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upgrade radiator for a n/a rx8?

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Old 08-23-2005, 12:59 AM
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Question upgrade radiator for a n/a rx8?

I have the choice of getting a koyo radiator instead of the stock radiator. Would that be at least slightly better, or koyo is a piece oh ****? My 8 is n/a so what should i do??????
Old 08-23-2005, 02:42 AM
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Koyo's are very good units, but unless you live in Africa (not Philly) there is no need for an upgraded radiator. The stock unit is way more than adequate for an NA RX8. Only time you would need to upgrade the radiator is if you are planning on going FI. I've run my car, when I was NA on the track and had no problems.
Old 08-23-2005, 11:43 AM
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Actually considering all the issues and problems this forum is having with heat, both coolant and oil related, I'd consider it a good investment, along with aftermarket oil coolers with auxilary fans linked to thermostats.

I mean you guys have an entire threads on how the rx8 is constantly retarting timing when it hits 200F (and continuing to retard timing more and more as the temps rise), and then about 50+ guys showing how the car is almost always past 200F coolant temps...with oil temps in the 240F+ range.

If anything your cars are like the 6...undercooled for emission reasons.

"IF" I was buying an 8, my first mods would be upgrading the cooling systems. Of course nobody ever does this, cause mods like that don't give you more noise, better looks, or more power.

Last edited by crossbow; 08-23-2005 at 11:47 AM.
Old 08-23-2005, 12:43 PM
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I've never had a problem with my car, even when tracking or dynoing it (about as hard as you can be on a car) with engine or oil temps. I have a PWR radiator sitting here waiting to go in, but a big part of that is because I'm FI'ed now. In the article in RX Tuner magazine outlining the replacement/DIY of the stock radiator and they said the stock unit is more than adequate for the NA engine. The car that had the big problems with cooling were the Gen 3 RX7's (twin turboed).

Koyo is a very good aftermarket radiator brand, by the way.
Old 08-23-2005, 03:14 PM
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yah well to make a long story short i could basically get the koyo without having to pay that much for it so thats prob what im going to do, since its a good deal and all i just wanted to know if koyo was a good radiator comp. thanks a lot u guys
Old 08-23-2005, 03:18 PM
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I was thinking of getting the same thing, let us know what you think after you get it. I figure with thie 95+ degree heat in Florida all summer how can a little better cooling hurt right? The upgraded oil coolers are a cool idea though.
Old 08-23-2005, 03:37 PM
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http://www.pineappleracing.com/Prod-EvansNPG.html How about just change the coolant to this
Old 08-23-2005, 04:20 PM
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Interesting... does anyone have experience with this Evans NPG+ thing?
Old 08-23-2005, 06:41 PM
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I use it on my fd with no pressure in the system and an all aluminum race radiator, track, autocross, drag race and drift with no overheat issues

BUT... I still don't have an aftermarket temp gauge and the FD's is known for not moving from normal untill it's too late
Old 08-23-2005, 06:42 PM
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I live in Ga and it gets hot with high humidity. I have noticed that it is only when i run the a/c for any lengh of time is when the cooling fans even come on when i park. it can be 100 outside and i run the car *not stop and go" as in traffic jam but in normal city driving and the cooling fans never even turn on. My oil screens are always just a little warm to the touch. Do I have a mutant car or do others notice the same? I think maybe the a/c saps a lot out of this car. Maybe the a/c uses up too much air?
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Old 08-23-2005, 06:48 PM
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You can never have too much radiator or oil cooler. The cooler one system runs, the cooler the other system runs.

Evens NPG is good stuff. You must use it on it's own though. It is not compatible with water. It is easiest to convert to it when you build a new engine and have everything out and totally dry. Not saying you can't make it work well otherwise but you have to be much more careful about getting the system totally dry. It's definitely more expensive and if you break a hose on the road somewhere, don't expect to be able to put water back into the radiator in a quick fix. Personally I'd save it for a track only car. It is very nice stuff though.

BTW: It is $30 a gallon!

Last edited by rotarygod; 08-23-2005 at 06:54 PM.
Old 08-23-2005, 07:07 PM
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My mechanic did say that during his stock car races they used the "water-wetter" and did run about 10 degrees consistently cooler in temperature on thier car.
Old 08-23-2005, 07:15 PM
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"water wetter" is from Redline. It is an additive to your existing product. It works well too and is definitely much cheaper. It's name is taken from chemistry because it increases the "wettability" of water.
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