Landracing Forum

Tech Information => Technical Discussion => Topic started by: SteveM on August 19, 2013, 01:46:05 PM

Title: Straight water, water & water wetter, or regular coolant mix in radiator?
Post by: SteveM on August 19, 2013, 01:46:05 PM
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.
Title: Re: Straight water, water & water wetter, or regular coolant mix in radiator?
Post by: Stainless1 on August 19, 2013, 01:55:10 PM
water and wetter for many years
Title: Re: Straight water, water & water wetter, or regular coolant mix in radiator?
Post by: Crackerman on August 19, 2013, 01:56:26 PM
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.
Title: Re: Straight water, water & water wetter, or regular coolant mix in radiator?
Post by: Captthundarr on August 19, 2013, 05:26:22 PM
Water wetter, then a splash o antifroze then drain for storage.
Title: Re: Straight water, water & water wetter, or regular coolant mix in radiator?
Post by: 4-barrel Mike on August 19, 2013, 06:12:02 PM
Regular ethylene glycol mix?

Thanks in advance.

Steve.

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

Mike
Title: Re: Straight water, water & water wetter, or regular coolant mix in radiator?
Post by: Stan Back on August 19, 2013, 07:31:36 PM
What's the mixture with water that's acceptable?
Title: Re: Straight water, water & water wetter, or regular coolant mix in radiator?
Post by: hotrod on August 19, 2013, 07:42:06 PM
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.

Title: Re: Straight water, water & water wetter, or regular coolant mix in radiator?
Post by: manta22 on August 19, 2013, 07:44:13 PM
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
Title: Re: Straight water, water & water wetter, or regular coolant mix in radiator?
Post by: Captthundarr on August 19, 2013, 08:45:04 PM
The ethylene glycol is to give the inards a coating to help reduce rust then drain. Like n
Neil says.
Title: Re: Straight water, water & water wetter, or regular coolant mix in radiator?
Post by: Dr Goggles on August 19, 2013, 08:46:39 PM
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
 (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  :evil:
Title: Re: Straight water, water & water wetter, or regular coolant mix in radiator?
Post by: manta22 on August 19, 2013, 08:55:12 PM
Goggles;

Well, if you have Mrs Stewart in your knickers.... :-D

Title: Re: Straight water, water & water wetter, or regular coolant mix in radiator?
Post by: SteveM on August 20, 2013, 12:26:38 PM
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.
Title: Re: Straight water, water & water wetter, or regular coolant mix in radiator?
Post by: dw230 on August 20, 2013, 06:53:50 PM
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
Title: Re: Straight water, water & water wetter, or regular coolant mix in radiator?
Post by: Jack Gifford on August 21, 2013, 12:27:26 AM
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)?
Title: Re: Straight water, water & water wetter, or regular coolant mix in radiator?
Post by: hotrod on August 21, 2013, 11:20:41 AM
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
Quote
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.
Title: Re: Straight water, water & water wetter, or regular coolant mix in radiator?
Post by: SPARKY on August 21, 2013, 02:15:14 PM
In my opinion you are on the right track with Distilled water----has no minerals that can "ceramic" with heat  I only run Distilled water  when racing and drain.
Title: Re: Straight water, water & water wetter, or regular coolant mix in radiator?
Post by: John Burk on August 21, 2013, 02:40:40 PM
The site below says as a liquid (not spray) the flash and flame point of 100% ethylene glycol is about 255 deg. F and that the flash & flame point of 25% EG / 75% water is only slightly higher , 288 and 296 deg. F . The low % doesn't sound all that safe but others can interpret it that better than me .

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=%22ethylene%20glycol%22%20water%20flammability&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&ved=0CDAQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reifire.net%2Ftext%2Fethylene.pdf&ei=O_8UUqiVBqWEygHVsIGIBw&usg=AFQjCNG7Dd6-kT1HSm5oRrGub0V3hNpstQ