Extra Cooling

[logr]

I have AC on my S13 SR hatch.
I do track days with it.
I have a koyo radiator with dual elec fal fans.
My intercooler is right in front of my rad, moved the rad back 3 in.
I had heating issues at times.
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First I cut out some fins from the condensor to allow more air through, helped a bit.
Next I put a bit smaller intercooler on, covered only half the rad, helped a bit more but didn't cure it.
Finally I added a smaller oil type cooler where the stock side mount intercooler was and plumbed the water from the turbo into it and then back into the outlet neck of the engine.
It cured the problem completely.
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This is much easier if you removed the piping on the back of SR's and turned around the turbo water outlet to go into a fitting you welded onto the engine outlet neck when you installed your SR. I always cut off the pipe on the back of the engine right beside the other heater pipe and use 2 Napa hoses that fit perfectly. I have the numbers if anyone is interested.
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I have seen so much stuff on fans and rad and overheating that I thought this might be interesting to someone. Hope it helps.

[veilside180sx]

We always had better luck with the clutch fan than electric, even if it costs a few hp.

[Def]

No overheating problems after installing an oil cooler where the windshield washer reservoir used to reside.

[shoes59]

Finally I added a smaller oil type cooler where the stock side mount intercooler was and plumbed the water from the turbo into it and then back into the outlet neck of the engine.
It cured the problem completely.

That sounds like a great idea. Only dowsides I can think of would be added hassle bleeding the system and more areas for leakage potential.

[logr]

Never did any extra bleeding.
Can't get rid of washer tank in SM.
It is much easier to add this than an oil cooler.
The air conditioning was when I started having an issue. Running 140+ down the straight(think it is the longest in the NW) with the air on can be a problem.

I kind of like the clutch fan but with my rad moved back it was a bit of an issue.

[CodyAce]

Either I'm lucky, or my car is a freak, but I've NEVER had a overheating issue...ever

GreddyRSPL Intercooler
Full AirConditioning
Koyo Rad

I run an upper cooling plate, and my lower plastic under engine stuff. Even in the middle of 95% humidity, 90 degree PA, my water temps never go above 200-210. In fact, I think i've only ever seen 210 once. I run my temp sensor with a CustomSteel sandwhich plate in the upper radiator hose on the side of the block, and also use the factory "on, hot, overheat" (lol) gauge in the stock location, as well as datalog runs, and NEVER have any problems.

(Sensor block:


)

[Def]

The one problem with this is if it's after your turbo then you won't properly cool it upon shutoff. The turbo relies on a thermosyphon effect from boiling the coolant in the CHRA which will then rise, drawing more liquid coolant in to boil. You can hear this.

If the cooler is before it, no problems.

[CodyAce]

The one problem with this is if it's after your turbo then you won't properly cool it upon shutoff. The turbo relies on a thermosyphon effect from boiling the coolant in the CHRA which will then rise, drawing more liquid coolant in to boil. You can hear this.

If the cooler is before it, no problems.

Call me crazy, but does't our turbo water return dump into the heater core first, before returning to the engine?

[DuckyD]

Call me crazy, but does't our turbo water return dump into the heater core first, before returning to the engine?

If you are talking about SR's...
The S13 SR returns coolant to the heater core. The S14 SR dumps directly into the waterneck (headed towards radiator).

[CodyAce]

If you are talking about SR's...
The S13 SR returns coolant to the heater core. The S14 SR dumps directly into the waterneck (headed towards radiator).

Oh duh I completely forgot about the water necks on the SR engines.

Well if that's the case, wouldn't it be easier (assuming the OP has a waterneck engine) to just T into the heater core line like the redtop instead of re engineering the front of the cooling system?

[logr]

Never heard of the thermosyphon effect but can't see why this is different than the original design going to the back of the engine. I always cool my engine off before shut down if I have been boosting hard.

I NEVER leave the coolant lines behind the engine. I figured everyone else did the same since it is so simple to cut the heater core pipe and and use 2 short heater hoses. I then bend the turbo outlet line to go into the water neck where I welded on a nipple for it.

If you do it this way, you just run the water into the extra cooler before the neck.

[240sxTTC]

Here's a presentation I preparred and presented at '08 SEMA. It's a presentation about all of the components (aside from a turbo) in a turbo system and how to optimize them. In thermal siphoning water is circulated by natural convection because of the difference in water density at different points in the system. The water in the center hsg is heated due to heat soak back from the turbine hsg. This water is hotter than the water lower in the system therefore the lower density hot water in the center hsg is pushed out by the higher density cool water. This cycle continues until the water throughout the system is the same temp, which in turn cools the center hsg slowly therefore eliminated choking of the oil. The presentation contains other components as well but since it was a presentation it's missing some of my notes. Let me know if you have any questions.

http://www.turbobygarrett.com/turbobygarrett/tech_center/turbo_optimization.html

[shoes59]

The one problem with this is if it's after your turbo then you won't properly cool it upon shutoff. The turbo relies on a thermosyphon effect from boiling the coolant in the CHRA which will then rise, drawing more liquid coolant in to boil. You can hear this.

If the cooler is before it, no problems.

I think I understand this but if it's installed before the turbo it sorta defeats the purpose. Isn't returning cooler water back to the engine (after being heated by the turbo) the point of this?

[Def]

I think I understand this but if it's installed before the turbo it sorta defeats the purpose. Isn't returning cooler water back to the engine (after being heated by the turbo) the point of this?

You're still removing heat from the cooling system, and I doubt during operation the coolant temp goes up a huge amount in the turbo CHRA. Water has a high specific heat capacity, so it takes a huge amount of energy to increase its temperature when you have a good flow going through stuff.


Regarding the thermosyphon(thermal syphon) effect, even with a long cool down period before shutting the car off, this still occurs. You guys have never noticed the gurgling sound coming from your turbo area after you shut the engine down? It's pretty loud on my car now that I route the turbo coolant return to the water outlet neck, but was easily noticeable before when it just went to the heater core.

[CodyAce]

I NEVER leave the coolant lines behind the engine. I figured everyone else did the same since it is so simple to cut the heater core pipe and and use 2 short heater hoses. I then bend the turbo outlet line to go into the water neck where I welded on a nipple for it.

If you do it this way, you just run the water into the extra cooler before the neck.

I've never had an issue with running the lines behind the head -- I can certainly see your perspective on this though, however my setup cools/works so I'm not gonna change it...but I will keep it in mind though!


Again, I don't see the need to recreate a second cooling system in this situation. Seems like one of those situations where you're killing a ant with a 155 round.