Intercooler system leak

[railroad]

I put the VMP 3 pass intercooler on my 13 GT500. I have been adding a small amount of coolant to the system since installation. I attributed this to purging. Today it informed me it was not purging.
I traced the leak to the lower hose attached to the pump. Moving the hose increased the leakage.
I pulled the hose and other than being not the highest quality hose and me using the spring hose clamp, I could find no defects on the hose.
After pulling the end of the pump and checking for a cracked nipple, I found no cracks or holes.
I did sleeve the hose to prevent it from kinking as it turns toward the bottom of the heat exchanger.

I hope a new, better hose with a no kink sleeve will resolve things. And trashing that factory hose clamp.

Anyone else have issues like this?

 

[Norton]

I upgraded to the same intercooler almost five years and 18K miles ago. No leakage/seepage (or any other problems) yet.

 

[Stangra]

I used the same setup for a couple years with no problems, just recently upgraded again... can't speak for your hose though.
Regarding the OEM spring clamps, they're not pretty to look at but are a better functioning clamp than the screw type. They provide a constant clamping force throughout a wide temperature range, screw clamps have been known to leak at colder temps, or weaken hoses at the clamp joint.

 

[railroad]

Thanks for the replies. After thinking about what I found and did not find, I think the nipple and hose leak is at the highest pressure connection on the intercooler system, right off the pressure side of the pump.
I am going to change out the hose and clamp.
I have been searching for the coil spring like product that goes over the outside of the hose, that prevents it from kinking in a bend.
No luck so far. Anyone have a link to the product?
Found it.

Unicoil – Bend straight hose into shape

www.unicoil.com.au

 

[Stangra]

I have been searching for the coil spring like product that goes over the outside of the hose, that prevents it from kinking in a bend.
No luck so far. Anyone have a link to the product?
Found it.

Unicoil – Bend straight hose into shape

www.unicoil.com.au

Forcing a strait hose to bend without kinking can be done somewhat effectively, but you could also find a pre-molded hose at the auto parts store with the appropriate bend in it and cut the bent segment to fit perfectly. I mocked up some coathanger wire to my desired shapes and found "custom" hoses for my entire system, avoiding all flow restricting sharp 90° fittings throughout and making a nice clean installation. Save the part numbers used for future replacement if needed. Covering these with some braided sleeve will look dressier than a unicoil too.

 

[railroad]

Forcing a strait hose to bend without kinking can be done somewhat effectively, but you could also find a pre-molded hose at the auto parts store with the appropriate bend in it and cut the bent segment to fit perfectly. I mocked up some coathanger wire to my desired shapes and found "custom" hoses for my entire system, avoiding all flow restricting sharp 90° fittings throughout and making a nice clean installation. Save the part numbers used for future replacement if needed. Covering these with some braided sleeve will look dressier than a unicoil too.

Thanks for the advise. The bend is gradual. The supplied hose was thin, it was flat when shipped. I just ordered some better hose. This hose has no visible areas, unless you have a flashlight and remove the air filter.
I found no holes in the nipple or hose. I am convinced the hose and clamp quality were my problems.
I will post if I have any post repair issues.
Thanks,

 

[1 Alibi 2]

My local Napa had a good selection of " shaped " hoses, take the one you have & see if they can match it,.....................nothing to loose !!

 

[railroad]

I bought some double reinforced silicone hose, 2 silicone compatible screw clamps, and a hose bender.
I bought 2 gallons, 1 gallon too much of new yellow Motocraft antifreeze. I also threw in a bottle of WaterWetter.
I put a split hose on the new hose where it contacted metal.
Everything went together good, warmed up and drove, no leaks.

Here is a pic of the curve in the new hose. It is not the area of the original leak, but a new hose and clamp fixed that part of the issue.

 

[biminiLX]

Good deal.
I opened this and was concerned about your intercooler brick. I’ve seen a few of those sadly. One personally on the first KB Bigun core I bought used.
-J

 

[biminiLX]

And I spy a Torino?
-J

 

[railroad]

And I spy a Torino?
-J

Sharp eyes. 71 Torino GT, 351 C 4V, C6, console, buckets, ps, a/c, pb. bought new in 71, wife drove to work a few years and put it in storage. about 65K miles, Added Ford alum intake, cj cam and springs, 3.70 traction lock. Need to put 3.00 gears back in for crusing. A 68 Torino GT big block is sitting next to it, then a 67 Fairlane GT 390, 4 speed, 3-2s, 3.50 gears, but I could ramble for ever.

 

[darksykal]

my first VMP heat exchanger was leaking from the welds, and was replaced for free of course- but something to look out for