Fluid system and method of controlling fluid flow for an intercooler

A fluid system for an intercooler, comprising:

• a main fluid circuit through which liquid is circulated in operation of the engine, the main fluid circuit including the intercooler and one or more passages through which fluid is routed to and from the intercooler, and at least a portion of the main fluid circuit including at least a portion of the intercooler is located above a fill level of the fluid system;
• a secondary fluid volume that communicates with the main fluid circuit to receive liquid from the main fluid circuit when the engine is not operating so that at least some of the liquid from the portion of the main fluid circuit that is located above the fill level flows into the secondary fluid volume thereby reducing the volume of liquid that remains above the fill level when the engine is not operating;
• and
• a valve disposed between the main fluid circuit and the secondary fluid volume to selectively permit fluid flow from the main fluid circuit to the secondary fluid volume through the valve, the combined volume of the main fluid circuit and the secondary fluid volume is greater than the volume of liquid in the fluid system providing a volume of air within the fluid system.

A method of controlling fluid flow for an intercooler fluid system having a portion located above an engine, comprising:

• providing a main fluid circuit through which liquid is cycled through the intercooler;
• providing a secondary fluid volume in which a volume of air is maintained during engine operation;
• and
• transferring the air from the secondary fluid volume to the main fluid circuit when the engine is not operating to reduce the volume of liquid in the main fluid circuit that is located above the engine.