Turbo LS running a little hot

[Weston-work]

My Turbo LS normally maintains it's coolant temperature very well, just like stock, even when beat on it around town or down the highway (including my 100 mile trip to the Springs, boosting all the way down there and back)... But I went to Second Creek today and got the temp gauge a little passed the middle (it normally sits a little before the middle and never moves). Running the heater on full blast helped keep it under control, but it was still a little hotter than normal, and that's not really a great or comfortable solution.

So, does anyone know of a cooling solution that really works? A larger radiator is likely going to cause fitment issues between the radiator fan and the turbo. Does anyone have any experience with an upgraded thermostat such as the Spoon unit? Any other ideas? I can't spray anything with water (or anything else that could end up on the ground), and compressed gasses aren't permitted either.

It currently has the stock radiator & fan, front mount intercooler, timing set to 14 degrees (stock is 16), Bosch platinum plugs with stock heat range, and I was running about 6-7 psi today. I'm going to get colder plugs and put a switch on the radiator fan relay so that I can turn it on manually if I want (even though it should automatically be on when the engine is this hot). But I'm not confident that'll be suficient...

[HONDA GHANDI]

Weston, The spoon t-stat and fan switch work wonders if you can put up with your fan being constantly on. If you still have issues after that I suggest replacing your coolant with This stuff we use on circle track cars. It is completely synthetic and has heat transfer properties off the map. It freezes at -80 below and boils at almost 300 degrees. It is water soluble so it can be washed off easily. The only problem is its about $50 a gallon. I will try to think of the name of it and get back with you.

[HONDA GHANDI]

AHA! Its called evans, check it out. http://www.evanscooling.com/html/vintage1.htm

[ryanman]

I use this stuff that you can buy at Advance Auto parts. It's $15 a gallon and it's in a metal container. I think it's called Ice Blue or something. Dropped my coolant temp by 28 degrees.

[exciv2000]

I want some of that Evans or Ice Blue or something.

[ryanman]

It's either Ice Blue or Cool Blue or something. They have it ONLY at Advance Auto Parts. Normally up by or on the front counter.

[Mario]

Weston, have you checked slim fans? I hear they will move more CFM's and are only about 1" thick... can get them at a Pepboys or something for like $30. I'd consider that too. Do you have any additives in the coolant system? May wanna check that out too for a first alternative. If that doesn't work, then maybe that extreme ($50/gallon) stuff or aftermarket radiator should work.

[1998cc]

Originally posted by Mario
Weston, have you checked slim fans? I hear they will move more CFM's and are only about 1" thick... can get them at a Pepboys or something for like $30. I'd consider that too. Do you have any additives in the coolant system? May wanna check that out too for a first alternative. If that doesn't work, then maybe that extreme ($50/gallon) stuff or aftermarket radiator should work. You probably don't want electric fans, unless you keep your fan shroud. I have an electric fan and the temps stayed the same as stock. Go to Pep Boys and get yourself a bottle of Redline Water Wetter. The stuff is about 10 bucks a bottle and definately worth it. The lower temp might not show up that well on a stock temp gauge, but the cylinder head and block are definately cooler. Another suggestion would be to get a radiator cap that has a higher pressure.

[Mario]

Yep, Water Wetter helped lower my computer temps a good few degrees.. (that's what I mean when I said 'additives').

[GimPin]

ummm why are you running bosch plugs?!?!?! I wouldnt put those in a festiva!!!

[Weston-work]

What's wrong with Bosch!? I've always had good luck with them. They certainly do better than those NGK V-Power pieces of crap that I had before.

[SleeperZ]

What's wrong with Bosch!? I've always had good luck with them. They certainly do better than those NGK V-Power pieces of crap that I had before.

Haha, that's all I use are NGK. I think Bosch suck, but they are not as bad as most, like Autolite or Champion.

[RapierTL]

What's wrong with champion. I use champion double platinum spark plugs. Besides, if you don't notice anything wrong with it, then they are running correctly. Why are people saying "those plugs suck" "no, those plugs suck" If there's a consistent spark, then what's the difference?

[RapierTL]

It'll be november in a couple of days, and it's been hella cold recently in Denver. Why do you want to run that cold ice blue in your coolant this time of year anyways?

[95GSRB18C]

ive been told by honda techs that bosch are crap and are only for german cars. They might have also said this because honda runs NGK plugs in all their cars stock. You might also want to look into some ZEX plugs.

[Weston-work]

I've used only NGK and Bosch plugs in my car, and the only time that I noticed any difference was when I tried NGK V-power platinums... those made a noticable drop in performance, but regular NGK's are fine. Bosch plugs (both copper and platinum) seem to perform just as well as regular NGK plugs.

[95GSRB18C]

yea, thats just what a honda tech had told me, and from my expierence, bosch made my car run like crap. But yea, you should definitley look into the ZEX plugs.

[Mario]

Weston, what is your conclusion to this problem, or have you not reached one yet? I am pretty interested to see what the cause of this could be. :)

[Weston]

The cause of my overheating problem? That's just the extra engine bay heat, bigger explosions inside the engine, and the FMIC blocking air flow to the radiator. I've since installed the Spoon thermostat and thermoswitch... that wont help anything when it gets really hot, but it'll start out with a lower coolant temperature, and it'll cool it down more whenever it gets a chance to.

The temp stays nice and low now, but will get up to about the normal position if I beat on it. That's just on the street though... It takes the abuse of Second Creek to get it above the normal position. I'm thinking that the Spoon mods will just give me more time before it gets too hot.

I was going to go out to Second Creek tomorrow for SCCA Solo Trials #4, but my back is bothering me and the weather sucks. So, I'll have to wait to see how well it does out there now... it wouldn't be a good test to try it on a cold wet day anyway.

[Mario]

Ahh, ok - I see now, thanks for the little update.

Yea, the weather's been shitty... it was all foggy tonight... kinda sucked for delivering. ;)

[Ashton]

spray alcohol.... it evaporates faster than h2o

[Weston-work]

I'm not a big fan of the idea of spraying a mist of flammable liquid, nor is the SCCA. There's no spraying anything unless it's 100% contained, and no adding flammable or compressed liquids/gasses.

[ryanman]

spray alcohol.... it evaporates faster than h2o
Well aren't you the genius? :rolleyes:

[white_n_slow]

a koyo or fluidyne will fit with a thinner fan. FAL or something similar should do the trick.