Squirrel Nest in Air Filter

fatweasel · **Posted:** Mon Apr 22, 2013 8:40 pm

So the hose from the turbo to the inter-cooler popped off on my way home.

I put the hose back and tightened the clamp. The engine didn't seem right, the sounds were off a bit.

When I got home, I opened up the air filter and the paper element had been chewed through and the entire air box was filled with fiberglass insulation. I later found that the insulation was from under the hood of my wife's Ford.

I cleaned everything out and put in a new air filter. I am worried that I sucked a but of dirt into the engine.

Checked my mass air flow at idle and it is down 25% from when I measured a couple of weeks ago....

Not sure what to do next

msilbernagel · **Posted:** Mon Apr 22, 2013 9:40 pm

I wonder if some of the material the squirrel took from the Ford made it's way through the turbo and is blocking the intercooler at the inlet side - those smaller passages could be partially clogged with it. Another spot it could collect is at the FCV, or just past it where the soot/goo collect in the tubing between the FCV and the intake. I doubt it would jam at the intake valves..

Sounds like you have some cleaning to do.

Perhaps you could get enough air to flow *backwards* through the intercooler to blow the junk back out if you disconnected the CAC hoses and blew compressed air in the outlet - forcing the wadding/insulation back out the intercooler's intake? Good volume would be the key...

Mark

fatweasel · **Posted:** Tue Apr 23, 2013 6:27 am

Anyone know how hard it is to remove just the inter-cooler? I think that is a good place to start - make sure any fiberglass insulation is blown out of there.

Maybe go to a radiator shop in the area for a serious cleaning?

I think a new inter-cooler is big $$$ (haven't found one yet).

Really hoping this stuff did not migrate into the intake manifold.

papaindigo · **Posted:** Tue Apr 23, 2013 8:16 am

Cut a circular piece out of a bit of 1/4" hardware cloth and pop it into the intake pipe that runs from behind the grill to the airbox to prevent future critter access.

Sir Sam's NOOB guide writeup covers intercooler removal IIRC

Hexus · **Posted:** Tue Apr 23, 2013 9:24 am

Take the turbo out and clean it.

Don't run it any more until you do.

:2cents:

fatweasel · **Posted:** Tue Apr 23, 2013 1:38 pm

I borrowed a borescope this afternoon.

Will take a look on both sides of the intercooler as well as the turbo to see what I can see.

fatweasel · **Posted:** Wed Apr 24, 2013 6:31 am

Couldn't see anything with the scope. Insurance company says I am covered under my comprehensive policy.

Debating to take to the dealer or just pull out the inter-cooler and clean it as best as I can. I really have little confidence the dealer will know what to do.

I found a new inter-cooler for $500, might not be a bad option either...

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 24, 2013 7:30 am

Where did you find a new IC for $500?

DOC

fatweasel · **Posted:** Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:19 am

I found it at FactioryMopar.com (link below).

Haven't made a phone call yet, just from their website.

http://www.factorymopar.com/index.php?i ... chall=test

Hexus · **Posted:** Wed Apr 24, 2013 10:37 am

fatweasel wrote:

I found it at FactioryMopar.com (link below).

Haven't made a phone call yet, just from their website.

http://www.factorymopar.com/index.php?i ... chall=test

Yep, Intercooler for 2005 is $523.16

geordi · **Posted:** Wed Apr 24, 2013 11:37 am

If all the material was soft, I wouldn't worry about the turbo at all. It would munch anything and push it right past into the intercooler, where the tiny fragments would now mix with all that CCV oil... And never leave the intercooler. Ick. You kinda tarred-and-feathered the inside of that intercooler.

I'm not sure that even drowning the cooler in diesel would dissolve that muck and clean it. If the insurance will comp you for the new one, or even on your dime... That is a much better option. I'm not worried at all about the engine. I don't think anything would have made it past the cooler.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

fatweasel · **Posted:** Wed Apr 24, 2013 12:23 pm

Does anyone think it would do any harm to run a short test with the inter-cooler bypassed?

I was thinking it would be a good data point to measure the unrestricted air flow at idle.

msilbernagel · **Posted:** Wed Apr 24, 2013 2:12 pm

No problem with a short test - it's job is to cool the air after compression (which always heats it).

At idle, there's no boost/compression, so - no worries.

Mark

fatweasel · **Posted:** Sat Apr 27, 2013 7:02 am

Replaced the intercooler with a new one. The air flow is still much lower than it was a couple weeks ago.

The prior intercooler was pretty oily. I washed it out and drained it and got quite a bit of goo.

Turbo seems OK, no play in the shaft that I can feel.

I do seem to have a more noticible whistle when revving, but can't tell if it is on the drivers or passenger side of the engine.

fatweasel · **Posted:** Sat Apr 27, 2013 10:30 am

Ran a can of CRC MAF cleaner through the MAF and MAP sensors. Measured air flow at idle is about where it needs to be.

I think that the bulk of the crap got caught in the goo in the old intercooler. Now I am squeaky clean up to the intake manifold.

Now to catch that squirrel - hew chewed up the grill on my wife's car last night...

geordi · **Posted:** Sat Apr 27, 2013 4:01 pm

Sounds like it is time to invest in a 12-gauge and a healthy supply of birdshot. Teach that little punk a good lesson!

Dennis MacGyver · **Posted:** Sat Apr 27, 2013 10:26 pm

Squirrels sleep at night, I'd put my money on mice or wood rats. Out west we call them pack rats as they tend to include all types of crap in their nests. Might try some traps loaded with peanut butter, no rodent can resist it. Snap traps for mice & Hav-A-Heart (and drown them) for the bigger stuff.

fatweasel · **Posted:** Sun May 12, 2013 7:36 am

So far I have about 1000 miles on the new inter-cooler and things seem OK. Air flow at idle is a little lower than before the incident but the engine and turbo sound good.

Still haven't caught the squirrel - see him once or twice a week...

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Sun May 12, 2013 12:44 pm

I think the AntiMouse Mod would work for squirrels too.
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=98&t=34608

Squirrel Nest in Air Filter

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