddenly/at once, or had you been topping the reservoir up periodically, not knowing it may have been leaking slowly over time (and thus resulting perhaps in more residue into the engine?) Seems like a lot of built up residue in there.

[BayAreaM4]

Originally Posted by FakeF80

Get an aftermarket one man, don't put more coolant in there. Agency power works pretty good, fitment much better than VTSF, my IAF now is like 90 degree. And before you get a replacement, better flash it back to stock if you are tuned, higher turbo boost could cause this issue and make it worse if you drive aggressively

I noticed the extra leaking. At first it was a slow leak and I didn’t care much for it. Last Friday it began really leaking (full reservoir every 3 days) and the leak rate just increased from there (I’m stage 1). My Agency Power intercooler came earlier today but it didn’t come with the screws needed to mount the brackets sadly.

[FakeF80]

Originally Posted by BayAreaM4

I noticed the extra leaking. At first it was a slow leak and I didn’t care much for it. Last Friday it began really leaking (full reservoir every 3 days) and the leak rate just increased from there (I’m stage 1). My Agency Power intercooler came earlier today but it didn’t come with the screws needed to mount the brackets sadly.

Exactly mine didn't come with screws, I was at my friends shop so fortunately we put it in easily. Did you check your intake manifold? Mine was all over and even on piston

[FakeF80]

Originally Posted by icebiker

Sorry to see that! Just curious: is this from just one reservoir-load of coolant leaking suddenly/at once, or had you been topping the reservoir up periodically, not knowing it may have been leaking slowly over time (and thus resulting perhaps in more residue into the engine?) Seems like a lot of built up residue in there.

I had drivetrain malfunction after I install SSR intake, so I thought it was just intake, should be fine, cuz I've heard SSR gives you lights but should be all right. Read the code n shows charge air temperature high, I didn't pay attention m, thought might intake sucking too much hot air from engine bay. Drove for a month and one night after a pull I had check engine light, code shows charge air cooling system dry running and I finally saw the cooler was empty. That cooler should be full all the time, and if you see coolant get less, get a new one, that means it's leaking and it won't give you and lights, be careful

[FakeF80]

Originally Posted by BayAreaM4

I noticed the extra leaking. At first it was a slow leak and I didn’t care much for it. Last Friday it began really leaking (full reservoir every 3 days) and the leak rate just increased from there (I’m stage 1). My Agency Power intercooler came earlier today but it didn’t come with the screws needed to mount the brackets sadly.

And sounds like extra leaking is because of the tune, higher boost makes leaking get worse. I also changed my spark plug. Don't forget to get an oil change, I might get another oil change in 1k miles with engine flush, trying to clean as much as possible

[BayAreaM4]

Originally Posted by FakeF80

And sounds like extra leaking is because of the tune, higher boost makes leaking get worse. I also changed my spark plug. Don't forget to get an oil change, I might get another oil change in 1k miles with engine flush, trying to clean as much as possible

Do you think that is necessary? I had an oil change ~500 miles ago.

[FakeF80]

Originally Posted by BayAreaM4

Do you think that is necessary? I had an oil change ~500 miles ago.

Yea cuz you don't know how much went in there, better get a oil change. My built up was really bad, and old oil was kind of creamy look, not that bad but still, better get an oil change

[BayAreaM4]

Got it, thanks.

[Kilabyte]

Originally Posted by BayAreaM4

Do you think that is necessary? I had an oil change ~500 miles ago.

Not even a question.

[Slo_F80_Mike]

Came upon this thread last night and had me worried about mine since it's stage 1 and I haven't checked the coolant since I got the car a little over a year ago and it's a 2016. Check the reservoir by the intercooler and it had maybe 1-2 notches above the flat yellow indicator on a cold overnight motor. I'm guessing it's not leaking since I do tend to drive the car hard and it's tuned. I also touched the IC after driving it hard and it was cool. Haven't checked the cold side piping yet, but probably will order a VRSF one for peace of mind since I don't want coolant going into the cylinders lol

[Slo_F80_Mike]

Originally Posted by FakeF80

It looks really bad, might have some in piston, anyone have idea how to clean that?

Damn, that looks pretty bad. How did you end up cleaning it up and how'd the process go?

[icebiker]

Originally Posted by Slo_F80_Mike

Came upon this thread last night and had me worried about mine since it's stage 1 and I haven't checked the coolant since I got the car a little over a year ago and it's a 2016. Check the reservoir by the intercooler and it had maybe 1-2 notches above the flat yellow indicator on a cold overnight motor. I'm guessing it's not leaking since I do tend to drive the car hard and it's tuned. I also touched the IC after driving it hard and it was cool. Haven't checked the cold side piping yet, but probably will order a VRSF one for peace of mind since I don't want coolant going into the cylinders lol

Those are signs that yours is doing all right. How many miles on your car?

[Slo_F80_Mike]

Originally Posted by icebiker

Those are signs that yours is doing all right. How many miles on your car?

I'm just over 31k miles, got the car CPO with 21k last February. Still weird how some peoples with few thousand miles start leaking and some don't for a lot of miles. One of my buddies is at like 55k 2016 and still fine on the oem and he tracks it. There's no pattern I've gotten from the thread, it's even 2018 models and low miles that are affected, so it's a luck of the draw haha. I was gonna keep this car for a while, so might as well swap it.