Two things I did to keep my 8v92 cool

[Scott & Heather]

I've been struggling with slightly elevated heat levels on my 8v92TA ever since we turned up the juice to 500hp. I know that a water pump replacement is in my future since it's leaking, and I also will be replacing my tstats and pulling both radiators to internally inspect them for scale or other deposits. My blower fans are new the entire box is rebuilt. The radiators look perfect on the outside, the seals around the blower box are new and I've spray foamed any openings so that all of the air is sucked through both radiators. At normal idle, it passes the rag toss test...I toss a rag in the air in front of the radiators and it sucks to the intake grill and stays there.

This past week I switched to TranSynd fluid in my Allison 748. I also added two bottles of Royal Ice (Royal Purples equivalent to water wetter) to my coolant. We've been driving now fully loaded 43,000 lbs with toad attached from Texas to Indiana and haven't overheated even one time. Averaging 65-70mph with one or two stints to 80mph when I wasn't paying attention on a lonely highway.  Ambient temps have been in the low 90's. Crazy heat wave...Indiana is supposed to hit 92°F this afternoon. I am running coolant temps in the 190-195 range based on my digital gauge. Not staying super cool but way better than 200-205. I know water wetter type stuff is a bandaid but it's working enough to get me to my next place where I'll have time to tackle the main issues.


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[Iceni John]

How does Water Wetter or other similar surfactant affect the additives in coolant?   What concerns me is its possible effect on silicate dropout, or changing the coolant's pH balance.   Are there any chemists here who can enlighten us?

John

[Dreadnought]

Where in Indiana?

Come see me! i'm there now!

[opus]

How does Water Wetter or other similar surfactant affect the additives in coolant?   What concerns me is its possible effect on silicate dropout, or changing the coolant's pH balance.   Are there any chemists here who can enlighten us?

John

I'm not a chemist but I have slept in a Holiday Inn.  From what I read, you shouldnt mix it with coolant.  Take that with a grain of salt thogh.  I remember when I added it to my Suburban, I drained the coolant and went straight water/water wetter because that must have been suggested.

[edit]I was wrong, I believe it is more efficient with straight water, is what I meant to say.

[eagle19952]

a 1500 psi pressure washer will often work small miracles. i carry one

just a cheapy $100.00 jobby

[bevans6]

Water wetter is designed for use with either plain distilled water (it includes lubricants and anti-corrosion additives) or with any normal glycol based antifreeze.  I've used it with both.  I just read that they have a version without the anti-corrosion additives for use in heavy duty diesel engines that have special additive packages. 

Brian

[brmax]

Thats a good tip thanks Brian
I guess like some antifreeze they changed and cator to more now, as engines have a lot of different metals in their parts now days. Some fluids dont like aluminum or brass etc.

Good day there
Floyd

[Dave5Cs]

Scott if it were me I would take those red rags off the radiators that you threw on them. That might be part of your problem with the overheat, Just sayin
Dave5Cs

[Scott & Heather]

Lol. Thanks I needed a laugh. We are in Cicero


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[windtrader]

Scott,  You don't mention misters, have you tried and not effective. Seems it works for many to keep things cooler.

[Iceni John]

Water wetter is designed for use with either plain distilled water (it includes lubricants and anti-corrosion additives) or with any normal glycol based antifreeze.  I've used it with both.  I just read that they have a version without the anti-corrosion additives for use in heavy duty diesel engines that have special additive packages. 

Brian

Even the HD diesel version of Water Wetter makes me nervous about using it in the only engine I'll ever be able to afford!   At the very least, I would want to see the results of long-term (several years minimum) independent and verifiable testing in engines similar to ours.   One thing I do however plan on doing is to increase the distilled water content of my coolant to 60%, or whatever level still maintains the correct additive levels  -  water is better than ethylene glycol at transfering heat, so maybe that will give similar results to using a surfactant like WW?   I don't live in, nor will ever have my bus in, cold enough  temperatures that require 50% anti-freeze, so increasing the water content of my coolant may be a viable option for me.

John

[opus]

I don't live in, nor will ever have my bus in, cold enough  temperatures that require 50% anti-freeze, so increasing the water content of my coolant may be a viable option for me.

I never know which way to turn.  We go from -40 to 110 in the course of a year.  LOL

[Scott & Heather]

We run up north every winter and have seen temps with the bus down to -28F. So I have to keep a safe mix. I do indeed have a very effective radiator misting system. It works almost like a miracle when things get a little too hot. Always drops my temps dramatically. But again, it's somewhat of a band aid. Last year I had to use them so much through the mountains in California that I would go through  50-60 gallons of water a day just misting. That's not acceptable for me long term. But without a doubt, it's my heavy artillery and gets the job done.


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[Dreadnought]

For the longest of times my bus lived in my barn under minnesotas sub Arctic conditions.  I found over the winter the hoses would shrink/ pull away from the hose clamps and there would be coolant seepage. When I originally moved to MN I tried to camp late in the year and it got down to 8 deg F (  I was waiting to close on the house i just recently sold). Even with all the space heaters and ceramic heaters on the thing just didn't get warm. In my sleeping bag I still ended up with a head ache. Never again! 

Right now I'm in Elkhart btw. If you're in the area give me a shout

[BenMC7]

Scott, I sent you a PM.