Was bored this weekend, and did what I usually do when in that frame of mind, I MOD my MINI. I Love the idea of diverters/sprayers since our SC intercoolers become totally heatsinked after 15 mins......but 200 bucks for about 15 dollars worth of parts burns me up ?!

So I put my own together since I had already booty wiped my rear wiper assembly. And the best part is, it cost me about 12 bucks.....plus some free parts I had around the garage I was not using....

Needed:

1 (old)garden sprayer with plastic wand and adjustable nozzel ( make sure it works well first, so "bench test" any used ones before proceeding )
4' feet of 5/32 vaccum hose or similar
1 3/16th in line connector ( Plus the OEM one already in compartment )
1 Hood Prop Rod Clip holder from a multi pack - Made by Dorman # 45396 from Advanced Auto Parts Store.
Some quick ties.
Razor blade ( to make a nice clean cut on sprayer wand )
#20 Torx driver ( fits bolt securing front Intercooler cover
Water
Container for old washer fluid
towel

Here are the parts I bought:





NOTE: After this mod, yYou will no longer be able to use your squirter for rear window......( "Whata isa behind me, is notta my concerna....." )


Open hood, passenger side bottle in fender is for rear wiper squirter. Find section of two hoses near cowl corner that come from bottle they are joined at the factory by a 3/16" in line fitting.




Disconnect hoses here at the OEM 3/16" fitting. The one side coming from the bottle will be going to the intercooler diverter sprayer, plug the other side of hose with screw to similar to keep any critters out ( keep inside of line clean!)



Attach new section of 4' hose to the OEM 3/16"fitting from supply tank. Find an opened bottle of Washer fluid in the garage, put the other end of the 4' section of new hose into bottle, get in car and engage the rear washer squirter and empty the MINI's Washer squiter reservoir bottle into the jug. You know when the MINI's reservoir container is empty when you hear the pump sucking air.....lol.





Now route the 4 foot section of new hose along the outside of fender rib and then inside compartment area though open spaces so as not to kink hose or get in the way of the hood locking mechanism.



Feed hose up behind Radiator hose and right to area infront of supercharger Intercooler.

Get sprayer wand and measure about 6 inches out from the nozzel end, make a clean cut with razor blade. Insert a 3/16" in line connector into the end just cut. This is what you have, I held it over the element of my electric stove to warm the wand a little and then made my bend and then put it under cold water to make it stay that way:




Take out black plastic Hood Rod Prop holder from assortment pack # 45396.
This will be used to secure the nozzel end to the intercooler cover.

But you first have to file off the 4 tabs normally used to attach it. This will enable you to secure it FLUSH against surface of intercooler using OEM bolt. Yes there are plenty of threads to tighten her down too.....

(FYI - For those whom dont know, "Hood Rod Prop Holders are used on automobiles that require a Rod to hold up the hood of the car when working on it. )

Remove the Drivers side front Intercooler cover BOLT with #30 torx. driver.


(See arrow)


Snap the nozzel end into the Hood Prop holder, and then secure it all to the corner of the intercooler cover with the previously removed torx screw, angled towards middle center of intercooler cover/diverter.



Fill the "former" washer squirter reservoir tank with water.



With a Sharpie Marker write " H20 ONLY - Intercooler sprayer " on the top of the tanks blue cap. Dont want some shmuck putting blue washer fluid in there by mistake during oil change !

Close hood, and test spray pattern and aim, tighten #30 Torx screw on intercooler holder when you are done.

My nozzel's adjustment is almost all the way down tight to very end of adjustment real nice pattern and right where I wanted it. PLENTY Of pressure too!



When I raised the hood after a 2 second spray, the water stayed in the fins directly in the middle of the Intercooler.



When I looked at the underside of the hood, the water droplets were all in the middle area of the intercooler's hood shroud ! Perfect aim.

I added a shield to keep spray down to where I wanted it, it fastend nicely with black plastic washer right behind nozzel when screwed on.









Used thick galvanized 1" strap, covered it with rubber seal on bottom and thick auto rubber weather striping on top. Fabricated two brackets to fit locations of OEM #30 Torx where it attaches to cover. This extra seal seats neatly behind OEM Seal when hood is closed- should help to keep some air in there. Old seal has lost some of it's effectiveness...

Red area shows where new seal seats itself with hood closed.



With the exception of the bottle sprayer, this mod cost me $12.00US.....
and took me 1 hour. ( Including the taking of these pictures )

 

Final product pictures larger so you can see better.



Attachment 36583



Photo angle is off, it actually sprays over the top of this section of the diverter.

 

I appreciate the effort you've put into the system, and I like that you used the rear washer system BUT
A. your spray pattern does not take into account the air stream which will be flowing through the intercooler (your mist + 60 MPH will put the water vapor at the rear of your hood seal.
B. How do you monitor the intake air temps and when do you determine the proper time to spray (please don't say "when I floor it")
Looks nice though, but can use some modification. I can post my homemade sprayer tomorrow, when I take some pics for ya .

 

also what pulley are you using?

 

great write up!, i need to empty my washer fluid tank.. i tested my sprayer, and forgot i had the blue stuff. oh well.

thanks again for the write up!

-Malcon

 

Alta 17.

 

A) This isn't rocket science. The OEM water pump is premo and strong, and SAME one aftermarket companies use.....right? There is more than enough force and volume leaving the nozzel and the air entering the scoop will only disperse it better thoughout. Besides I dont have an UBER or one of those huge scoops, just a normal one......

B) Well, I would suppose since our Intercoolers are heatsunk after first 15 mins if driving,,,,,,,,anytime after that would be appropriate - as needed.....

You can purchase all sorts of low volume nozzels on the internet, some even with a right angle for about 4 bucks...... It aint pretty, never meant to be, from birth to abortion this is what I came up with in the two hours I had to spare today.....lol.

 

Good effort, good stuff.

 

Great job. I am sure it is cheap didn't cost very much.

 

[quote=Eurothrasher;2448940]
B) Well, I would suppose since our Intercoolers are heatsunk after first 15 mins if driving,,,,,,,,anytime after that would be appropriate - as needed.....

quote]
Do you use your car on the track or are you using this for street purposes?

 

...my stock IC doesn't heatsoak after 15 minutes of driving. But kudos on the install.