r0bcincy

I just drilled a 1/16th hole in my intercooler (2011 Screw Fx4 with 102k miles) it looked like someone squirted butterscotch pudding through a syringe. Tan goop everywhere. Also, changed the plugs. Gaps were all over the place on old set. I put a 5 Star tune on about 3k miles ago and this fixed the hiccups and CELs I was getting. Great Post.

Tothemax

Good deal.

mgaither0

following for reference

tetvet68

I'm looking at Max-Blast from Royal Purple, similar to CRC. Talking to their tech, he said it works very well if you remove the MAF at the manifold and spray through that hole. That way you don't have to disconnect the intake. I asked him how it works with the turbos and he said their testing shows it works great. I'm thinking if you don't use the manifold MAF, you might get a CEL. You might call them (either one) and double check with a tech. I'm going to do it this spring.

tetvet68

Just an update for you. I ended up using the STP product and the truck runs much better...very noticeable difference. I would probably use a different product next time because it was probably jet fuel but I've got to say it worked wonders. I had a cold-start, high idle miss that Ford said they couldn't find. It only missed until the RPM's dropped back to 1000. After using the cleaner, the miss was gone...and the dealership couldn't find it? They had the truck overnight so they could cold-start it and I suspect they started it and brought it inside and then hooked up the computer but by then it was gone. DOH! I'm now using a Lucas product that goes in the fuel at each fill...like 3 oz per 10 gallons, it also has a mild injector cleaner in it and it seems to work quite well.

mgaither0

which STP product did you use?

tetvet68

Mine's a 1st gen Eco. I used their "Fuel Injector Cleaner" in a black bottle. It worked on my truck but some have said to be careful as it contains jet fuel and burns very hot. I don't know either way but as I said, after one use, the truck performs better and the cold-start high-idle miss is gone. There are several other cleaners on the market...some use jet fuel as an ingredient and some use an ingredient called PEA (long name for a chemical) that does not use jet fuel. I have a difficult time believing STP would market a product that would destroy the turbos as a lot of today's engines are running turbos and there would be some liability there. It's like CRC and MaxBlast for cleaning the intake valves...Some will tell you to let Ford clean them but that costs around $200 and the products are less than $20 if you want to do it yourself. They probably use the same stuff anyway.

I also use a product from Lucas...Upper cylinder Lubricant, fuel injector cleaner and fuel conditioner. I wasn't sure it was doing much so I quit using it and my engine did not run as well...rougher idle and seemed a little less responsive...I started using the Lucas again and the idle is better and throttle response is better. I live in Minnesota and the state mandates 10% ethanol in regular gas. Now they've mandated 15% in mid-grade at 88 octane. I've always felt the truck ran better and got better mileage with 89 octane but the winter gas formulation is really lousy gas and maybe the fuel conditioner helps. It's not very expensive and you only use 3 ounces per 10 gallons. The injector cleaner in it is not jet fuel. I don't know the ins and outs of it but I know the engine runs better.

BTW, I saw there is a bill in congress to eliminate ethanol as it is destroying engines of all sizes and gets less mileage than plain lead-free. It probably won't go anywhere but at least someone in Washington is looking at it. It's also been a agricultural subsidy and has cost consumers a lot of money in corn product price increases like cereal and corn oil. The only lead-free we can get here is premium non-oxy and it can only be used in antique cars, boats. ATV's and small engine tools like chainsaws and lawnmowers. If they know it's bad for those engines, how can they justify forcing the use of it in very expensive engines? The use of ethanol by NASCAR is pretty misleading as they re-build all their engines after each race.

MUFFMAN

Well, truck was experiencing a severe coughing fit every time I went out to pass someone on the highway. Drilled the hole on the weekend and am pleased to say that 90% of the hesitation/cough/sputter is gone. I'm attributing the other 10% to the fact that the plugs have about 110,000 kms on them. Going to change them next week, and I'm betting it'll be back to normal.

Edit: truck now has about 342,000 kms on it.

Edit: changed plugs on the weekend. Back to 100% .

2010axe7

Tothemax

I live in MT. Our winter's are cold as well. I've never had an issue with the hole. There is oil/water mix that comes out of it. Also when you drive the truck components will heat up in the engine compartment. That should thaw any frozen water in the cac.