Clean my intercooler

[Black Pheonix]

I noticed a few of you said you cleaned your intercooler. Does it need cleaning every once in a while, would that help it cool your air better? If it would be better for my engine/ reclaim some lost horsepower i will do it. If so how do you clean and with what? Thanks in Advance,

[TGPilot]

Black...

If you want the inside cleaned, take it to a radiator shop and have them chemically flush it. Outside would only require soap and water. If you pressure wash it be careful not to hit it with too much pressure at an angle or you will bend the vains.

8)

[turby]

I filled mine up with paint thinner 3 or 4 times until it was coming out clean. You can also use brake cleaner or anything like that.  Make sure it is dry before putting it back in.

[TGPilot]

Careful with some break cleaners...it will EAT the Aluminum! Paint thinner is a very good idea. Make damn good and sure it is completely dried though.  8)

[olds1992]

I used throttle body cleaner to clean out my Intercooler.  It worked good, especially since the intercooler was filled with oil after the turbo blew.

[Tooky]

I cleaned my IC using Lacquer Thinner and my car has 96K miles on it.  The lacquer thinner came out only slightly brown, I didn't get the impression it was very oily inside.  But I know the oil comes from the PCV and crankcase vent system, and the oil coating on the intercooler really reduces the heat transfer effect that's obviously the purpose of the IC in the first place...
I heard reports that noticable acceleration was noted after cleaning the IC.  I didn't have that on mine but it still sounds like a good thing to try.