18 replies to this topic

[Nev]

Whats the best coolant to put into my intercooler circuit? And why is it the best. I don't plan to pay top dollar for some pseduo-science stuff ! Discuss... please. Nev.

[siztenboots]

100% pure water performs the best but may react with metals in your system also freeze in winter

[Nev]

Considering our last 3 winters I think water might be a risk Steve !

[Zoobeef]

As above water itself is the best coolant. Best to get some and find out what %age mix covers you down to what temperature you thing the car will face. You may get away with a 70-30 mix but not sure what that covers down to. Prob around -10c. use the same percentage mix in your engine too as you want the best cooling there too

[Tail slide]

As above water itself is the best coolant. Best to get some and find out what %age mix covers you down to what temperature you thing the car will face. You may get away with a 70-30 mix but not sure what that covers down to. Prob around -10c. use the same percentage mix in your engine too as you want the best cooling there too

'Water wetter'; sounds bizarre but really works in my experience with other hot-running engines and is 'good science'!

Best with circa 70% water/ 30% antifreeze for anti corrosion.

[KurtVerbose]

100% pure water performs the best

but may react with metals in your system

also freeze in winter

Yes, no question. Water is a fantastic coolant apart from it's low boiling temperature. Not a problem for an intercooler.

Corrosion and freezing are a problem though.

[Tail slide]

Takes just a couple of degrees off head temps, but that's where we need it. Water Wetter test; http://www.importtun...ives/index.html

Edited by Tail slide, 10 February 2011 - 09:15 PM.

[alanoo]

like in F1, nanoparticles charged distilled water

[SteveA]

I use this stuff; http://www.halfords....tegoryId_229902 Stops it freezing in winter

[siztenboots]

I use this stuff;

http://www.halfords....tegoryId_229902

Stops it freezing in winter

but you are just paying for the added water to make it readymix, I just buy the concentrate stuff and mix to my own preferred concentration for summer or winter use.

[FLD]

If you dont fancy liquid sodium have a look at evans' coolant. Its what Darton recomend for their LSx wet liners.

[nicollow]

I wouldnt put coolant in an intercooler, cos it'll end up in your engine!! Im pesuming you mean a chargecooler? I just used water with a touch of antifreeze. Its got corrosion inhibitors and means it wont freeze in the winter. Double win...

[siztenboots]

If you dont fancy liquid sodium have a look at evans' coolant. Its what Darton recomend for their LSx wet liners.

downside of the evans coolant is having to recalculate flow rates and pump sizing. The benefit iirc was the evans stuff was much better at near to boiling conditions , which you hopefully won't see in post turbo compressor air temps.

and iirc ,its not cheap stuff either.

[FLD]

and iirc ,its not cheap stuff either.

You do indeed remember correctly. Its B*stard expensive stuff! Fortunately for me I wasn't paying for it when I was using it. Its supposed to be good on the liners with the extra cooling chanels round the top so I guess that makes sense on your first point.

[Nev]

Obviously my CC circuit isn't going to get any where near boiling point, so I guess water with a moderate amount of alchol (say 30%) will cope with winter.

[Winstar]

use a coolant (ethyl glycol) with OATS mixed to 30/70 with distilled water will protect to -15'C as you won't need the increased boiling point that a higher concentration would give you. The OATS is the important bit as it stops it coroding the Alumimium. You can use water wetter but I doubt you'd see much difference in a CC system as the temperature differences are alot lower than an engine cooling system.

[slindborg]

I wouldnt put coolant in an intercooler, cos it'll end up in your engine!! Im pesuming you mean a chargecooler? I just used water with a touch of antifreeze. Its got corrosion inhibitors and means it wont freeze in the winter. Double win...

ANY air charge cooling mechanism between the Turbo and Engine intake is an intercooler... well to be pedantic they are actually AFTERcoolers as they are post turbo/pre engine. A 'real' intercooler is between charge circuits, eg small turbo -> cooler -> Next turbo -> engine.

I have seen coolers on exhausts too, and they have been called aftercoolers too

Edited by slindborg, 11 February 2011 - 03:07 PM.

[Zoobeef]

I wouldnt put coolant in an intercooler, cos it'll end up in your engine!! Im pesuming you mean a chargecooler? I just used water with a touch of antifreeze. Its got corrosion inhibitors and means it wont freeze in the winter. Double win...

ANY air charge cooling mechanism between the Turbo and Engine intake is an intercooler... well to be pedantic they are actually AFTERcoolers as they are post turbo/pre engine. A 'real' intercooler is between charge circuits, eg small turbo -> cooler -> Next turbo -> engine.

I have seen coolers on exhausts too, and they have been called aftercoolers too

On solme of the lorrys we use they have coolant runnung through the pipe between the 2 turbos and running through the egr pipe bringing those temps down from about 700c to 200c

[Nev]

Thanks Rob, I''l look into OATS.