Given that as an autocross car, we do not push the FF very hard.
How often are you fellow autocrossers changing the water in the cooling system?
Given that as an autocross car, we do not push the FF very hard.
How often are you fellow autocrossers changing the water in the cooling system?
Since I run antifreeze the coolant is good until the engine comes out and the rads get cleaned/checked. Given my use that can be years (or even a decade). I do add anti-corrosion stuff like water wetter if it has "been awhile". I have brass radiators and an iron head (engine head also )
The car cools sufficiently with the side rads to be OK even in hot Pro Solo conditions with no more than minor "coolant into the 1 Qt overflow bottle".
Dick
CM 85
dick,
I thought we were not allowed to run automotive coolant as part of the GCR rules.
FWIW, I have new (or so I was told) aluminum radiators with a cast iron head.
Good luck finding a "no anti-freeze, plain water only, etc. " rule in the GCR. That said for track racing with crashes, etc. it is a great idea even if there isn't a track rule. I want the freeze and corrosion protection. You might also if you go to Nats across the mountains.
Dick
I've always used anti-freeze and left it in for a while. I just change it when the engine needs to come out for something else. Here in Colorado, I'm definitely not going to use only water.
Barry Ott
At some point F125 had a water wetter only rule... not sure if it's still there.
I've run just water wetter, no antifreeze. If there's no rule against glycol, I'll likely add a bit next time. But, doesn't antifreeze actually lower thermal capacity? If you're on the bubble, as far as cooling in autocross use, do you really want antifreeze?
I was told on this forum awhile back to use 25% antifreeze. Has been working for me.
Mark
1990 Van Diemen, the Racing Machine, CM AutoX, 2016 Frontier
You can try to make a street car into an autocrosser or you can do a lot less work and make a race car into a great autocrosser
Man! I've spent some rather inexplicably large amounts of money on my F500, to include custom-made radiators. But GOLD radiators (AU). . . Dude! I know that you can't take it with you, and gold is perhaps the best-conducting metal known to man - thus making the best radiators - but. . . My hat is off to you, sir. I stand in awe, and am not worthy to stand on your shadow.
I use 100% distilled water, with. . . let's say "water wetter". . . mixed in. This gives me dramatically better heat transfer than a coolant mix, so lower temps. And I drain my coolant every fall. And store my car indoors (garage) which rarely sees sub-freezing, so risk is limited.
Chris Eckles
Huntington, WV
I've always run distilled water + water wetter only, and never had an issue. Car is drained of all fluids every fall, and refilled every spring (stored in non-climate-controlled area). Other than that, I just top it up once or twice during the season if I notice any losses (which are minimal at most).
Distilled water is key to long life. Water wetter for improved cooling, corrosion protection & lubrication. A minor amount of anti-freeze if there's a threat of freezing where you're going ( anti-freeze label gives ratios for temp protection) Here in Mn I get freezing potential from Sept to May, sometimes June
"An analog man living in a digital world"
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