OK, so I was looking at someone's Speed6 the other day. The intercooler had a spot about the size of my hand on the baffles that looked singed or scorched. Not a lot -- just a subtle difference in color where it looked tan instead of silver.

A Mazda mechanic said it was due to condensation from the induction hood burning off on the intercooler. Anyone seen this? Heard of it? Does it make sense?

Condensation? Hmm... I would think condensation, aka water, would just evaperate. LOL

Makes zero sense man.

+1^^

Soooo...ideas on what would cause this? That explanation is from a Mazda master Technician who's allegedly one of the top three in the nation....

IMO... w/o seeing pics... Something fell on it and the intercooler melt/burnt it onto the itself.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Stealth01 @ Apr 17 2008, 07:59 AM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=41081]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>

Soooo...ideas on what would cause this? That explanation is from a Mazda master Technician who's allegedly one of the top three in the nation....[/b]

maybe the water that came in was VERY dirty, or had some kind of chemical in it to scar the metal

Well, the difference in tone is very subtle. It's almost an oval shape, and a light tan/brown. Hard to see in the wrong light. Does anyone think this could be a potential problem, or just looks ugly?

Depnds on what it truely is/was. A chemical that is hurting the metal could be a problem.

The metal was not harmed, as far as I could tell. Just looked like it was dirty.

Take the I/C to J&S Polishing and have it polished!!!

Most metals change color when they get hot. Look at any chrome exhaust on a car that is not a trailer queen and you will see blue, orange and yellow. If the intercooler is hot when it gets wet, and there are any contaminates in the water, aluminum will stain. You can polish it out with just about any metal polish.

The intercooler isn't gonna get hot enough to cause that type of reaction. It's probably just a spot where water/condensation gets on there and sits, letting the minerals in the water cause the discoloration of the aluminum. The heat of the engine probably speeds it along. Have you ever seen a really old aluminum can? They get that same brownish discoloration to them.

Yep, that's why I said if it's hot when it gets wet, and aluminum is preone to those type of stains. Polish will take it out, with a little elbow grease.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (goldrocket @ Apr 22 2008, 07:53 AM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=42240]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>

Yep, that's why I said if it's hot when it gets wet, and aluminum is preone to those type of stains. Polish will take it out, with a little elbow grease.[/b]

I still gotta bring the car by your house. But that requires finding a spare moment or two in my day....