I'm sure this may have been asked before at some point. Today I was installing my new Forge intercooler on my 2012 MCS. After I was done I stood back to admire my work, then I notciced that I had bent some of my radiator fins (DOOP!!) I guess the back of my hands pressed up against the radiator some during the install. Those fins are delicate little suckers. My question is this. Is this anything to worry about? I took the car out for my post install test run. The water temp never got above 222 on my scangauge and it was 100* outside.

 

For the highest amount of thermodynamic cooling and heat transfer, you do want those fins unbent.
Approximately how much surface area (in terms of measurable size or percentage) was affected?

- Erik

 

I'd say 5% or less, just a few here and few there. I did open most of them back up using a small piece of plastic.

 

With very little affected, you shouldn't see any difference.
It originally sounded like more was bent / damaged then ~5%.

- Erik

 

Thanks

 

you're likely to do more damage by rebending the water passages (cracking and leaking) than what a miniscule loss of airflow did to reduce cooling. you'd have to have folded flat and sealed off a huge surface area to seriously affect cooling efficiency and your temp measurements indicate that no discernable loss has occured.

 

there are tools made special for this task

http://www.eastwood.com/radiator-fin-rake.html


just one of six items at Eastwood