I recently read something from an intelligent source regarding not using coolant in dedicated drag racing engines. The idea is that because the amount of time an engine spends running is so limited that there is no need for the chemical interaction of the coolant as there is with a longer-distance driven engine and especially a daily driver. I know that a lot of people in here would not consider it because most of the cars on here are driven enough where coolant presence is a must. There are, however, some people in here that have cars truly dedicated to making 1/4 mile passes and that's about it.

The article was written with large-displacement N/A engines in mind. We're talking over 500ci (8.0L+) here. However, I believe as far as physics are concerned... an engine is an engine is an engine is an engine and so on. I suppose the argument FOR using coolant in our small displacement turbo engines would be that many of the turbos run coolant thru them but as some threads on here have shown, running the turbo without the coolant (meaning the coolant hole is plugged) did not do particularly instantaneous severe damage to the CHRA. The run coolant lines to turbo or don't argument is not what I am interested in. If water is claimed to be superior in cooling an engine compared to coolant (if done so for a very limited time), then how come it's not discussed more often? Is this a racing secret that the big players do not discuss but are quite aware of.... or did I happen to just miss every thread talking about it in here? What about the N/A-engined racers where risk of damage to the turbo is obviously non-existant?

The article goes on to say that an engine should be at approximately 100 degrees at the starting line... is this in celcius or fahrenheit? It would make sense if that were in celcius because when converted to fahrenheit, it's closer to the 160-190 degree (fahrenheit) rating of most of the thermostats I've seen on street cars. If that recommended 100 is in fahrenheit, then how do they expect for engines to be that cool? Is it because they are not on pump gas which allows the engine to run significantly cooler than a "gas" engine? The advantage to cool-burning fuels is mostly seen in high cylinder pressure applications (either by compression points, boost pressure or both)... no?

For those who are (if there's anyone on here) running just water in the cooling system or have tuned a car that does, etc., does the cooling system not use a traditional thermostat? Is the place where the thermostat is usually found just blocked off somehow or is there another instrument used to gauge the temperature to activate a thermostat-like device? Is there just no need for a thermostat in a drag racing engine of this caliber because the class rules permit an electric water pump that maintains a constant flow of coolant thru it at all times anyway?

What about radiators? It's a common understanding that running just water thru a radiator promotes rapid corrosion of the fins. I suppose a purpose-built radiator does not corrode like an OEM-standard intercooler, or are the fins made of a different material inside the radiator which keeps it from corroding? Perhaps there is just no need for a radiator since the engine only gets very hot for a short amount of time?

Any thoughts are welcomed.

 

You should use water in a drag race only engine because of the chances of you spilling coolant on the track. Coolant is very slippery when it gets on the track and not because water cools better than coolant. If you check out the NHRA general rule book it specifically says (NO COOLANT IN ENGINE). On daily driven cars, coolant has better lubricating propertys that keep the entire cooling system clean from corrosion for thousands of mile and yes a traditional thermostat are usually used.

You should try and keep the car at 100 fahrenheit before you race because as soon as you do a burn-out, the engine should be at operating temperature 160-180 fahrenheit. I personally don't use water alone, coolant has better cooling propertys than water does but water with Redline Water Wetter to me cools much better than coolant alone and also Water Wetter is legal on the track.

 

distilled water & a bottle of REDLINE water wetter works greAT for racing!