Location of intercooler connecting hose clamps?

[satz]

hi all

something I've always liked to do on turbos that I've owned, is to tighten all the intercooler/turbo hose clamps regularly. Not sure that they really leak...but just to be safe!

However on the GTI, I can't work out which the intercooler is, and where all the hoses lead to/from!! Doesn't help that it's usually 5C outside in the daytime so too cold to spend enough time on the car!

tried to google, but no luck

cheers

S

[Greg Roles]

OK, the good news is there are no "clamps" to tighten per say, all the junctions have a C clip and rely on a o-ring for sealing, and I'm told this is common on German cars all the way up to Porsche. They are very easy to connect and disconnect. The downside is I have been told these all end up leaking, and in the TDI's like mine you actually get oil dripping out of the lower connections because the diesels ingest a lot of their own blowby. Shows they are not a great seal, especially after a year or two. The main offenders, I am told, are the actual inlet and outlet of the intercooler, which is inbetween the airconditioner radiator from the front, but before the actual radiator at the back.



If you get under the car the two biggest pipes in and out, one at 90 degrees on the passenger side, and one at about 60 degrees facing the front drivers wheel, both 2.5" diameter rubber hoses, are the IC pipes. Here's pics of aftermarket GTI rubber pipes ( with screw style clamps as well, this isn't as per standard ) looking from the back towards the front, but you get the idea, passenger side first, drivers side following:




I'd suggest the only way to improve the seal, is to get new o-rings every year or so, and or use a bit of silicon in the joins as well, which is my plan. Interesting to note that the GTI flows drivers to passenger across the IC, whereas the TDI flows passenger to drivers, but it doesn't really matter.

[satz]

fantastic! many thanks..for the info and for the pix.

I never realised it was the AC, then IC, then Radiator? Your photo, and labels, made it nice and clear

thanks again

cheers

S

p.s guess one of the few benefits of having the TMIC on my Mazda was easier access to all the hoses and clamps...