plastic intercooler?

[AWalkup]

Wondering how bad the problem really is with the plastic intercooler? My 05 3500 auto will easily produce 37 lbs of boost stock. I do not drive the truck hard, but tow a 15,000lbs trailer with it. I know a few people have had problems, but is it a SERIOUS problem that I should replace before it gives me trouble?



Thanks

 

[raychem]

I too had a plastic intercooler on an 05 that regularly saw 35+ lbs of boost, but like everything else, when yours will fail is the million dollar question. Do you have any mods done to your truck that increase fueling(ez,tst,ect. ), If you do, they do boost fooling at the same time and you will run higher boost and will tell you your on borrowed time. But I have seen a few factory units separate on stock boost and I have seen a few intercoolers survive 35+ lbs of boost like mine. Its really your call, you could wait till you have a problem or start to include it as part of your future upgrades. Also, if your truck is under warranty which I assume it is, then if or when it happens the dealer will replace it with an aluminum one since DC no longer uses the IC w/ plastic end tanks.



Richard

 

[Diesel Nut]

I have seen several trucks with stock power blow them out. Yes, Dodge replaces them with a metal one but your will break in th dead middle between 2 dealers in the desert on Saturday afternoon.



There are advantages to an aftermarket BD or Banks intercooler. Better flow, better mileage, lower temps. Your towing a decent amount I would keep it in mind.

 

[CSkal]

I read somewhere ( I have not checked mine) that DC went back to the plastic tanks on the 06 and later, attributing the IC failures to modifications of the stock system generating excessive boost pressures. Don't know for sure, just what I read...

 

[Diesel Nut]

I haven't sen one yet. Mine is metal. No way a plastic one would hold up to what I have done to this thing.

 

[nickleinonen]

I read somewhere ( I have not checked mine) that DC went back to the plastic tanks on the 06 and later, attributing the IC failures to modifications of the stock system generating excessive boost pressures. Don't know for sure, just what I read...

guys were popping the plastic tank CAC's with stock boost and fueling... they had them for a bit, but went back to metal tanks for 05. 5 or 06