I have a 2000 dx hatch that gets 75percent of its drive time in rush-hour with 95-105 degree temps in the summer.

Has anyone ever found out if an oil cooler kit REALLY helps save an engine from this kind of torture, or is it just a theory? I dont know anyone with one, or how you could tell whether it really helps or not.

I hollowed&grilled a cool air vent from the bumper up to the stock intake tube (K&N drop-in).

I even though about getting rid of the mystery (resonator/resovoir?) box that is midway down the tube and making a cooler shell to isolate that intake area from the engine. Then I heard something about that little box being there for a reason other than noise reduction...something like a big gulp of air always on hand...(this is the box in a 2000 dx, not in the bumper, but right there in the engine bay behind the passenger headlight)

Are there any other ideas for cooling things down? Better radiators, or better fans?

 

get a vented hood. I don't think an oil cooler will help in traffic.

Maybe you should take public transportation or ride a bike to work like I do.

Leave the car for the track.

 

Congrats on the bike riding! That takes discipline.

Unfortunately,I dont think my civic is worthy of any track.

 

A vented hood sounds like it should help... I would get a bigger electric fan, Like from summit or something. If you could get a fan for a V8 to fit then that should help greatly. Just my thoughts...

 

upgrade to a bigger or thicker radiator??
oil cooler??

if u don't have a/c, get a integra radiator
if u do, i really don't know

 

Is it a stock motor? if it is I highly doubt you'll need anything. just maintain the motor and it'l hold up just fine. It's still a pretty new car no?

 

if ur worried about the oil breaking down due to the heat..just use a syn. oil...alot of them out there now...i use mobil 1 but there are others out there just as good or better..

 

i use water wetter in all my 2stroke bikes and noticed a considerable difference(2strokes run very hot), and the next time i change anti-freeze in the Civic i'll add some too. it does really work.

i drive in much of the same conditions as you do and my temp. is stationary...always.

 

what actually is a water wetter??
what's the exact term of it??

where can i find it?
i can't find it in canadiantire.ca

 

that's the brand name, 'Water Wetter,' it's a liquid solution/additive like astroglide is for the lovin , real slippery, and it somehow does the trick.

it can be found at any of the local PepBoys, Kragen, etc. i don't know what auto part stores are in Canada, but i'm confident someone has it...

 

Well, if you reallly care about your car, get a fluidyne radiator and some faster fan. That should keep your engine cooler. I don't think oil cooler will help during the traffic since you won't have a fan behind the oil cooler in order to cool the oil. Unless you locate your oil cooler near the radiator that pulls in the air. But you know, it really depends on how much you wanna spend. The New SI radiator is thicker so you can use that too. Also, water wetter does some job. Good Luck

 

water wetter....that stuff is the SSSS. it actually works best with JUST the bottle of water wetter, and the rest all water. the less 'antifreeze' and the more water you have with the bottle, the cooler it will keep. but i have water wetter in my system with a stock CX radiator on my b18b swap and it NEVER gets hot. never. not even in texas during rush hour

 

You could also get a Spoon or Mugen thermostat or Fan switch it cools the motor at a lower temp so it can keep the temp of the engine cooler at all times especially in hard driving situations

 

astroglide- man's gift to himself