May have avoided an over-temp situation @VIR

djhartm

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Yesterday was a pretty hot day (92 degrees) at VIR. Last month while instructing I hit an over-temp situation wherein a message appeared on the DIC informing me to let the car cool down, or something to that affect).

I notice the water temp approaching the red zone yesterday, so while running down the back straight, I turned the temp up to max and the fan as well.

With the windows open it was hot, but bearable.

Within a lap, the temp gauge had dropped to halfway and remained there even as I dialed the fan back.

Its a free and easy way to drop temps while on track.

Oh and NLS is working flawlessly on this bone stock car!

Honda Civic 10th gen May have avoided an over-temp situation @VIR 20190929_072107_resized
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Yesterday was a pretty hot day (92 degrees) at VIR. Last month while instructing I hit an over-temp situation wherein a message appeared on the DIC informing me to let the car cool down, or something to that affect).

I notice the water temp approaching the red zone yesterday, so while running down the back straight, I turned the temp up to max and the fan as well.

With the windows open it was hot, but bearable.

Within a lap, the temp gauge had dropped to halfway and remained there even as I dialed the fan back.

Its a free and easy way to drop temps while on track.

Oh and NLS is working flawlessly on this bone stock car!

20190929_072107_resized.jpg
I thought this was common knowledge?
 


Syntek

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Why does cranking the heater to max cool the engine?
coolant is rerouted to the heater core which is what's used to heat the cabin. Think of it as a second smaller radiator that passes the heat directly into the vents, you're essentially having a second location to dissipate the heat alongside the main radiator.
 

fiend busa

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coolant is rerouted to the heater core which is what's used to heat the cabin. Think of it as a second smaller radiator that passes the heat directly into the vents, you're essentially having a second location to dissipate the heat alongside the main radiator.
Do that fans have to be at max speed too?
 

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willskiGT

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I can barely stand the fandom at the lowest speed lol
Turn the fans on max but use the windshield defrost / high vent setting and angle the vents away from you. Most track organizations require one or more windows down, so you can at least get a little outside air in the cabin.

The only thing keeping me from overheating on track was this trick (heater on max + fans on max). Coolant temps climbed but never reached critical.

The real (and more sinister) problem is what is happening to the oil temp when the coolant temp climbs. I would not be surprised if the oil temps were above 270F or even climbing as high as 300F when the coolant is so hot.
 


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Turn the fans on max but use the windshield defrost / high vent setting and angle the vents away from you. Most track organizations require one or more windows down, so you can at least get a little outside air in the cabin.

The only thing keeping me from overheating on track was this trick (heater on max + fans on max). Coolant temps climbed but never reached critical.

The real (and more sinister) problem is what is happening to the oil temp when the coolant temp climbs. I would not be surprised if the oil temps were above 270F or even climbing as high as 300F when the coolant is so hot.
Doesn't the Type-R have an oil temp sensor? Or is it Oil pressure? In any case if racing, it would probably be smart to go a slightly thicker oil so when the oil is at extremely high temps it'll help protect the motor a bit better compared to "watered" down oil or maybe even a higher performance oil pump...

 
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willskiGT

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Doesn't the Type-R have an oil temp sensor? Or is it Oil pressure? In any case if racing, it would probably be smart to go a slightly thicker oil so when the oil is at extremely high temps it'll help protect the motor a bit better compared to "watered" down oil or maybe even a higher performance oil pump...

No oil temp sensor. Only pressure.

Thicker oil won't solve the high oil temp issue. In fact, the greater viscosity would probably cause the oil temp to be even higher (but would protect the engine components slightly better). At 300F, even high viscosity racing oil is going to be breaking down. Really, if you're tracking the car, you need aftermarket cooling solutions and you could investigate running a 30 weight oil.
 
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djhartm

djhartm

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I doubt oil temps are approaching 300 degrees. However, even Mobil1 is safe at those temps.

I instructed 6 HPDE's since getting the car in May and the oil usage tool was still reading 30% with 5500 miles on the OD.

I changed the oil/filter before the 7th, so I've been tracking the car quite a bit. :)

If I keep this car, then an oil cooler would probably be in my future, but the car did very well (at stock power levels) all summer long at VIR and only threw one over-temp warning.

I wonder what (if any) changes were made too aid cooling vs earlier models (mine is a 2019), in which the issue seemed more prevalent...
 

Z06_Pilot

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to the OP, thanks for this post. I had never heard of this trick for bringing down the cooling temps (but I have also never had a car on track that exhibits the very high internal termps in the summer like the CTR does)

VIR, what an incredible track that is. I have had my Z06's on the Grand Course configuration numerous times, but I do plan to get the CTR out there for an HPDE weekend. The fact that the OP has really wrung this car out on that track with good results sounds like a ringing endorsement to me.

I have run with Chin Motorsports mostly and they are always there in October. Think I will go to that one to help avoid the high temp issues that summertime brings.

the oak tree...that's a sad, sad thing....
 
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djhartm

djhartm

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to the OP, thanks for this post. I had never heard of this trick for bringing down the cooling temps (but I have also never had a car on track that exhibits the very high internal termps in the summer like the CTR does)

VIR, what an incredible track that is. I have had my Z06's on the Grand Course configuration numerous times, but I do plan to get the CTR out there for an HPDE weekend. The fact that the OP has really wrung this car out on that track with good results sounds like a ringing endorsement to me.

I have run with Chin Motorsports mostly and they are always there in October. Think I will go to that one to help avoid the high temp issues that summertime brings.

the oak tree...that's a sad, sad thing....
I will be instructing that Thursday for Ken Kirham @ VIR. I may stick around and instruct for Chin that weekend as well.

>>>Oops Chin's instructor quota is filled. I asked to be added to their wait-list.

Not sure my C7 ZO6 Z07 will be ready by then, but hopeful. I may be driving that if so.

Honda Civic 10th gen May have avoided an over-temp situation @VIR 7791-sm
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