Craig wrote:

We have a IVP with approximately 500 hrs. Recently the cabin heat has been quite high when pressurized. Inspection revealed the 3rd intercooler was completely blocked due to bent fins. I have ordered a new one from Lancair but would appreciate any suggestions to prevent recurrence.

Craig,

The original intercoolers had very thin metal heat transfer fins right to the surface on both sides. They modified this in later years to replace the outermost surface of fins with heavier metal "guide fins," but produced a number of these with the guide fins on the exit side of the intercooler where they did no good at all. I got one of the latter, but Lancair replaced it with the improved, correctly built version in 2007 or so. Mine has worked well at 1200 hours total flight time, but I can see a bit of distortion of the thinner fins when looking into the front of the intercooler. Let's compare them at Fairhope in two weeks, but in any case, Lancair should be able to fix you up with and improved model?

LARRY: This is the type of question our members would like to hear your thoughts on at Fairhope.

Bob