Ideal coolant mix for street/track use?
 

I've searched through the coolant threads but did not find anything addressing this issue.

At my first track day at SOWS my car started overheating on the second run, a total of about 35 minutes of WOT operation. This was using the original coolant (I'm assuming 50/50) in my '05 MT.

For the next track day, I would like to switch to a coolant mix that would increase cooling a lot, while still providing sufficient corrosion, boiling protection and water pump lubrication. I live in SoCal, and am not too concerned about freeze protection.

My initial stab would be to run 80/20 water/antifreeze and 2 bottles water wetter. Would this be a good long-term setup for mostly street driving and a track day once every few months? Or does water wetter protect the cooling system enough to do straight water/water wetter mix?

Track, I will mix it down to 30/70 (Coolant/Distilled Water)

For streets, I keep it around 45/55

Original Coolant is like 55/45 .... Yep, 55 Coolant and 45 Water ....

If its the FL22 stuff, then its a different cooalnt than the regular stuff. but still not good for track. flush it like 10 times and use regular coolant mix instead.

Correctumundo, Jackson!:)

I'm currently running 80/20 water/antifreeze with a bottle of water wetter and I'm in the same climate as you.

you should add a bit more coolant to the mix cuz its there to lube the pumps.

water wetter already handles lubrication of the cooling system. I don't use any anti-freeze at all. Just distilled water and 2 bottles of WW.

Sure thats good enough ? :)

Wait, whats that puddle of coolant under ur car ! :lol: j/k :)

redline claims:

Also running 80/20 with 2 bottles of Redline WW. No problems.

50/50 is usually not enough water for the summer and unless you live someplace really cold, like Alaska maybe, than you should consider more water. Would at least consider running 60/40 to 75/25.

Many people don't realize that it's the water that is cooling their engine and not the anti-freeze. The anti-freeze is there so you can start your car in extreme cold and protect your radiator from rust. So how cold does it get around you? What about spring, summer, and fall? 80/20 w/ Redline WW can be run year round by most people.

For track, I think you can go more extreme. Distilled water and just Redline WW, like Mysql101.

Its just sad in NYC is possible to get freezing temp. Like today, its about 23F outside.

I can go with 40/60 I think, it should protect me up to about -10F. Hmm, Will flush the system when it gets warmer outside.

yes...i run WW as well. but that claim may only be for heat transfer. it says nothing of lubrication. only mention of lubrication in that statement is that its suppose to handle heat transfer with glycol based qualities.

in other words, run straight WW if you got $ to blow on a water pump. i fear its lack of lubrication qualities.

on another note... i know of honda typeII coolant as a really good quality coolant containing no borates or silicates....harmful for ur pump. and its nice blue.
i'm running that when flush time come at 12-15k miles.

They also say:

"· 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 "

There's also Evans Coolant NPG+. No water needed and sustains cold weather.

http://www.evanscooling.com/main25.htm

If you don't have the upgraded water pump, I would say that thats your problem, and no change of coolant is going to fix it.

Thanks for all the replies.

Based on the responses here I think I'll be going with the 80/20 with 2 bottles water wetter. I'm not hardcore enough for the evans and don't trust only 2 bottles of water wetter to handle all the corrosion protection and lubrication. Even without the upgraded water pump I should be taking more heat out of the engine. I'll report back after the track day (I'm doing Horse Thief Mile 3/29 via SpeedVentures) how much better it fared.

I'm running 70/30 with Watter Wetter

The water pump will really do more for cooling than any coolant mixture will.

The right radiator will do even more than that.

if ONLY we had a place that sold superior radiators! ;)

+1

A Good rad + upgraded water pump pwnz Any coolant mixture :)

Oh yes I heard of this Black Halo Racing Radiator has a new design, it can hold more coolant Plus it has MUCH better air flow design. and its not expensive.

I was about to go get BHR but my rad is not even 1 yr old (replaced it myself last year with another brand). I wait a bit. :) and I already got Paul's upgrade water pump. Have yet to try it on a track, I should try it this year.

But if you want to get better performance, get Mazmart's Upgraded water pump and BHR's upgrade radiator.

Thats what I did. I also plan to run a 70/30 coolant mix with the fans turning on earlier via a reflash. Now, how long before someone comes out with an upgraded thermostat?

I think Paul @ Mazmart mention about it a while ago, but no other news yet.

They seem pretty busy rebuilding engines. Hopefully they have not given up on this. Its my missing link.

With the BHR rad your fans won't need to come on earlier!:lol2:

I can't be over careful, right?