Way to handle intercooler condensate buildup problems in 3.5 ecoboost

[Sasquatch77]

I have been avoiding saying anything on this topic because I really don't like to get involved in peoples conjecture, especially on the internet. I am really tired of hearing about this so here is my 2 cents...

I have been building race cars for a long time now, and our shop specializes in turbo kits. Everything from kits for already turbo vehicles to adding forced induction to a stock motor. Vehicles of all types, from 1600 hp supras to mustangs new and old, ecoboost and coyote. We are in South Florida just about the most damn humid place on earth, never had problems with water condensation buildup. Oil? For sure, some vehicles have less then optimal PCV systems but thats what a catch can is for. The idea that condensation build up is causing misfires seems hardly believable when one of the number one power adder these days is a **** kit, which is mixed 50/50 with WATER.

You do realize that a **** kit is a metered mist for the air? It is MADE to do that and I agree it's fine. The ecoboost and its intercooler just do not work well. It is so bad that water pools in the intercooler. Upon hard acceleration, that slug of water is forced through the engine. This causes the misfires and on occasion, hydrolocked engines.

---------- Post added at 05:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:54 PM ----------

So.....who's going to be the next guinea pig to drill the hole? Someone with the issue want to buck up?

I had thought the Premium fuel had resolved mine, but it still is just not right. Admittedly, I have not taken it to the dealer yet. I am in a humid area (Dallas)

Definitely drill the 1/16" weep hole. Your problem will be solved. It does absolutely no harm to do this and there are many years of information to back it up.

 

[cmacclel]

So where are you drilling a weep hole? Any leaks or holes in the intercooler system would mean less boost right?

 

[NewMetaRacing]

You do realize that a **** kit is a metered mist for the air? It is MADE to do that and I agree it's fine. The ecoboost and its intercooler just do not work well. It is so bad that water pools in the intercooler. Upon hard acceleration, that slug of water is forced through the engine. This causes the misfires and on occasion, hydrolocked engines.

---------- Post added at 05:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:54 PM ----------



Definitely drill the 1/16" weep hole. Your problem will be solved. It does absolutely no harm to do this and there are many years of information to back it up.

Yes I do know that... I have installed many **** kits, literally just dynoed a 2015 mustang with a whipple and **** kit 1hr ago. Your condescending comment aside, that's just not true. The idea of your inter-cooler holding enough volume of standing water to hydro-lock your engine is ridiculous and completely impossible with the tiny inter-cooler the eb35 has stock. Maybe if you submarined your engine but thats not standing water in the end-tanks. The bottom line of this whole thing is this... The "weep hole" is something turbo kits have done in the past, however it is for oil build up. This is easily solved with a catch can end of story. If there is still hesitation or miss fire issues well then its time to look somewhere else but I hardly believe ( even after reading on all the f150 forums) that it is caused by water.

---------- Post added at 03:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:24 PM ----------

So where are you drilling a weep hole? Any leaks or holes in the intercooler system would mean less boost right?

In the lower end tank on the driver side. Since the ecoboost 35 is ran on speed density and throttle inlet pressure technically it wont make a difference other then the turbos working a bit harder.

That being said, you should try to never have boost leaks and I highly discourage drilling holes and leaving them uncovered.

But thats just my opinion.

 

[xrocket21]

Yes I do know that... I have installed many **** kits, literally just dynoed a 2015 mustang with a whipple and **** kit 1hr ago. Your condescending comment aside, that's just not true. The idea of your inter-cooler holding enough volume of standing water to hydro-lock your engine is ridiculous and completely impossible with the tiny inter-cooler the eb35 has stock. Maybe if you submarined your engine but thats not standing water in the end-tanks. The bottom line of this whole thing is this... The "weep hole" is something turbo kits have done in the past, however it is for oil build up. This is easily solved with a catch can end of story. If there is still hesitation or miss fire issues well then its time to look somewhere else but I hardly believe ( even after reading on all the f150 forums) that it is caused by water.

---------- Post added at 03:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:24 PM ----------



In the lower end tank on the driver side. Since the ecoboost 35 is ran on speed density and throttle inlet pressure technically it wont make a difference other then the turbos working a bit harder.

That being said, you should try to never have boost leaks and I highly discourage drilling holes and leaving them uncovered.

But thats just my opinion.

People that are curious about this weep hole have obviously never spent a painful amount of time trying to track down a boost leak

 

[NewMetaRacing]

People that are curious about this weep hole have obviously never spent a painful amount of time trying to track down a boost leak

haha truth, its a complete nightmare. Especially on a MAF car where it will never run right with boost leaks.

 

[Sasquatch77]

Yes I do know that... I have installed many **** kits, literally just dynoed a 2015 mustang with a whipple and **** kit 1hr ago. Your condescending comment aside, that's just not true. The idea of your inter-cooler holding enough volume of standing water to hydro-lock your engine is ridiculous and completely impossible with the tiny inter-cooler the eb35 has stock. Maybe if you submarined your engine but thats not standing water in the end-tanks. The bottom line of this whole thing is this... The "weep hole" is something turbo kits have done in the past, however it is for oil build up. This is easily solved with a catch can end of story. If there is still hesitation or miss fire issues well then its time to look somewhere else but I hardly believe ( even after reading on all the f150 forums) that it is caused by water.

---------- Post added at 03:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:24 PM ----------



In the lower end tank on the driver side. Since the ecoboost 35 is ran on speed density and throttle inlet pressure technically it wont make a difference other then the turbos working a bit harder.

That being said, you should try to never have boost leaks and I highly discourage drilling holes and leaving them uncovered.

But thats just my opinion.

Well, here you go... that is a ton of condensate buildup!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=QXP1KBXSny8

 

[solarwinds]

we got a squirter

 

[xrocket21]

haha truth, its a complete nightmare. Especially on a MAF car where it will never run right with boost leaks.

hello darkness my old friend....

 

[Sasquatch77]

The boost leak is so minimal on the 1/16" hole... no issues. We have people here that are doing this and all problems solved. Ask all the other ecoboost platforms... they run very well after doing this!

 

[NewMetaRacing]

Well, here you go... that is a ton of condensate buildup!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=QXP1KBXSny8

******* she must have had 1 too many big gulps haha

Thanks for that video, that is a lot of water!

However I still don't believe that's the problem. How many miles are on that motor? Also after looking at the comments that was after a 6hr drive through heavy rain and he said in the comments it hasn't eliminated his problems.

Im not trying to say your experience is invalid, I just believe oil is what causes the misfires not water. In my experience all water in the intake track generally gets vaporized by the hot engine as it enters.