Straight water, water & water wetter, or regular coolant mix in radiator?

[SteveM]

What are you guys running?

To get up and going, I put straight distilled water in my H/DT Rampage, making sure there were no leaks, etc..  This will be my first trip to Bonneville.  What are the rest of you running for coolant?  Straight water?  Water with "water wetter"?  Regular ethylene glycol mix?

Thanks in advance.

Steve.

[Stainless1]

water and wetter for many years

[Crackerman]

Water wetter, wix cool or purple ice work great.
When you are done racing put some antifreeze or another additive with a corrosion inhibitor in. So it doesnt rust apart on the inside while sitting for the next year.

[Captthundarr]

Water wetter, then a splash o antifroze then drain for storage.

[4-barrel Mike]

Regular ethylene glycol mix?

Thanks in advance.

Steve.

3.R COOLING SYSTEM..."No flammable or combustible coolants are allowed."

Mike

[Stan Back]

What's the mixture with water that's acceptable?

[hotrod]

Last time this discussion happened shortly after the rule change prompted by the antifreeze coolant fire on a streamliner the answer was none --- straight water only.

[manta22]

Ethylene glycol is fine for storage but not for competition. Drain the cooling system, flush it with water, and then fill it with plain ol' water. There is no better coolant than water. See the Stewart website for a discussion of additives vs. water.

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ

[Captthundarr]

The ethylene glycol is to give the inards a coating to help reduce rust then drain. Like n
Neil says.

[Dr Goggles]

Ethylene glycol is fine for storage but not for competition. Drain the cooling system, flush it with water, and then fill it with plain ol' water. There is no better coolant than water. See the Stewart website for a discussion of additives vs. water.

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ

Hey Neil thanks for the tip, I checked the website

http://laundry.about.com/od/productreviews/gr/Laundry-Guide-Product-Review-Mrs-Stewarts-Liquid-Bluing.htm

Now my overalls are foreman material but my ride is still boiling, what to do?

Yours, Hot-Stuff 

[manta22]

Goggles;

Well, if you have Mrs Stewart in your knickers....

[SteveM]

I ordered a bottle of water wetter, but haven't mixed it in yet.  I guess I misinterpreted the rulebook language.  When I read no combustible or flammable coolants, I assumed they were outlawing things like straight alcohol (why anyone would want to use straight alcohol as a coolant is a separate issue).

Right now, the inside of my radiator, block, and all hoses have been exposed to nothing but pure distilled water.

Is it the common interpretation of the rule that water wetter is not allowed?

Steve.

[dw230]

Water Wetter products are allowed. The rule change was the result of a terrible fire where the competitor was using Evans coolant in his car. The engine pushed a head gasket and the coolant caught fire, came under the seat resulting in a cockpit fire. As a point, NHRA also bans Evans coolant.

DW

[Jack Gifford]

Displaying my ignorance- is ordinary anti-freeze flammable?

A coolant-related question for pavement LSR venues: Is anti-freeze disallowed (or discouraged) as it is in drag racing (potential "lubricant" on the track)?

[hotrod]

Displaying my ignorance- is ordinary anti-freeze flammable?

Yes a normal 50/50 mix of ethylene glycol is flammable under the right conditions. If it is sprayed on a very hot surface like red hot headers or mixed with a pre-existing fuel fire it will add to the fire.

http://www.lakeland.edu/AboutUs/MSDS/PDFs/956/Ethylene%20Glycol%20%28Baker%29.pdf

5. Fire Fighting Measures
Fire:
Flash point: 111C (232F) CC
Autoignition temperature: 398C (748F)
Flammable limits in air % by volume:
lel: 3.2; uel: 15.3
Slight to moderate fire hazard when exposed to heat or flame.
Explosion:
Above flash point, vapor-air mixtures are explosive within flammable limits noted above. Containers may
explode when involved in a fire

Fire Extinguishing Media:
Dry chemical, foam or carbon dioxide. Water or foam may cause frothing. Water spray may be used to
extinguish surrounding fire and cool exposed containers. Water spray will also reduce fume and irritant
gases.
Special Information:
In the event of a fire, wear full protective clothing and NIOSH-approved self-contained breathing apparatus
with full facepiece
operated in the pressure demand or other positive pressure mode. Toxic gases and
vapors may be released if involved in a fire.