smankow

last season, it seemed that every event had cars dropping antifreeze on the track. A few friends had suggested a product called Engine Ice. Anyone with experience with it? Does it work? Will it's use void my CPO warranty? How much would I need to swap out the Porsche fluid in my 2003 996?

Also, any tips on flushing the system?


Steve

Willard Bridgham 3

Engine ice is propylene glycol (non-toxic) and conventional stuff is ethylene glycol (toxic). Propylene operates in about the same temp range as ethylene and has no advantage as a coolant.

All glycols are sugar and very slippery if you dump them on the track..

It's far better to check all hoses and clamps and repair/replace anything you suspect before going to the track.

Gator_86_951

I've never had a problem with my car leaking fluid during a DE. I agree with willard.

Bryan Watts

If you want MORE cooling and less slippery stuff on the track when something does go wrong, replace your coolant with water and a little Water Wetter for your track season and then put the anti-freeze back in for the winter months. Coolant isn't really "coolant" at all...water actually does a better job of cooling your motor. Coolant is used for it's lubrication and anti-freeze properties.

Frankly, there's no reason NOT to use water during the summer if you are running multiple track events. It's safer for you and all of those who must share the track with you.

Perhaps this is news to you Porsche guys who aren't accustomed to radiators.

APKhaos

^ x2.
There are many race sanctioning bodies with rules that BAN the use of coolant, and will fail any car that uses it. The safety of other cars is put at serious risk when coolant is dropped on track.

As Bryan said, the best plan is to drain the cooling system and refill with distilled water and a bottle of Redline Water Wetter. This will actually provide better cooling, and avoids the safety risks of coolant.

Make the change from coolant to distilled water & Water Wetter as soon as the risk of frost has passed, then change back to coolant as winter approaches.
Always use distilled water when filling the cooling system. Adding tap water with its load of mineral salts is the best way to encourage corrosion.

limey940

When i raced motorcyles engine ice was banned but we used a product called water wetter, apparently enhanced cooling capabilities but it had no abti freeze component.

Bryan Watts

Water Wetter is to be used as an addition to water, not as the actual coolant. 1-2 twelve ounce bottles is all you need for a typical car.

limey940

right, i have a bottle soemwhere if anyone wants it

cheers

Sean F

Coolant + track=evil

TR6

Now if someone could just invent an oil substitute that turns into something that isn't slippery when it's dumped on the race track!

Bryan Watts

"D@mn Porsches" seems to be a popular phrase at most HSR events.

kurt M

Glycols derate thermal capacity about 10% in normal concentrations. Using pure water should improve thermal transfer. Do not use distilled water by itself or you will eat the metals in your system. Distilled water is hungry for ions and will gather them from your radiator and any other source it can. Be sure to add some form of corrosion inhibitor. From what I have read Water Wetter provides this

Willard Bridgham 3

I'm one of those Engineers and do lots of heat transfer stuff mostly with
water and steam and I always go to the manual when I'm looking for coolants.
Everybody that does what I do knows the benefits of distilled water as an
heat transfer fluid; cost is another matter, but in a car, you only fill
once a year so volume is low.

I find a lot of what passes for conventional wisdom among the track rats
with whom I run is sometimes poop and we had a big debate about water wetter. I went back to first principles and calculated heat transfer as no one who was involved in the debate had any data at all on what water
wetter did, how much, how many degrees, and etc.

Well I did some testing and wetter with tap water changed temp a little at
idle and nothing (hard to measure and within range of error for the instrument)
at higher RPM's during events. Wetter with any mixture of glycol didn't
change a thing at any engine speed. Wetter with distilled water changed temp
both at idle and at speed, but it was due to distilled water. This is
pretty much what was peidicted by calculations.

For most cars at PCA events (even the new ones are waterpumpers now), water
wetter is snake oil, but It does have corrosion inhibitor and lubricant properties, both plusses..

M758

I use distilled water and water wetter in my 944 race car. I have done so for years. I use the water wetter to provide some lubriation and don't expect it to aid in the cooling of the car.

Snake oil for reducing water temps, but needed if you run straight water.

Bryan Watts

I don't know anyone who actually runs Water Wetter for increased cooling...I thought that it pretty universally agreed, even among non engineers, that it provides no benefits from a cooling standpoint.