Plastic intercooler on 05?

[ACF]

I have an early build 05 (Dec 04). Does it have a plastic intercooler? (Sorry I can't go look myself as I am in Afghanistan). If so what is the thought on this, good or bad? My gut tells me it's not a good thing. Also I read that on the later 05's they went back to metal, is this true? Thanks for the input.

 

[JValdez]

I've got a later 05 and it has the metal intercooler. I asked my dealer about this and I was told they did have problems with the plastic ones and if there was a problem and it was under warranty they would replace it with a metal one.

 

[RockinJ]

I've got a May 20, 2005 production truck with an all METAL intercooler.

 

[Genros]

early 05 here with the plastikc intercooler. Im tempted to go sscrew it up myself just to get the metal one. Any one have any advice

 

[Dieselnerd]

Mine was built in late Feb '05 and has a plastic intercooler. It's the only thing I don't care for on the new truck. I'm planning on remaining stock so I'll probably be OK but whenever I tow my trailer up a long grade I'll be wondering if it's going to blow. It's nice that it will be replaced with a metal one if it blows but I know I'll probably be in the middle of nowhere when it does.

 

[ACF]

Ok so will I know when it blows?

What are the signs of a blow intercooler? Can you sill drive the truck? Will the turbo overheat? Will they replace the other stuff it tears up if it goes?

 

[Dieselnerd]

ACF, signs would be low power and likely a loud hissing from the leak itself. From my understanding, they don't literally "Blow Up", the plastic end tears loose and lets the air escape. I doubt that anything except the intercooler itself will need replacing. If you have gauges you would see little or no boost on the gauge. You can still drive the truck but if you are towing something big like a fifth wheel, you may not be able to move it very well if at all.

 

[nauidvr1]

Both my trucks were built in the 1st week of March '05 and both had the plastic intercoolers.

 

[Jaysyl]

Mine was built in April, has a metal intercooler

 

[DDevine]

Mine was built in April, and is all cast aluminum.

 

[lilthumper]

Mine was built in April and has the aluminum.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

... I sure hope some DC beancounter is now flipping burgers at a fast food joint over this rank screwup...

 

[NLamke]

I blew my stock plastic intercooler. I do have the Edge juice/attitude combo, but had it turned off at the time as I was 21k pounds truck and trailer. I was just getting to the top of a very steep long hill when it sounded like a big rig setting his parking brake under my hood (that sudden escape of air sound). Lost all turbo pressure, and power, and EGT's went up. It was still drivable, but very low on power. The dealer I took it to over-nighted me a metal '03 unit in as the 05 metal replacement ones were on backorder for 3 weeks. All covered under warranty. And before the moral police jumps on me, I didn't try to hide the fact that I have a chip, the service manager at the dealer was the one that recommended the chip to me and told me he would even install it for me. He was very understanding in that the plasic intercoolers were "complete and total junk" as he put it.

 

[abdiver]

Mine was built in late Feb '05 and has a plastic intercooler. It's the only thing I don't care for on the new truck. I'm planning on remaining stock so I'll probably be OK but whenever I tow my trailer up a long grade I'll be wondering if it's going to blow. It's nice that it will be replaced with a metal one if it blows but I know I'll probably be in the middle of nowhere when it does.

I'm planning on remaining stock so I'll probably be OK



Diesilnerd, I to am planning on staying stock, But I am not sure that we can count on the fact that a stock truck will not have intercooler blow as why would Dodge change back to metal units in 05 unless the stock trucks were blowing their intercoolers in enough STOCK trucks to change back to a metal unit.



Is there a way to excelerate the breakdown of a plastic unit so we can get a metal one Instead of waiting till we need this unscheduled replacement/repair or worst yet have to pay for it after warranty.

 

[aphillips]

Mine was built Mar 15 '05 and it has the plastic #@*&!? intercooler.

 

[ACF]

Hard to change

So how hard is it to change the intercooler and where does it sit? Is it right up front? Or is the A/C condenser, radiator etc in front of it?

 

[nickleinonen]

So how hard is it to change the intercooler and where does it sit? Is it right up front? Or is the A/C condenser, radiator etc in front of it?

the a/c condensor sits in front of the charge air cooler... . i've never done it, but i have seen it changed out on tv [xtreme 4x4 did that banks one] and it looks pretty straight forward of a parts change out [just need someone to hold the condensor out of the way]

 

[jayhawktrailers.com]

dang it just looked at our 05 and it has the plastic one. I just did a b&w gooseneck in a customers truck and his had the aluminum. Made me want to pull out the wrenches and swap them, but that wouldn't be right. If anyone hears or a recall or a service bulletion i 'd love to hear about it. Our truck will be on the road bring in new trailers for our dealership so it has to be reliable. May go the banks route has anyone price the intercooler from banks?

 

[Matt400]

May go the banks route has anyone price the intercooler from banks?

If memory is correct I remember around 1100. 00

 

[wbrown02]

My plastic intercooler blew over the July 4th weekend! I drove the truck very hard eastbound from Kingman Arizona to Flagstaff at night when the outside air was cool and had no problem..... The next day in over 100 degree heat while not working the truck as hard... . it blew just outside of Albuquerque while northbound on I25..... Total weight of truck and trailer is 23,500 lbs... ... Dealer in Albuquerque replaced it with another plastic unit that he removed from a new "for sale" truck..... only way to get me going in a short period of time a long way from home..... Replaced it with a Banks unit and intake system..... couldn't be more pleased..... much lower egt.



Hope this helps! Oo.