Driven

drained the radiator and added a bottle of water wetter (Redline) and filled the rest with water from a hose.

i read here and there about how this is the best mix... so, figured i'd try it since i've had problems keeping water temp down.

ran the car yesterday at a track event. the car overheated worst than it has ever. Idle, it would run at 190-195degrees in 95 degree weather. previously, i ran rad. fluid and water mix (50/50) and it would idle at 180-185 at the same air temp.

so, anyone know of a mix that works better than rad fluid and water?

cobalt

First thing, you have to use distilled water, not water from a hose.

Second thing, for a street car, you're asking for trouble if you don't run at least 50% coolant.

Thirdly, did you make certain to properly bleed your coolant system...and with the heater core OPEN?

If you just drain and refill without bleeding, you can have serious air pockets in the system, and you will overheat any car in a hurry.

JMO... -Andie

celica73

When I ran straight water with water wetter I saw a 5-10 degree drop in engine temperatures. So, in my case, it worked well.

Of course, running straight water I saw about a 5 degree drop as well, it seemed to run even cooler with the water wetter though. Also, that was water from the tap (the distilled water doens't do much for you, it might help prevnt corrosion).

Scott

Track rat

Driven, did you bleed it?

Tomakit

Driven,
there is air in your system.

Tom

Gennady

Sometimes, we are so quick to point out other peoples blunders, that we dont realize our own.

Todd00

Get that tap water out of there ASAP!

Also, there are a few threads within the last few months about how to properly drain and bleed out a cooling system. Try a search and you'll know just what you did incorrectly.

Driven

ok... i should have added more to my post... i was tired.


this is NOT a street car. Considering it's caged, gutted, and it's only driven on the street to get to track events.

about bleeding the system. yep. did that.

one thing i didn't do is the distilled water. maybe that's the problem? should i go out to the store and buy the bottled gallon jugs and add it?

Todd00

You'll need to completely get that tap water out of there regardless of what the car is. So, buy another bottle of water wetter and several gallons of distilled and start over again.

Crack Monkey

Tap water won't effect the temp. It will corrode stuff and leave residue in the radiator.

SpiceyRice

Straight water will/can rust your cooling system. Anti-freeze includes anti-corrosive properties.

Actually I don't know the answer to this... how to do you run straight water and keep everything from rusting? Thanks


[Modified by SpiceyRice, 12:25 PM 8/12/2002]

4doorH22

Can't be. There's something wrong with your cooling system, maybe a stuck thermostat or bad water pump. It's a scientific fact that pure water has a higher specific heat (or heat capacity or whatever) than a coolant mix. I think the WW also improves upon that.

4doorH22

Actually if you're measuring the temp at the upper hose/radiator where it comes out of the block, perhaps temps could read higher *** the water is actually taking more heat energy out of the motor than a coolant mix? I guess ideally temps are taken on the water inlet after the radiator has had a chance to dissipate the heat.

Tyson

water wetter has the stuff for anti corrosion in it, which the instructions says is ok to use tap water, but not recommended.

4doorH22

Sorry to differ but from what I remember of the last bottle of WW I saw is it said it provides <u>no</u> corrosion prevention. Minerals and deposits of tap water are definitely to be avoided though.

ITC Racer

Distilled water will keep some of the impurities out of the coolant system but should cool exactly the same as tap water. Water wetter will reduce the coolant temps some by breaking down the surface tension in the water/radiator surface.

If you change your coolant (straight water, water/antifreeze mix) frequently, this will minimize the chance of buildup damaging the radiator. Have you seen a street radiator after several years with the antifreeze/water mix??? These get pretty nasty inside.

Your overheating problem is probably due to an air bubble in the system from draining the system.

Tyson

read the tech sheet yourself. the first and last paragraph are most relevent in this discussion. http://www.redlineoil.com/redlineoil/wwti.htm


[Modified by Tyson, 10:23 AM 8/12/2002]

4doorH22

Yup, you're right.

BENEFIT SUMMARY
Doubles the wetting ability of water
Improves heat transfer
Reduces cylinder head temperatures
May allow more spark advance for increased torque
Reduces rust, corrosion and electrolysis of all metals
Provides long term corrosion protection
Cleans and lubricates water pump seals
Prevents foaming
Reduces cavitation corrosion
Complexes with hard water to reduce scale

wakaru

Some light reading...

http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Caran...mns_bedard.xml


[Modified by wakaru, 1:13 PM 8/12/2002]

4doorH22

But he don't mention silicates with many antifreezes have and Hondas hate.

vactor

water wetter isn't designed to reduce water temps per se, it is designed to decrease bubling at the contact point with the metal, and thus improving immediate heat transfer from the head to the water. you will not notice a decrease in temp of the coolant, but cylinder head temps should be a bit cooler.

Def

Ummm... how does bubbling(?) increase the heat transfer of water?

Water wetter is a surficant which reduces the surface tension of water, thus making its viscosity lower. This improves heat transfer by reducing the boundary layer on fluid flow over all heat transfer surfaces.

Tyson

he said it decreases the bubbling, whatever that means. you guys are talking about the same thing. anyway, case closed, water wetter

SloEG

On RedLine's website, it says that coolant has a higher boilover temp (265F) than their WW (250F). They're saying this can happen if the car is shut off right after driving. How bad can boilover be? Does boilover only happen when the car is shut off to cool or in standing traffic, or does it also happen in moving traffic on a hot day??

Gennady

I've heard tales of people RUNNING JUST WATER WETTER, no coolant, no water. Any validity to this?