[JohnzyST]

Here are two videos of my fiesta at button willow.

 

[MLKN]

Looks about as hot as it was in Thunderhill. That is a fast track. How did the car hold up?

 

[JohnzyST]

It over heated after second session. And first two sessions my IC pipe kept blowing off so I ended up using a tbolt clamp but by then it was 100 degrees and I could only do one hot lap and back to the pits. Oh well. Maybe I can buy 2js upgraded radiator by next track day. On this set up the car can do 2:10 I think.

 

[MLKN]

Yeah. I overheated too. I was surprised. And some runs it overheated and others it didn't. Odd.

 

[JohnzyST]

How hot did your temps climb too?

 

[MLKN]

Maxed out. I got a visual and audible warning.

 

[maybe_fiestast]

Overheating is no bueno. What is the max external temp the car can handle on a track day without overheating?

How hard were you guys driving?

How long were the sessions?

 

[MLKN]

I would have imagined it would have done better in 100 degree heat. I was driving hard but interestingly only happened during one session. The sessions were about 20 minutes.

 

[razorlab]

On the overheating conversation... One thing I have noticed on our cars is that we have a bar going across the front where the two crash sensors are located. If you look through your grill you will see it. It's a horrible placement, it basically cuts off half the flow of the already small opening in the upper grill. Also, the bar itself is a horrible design, it's not flat but has two ridges on the top and bottom, probably for structure but I'm assuming it creates a ton of turbulence for incoming air.

At first I thought they where the ambient air sensors, like most cars have in that location, and I was going to relocate them and remove that bar. However I looked up the part numbers and they are the forward airbag sensors.

The other odd thing I noticed is that the Euro Fiesta ST's DO NOT have this bar or sensors in that location.

Here are some photos of the object I am talking about. You can really see how much more open it is without the object on the EDM version.

USDM:

EDM:

 

[MLKN]

Wow. Thanks US regulators.

 

[razorlab]

Well as far as I know the EDM versions still have airbags but obviously the sensors are in a different place or different altogether

 

[maybe_fiestast]

Even so you'd think the US version went through hot weather testing.

I saw another thread (not sure if here or another forum) somewhere stating that some of these engines had a manufacturing defect that have caused overheating. Maybe you should have dealer check?

 

[McRib 1s Back]

Overheating concerns me plenty, too. I'm a fan of using distilled water/WaterWetter, also -- but it's actually oil that has me more worried. A couple weekends ago, my first session at WSIR SoW was at 102 deg F ambient! While the car ran hotter than I wanted, the highest I saw was 237. Previous highs were in the high 220s and close to 230. No warning lights (yet!). I'm betting that warning light is around 250. For cooling improvements, the only thing I have so far is the Mountune FMIC (and SS hard pipe that reduces pressure drop a bit).

Since I'm not running airbags, I'll look into removing that bar. This should probably be in its own thread by now. There's a good chunk of detail in here that could cleanly be lifted into "Road Race-> Managing Heat/Overheating" (or similar).

 

[JohnzyST]

I'm thinking of spraying some water on the radiator before everyone run next track day. It will help keep the temps cool for a little. Not too sure how much it will help but its the only think I can do until I can buy an upgraded radiator.
I am currently working on fabbing a dual fan shroud for the radiator, but won't be done unlike work slows down a little.
I also notice we have a lot of things blocking our radiator.

 

[razorlab]

That won't work at all. It will evaporate before you even get to the 3rd corner on your first lap.

I'm trying to source a upgraded radiator. I also have an OEM shroud on order so I can look into modding it.

Have you replaced your coolant with just distilled water and redline water wetter?

 

[McRib 1s Back]

That won't work at all. It will evaporate before you even get to the 3rd corner on your first lap.

I'm trying to source a upgraded radiator. I also have an OEM shroud on order so I can look into modding it.

Have you replaced your coolant with just distilled water and redline water wetter?

Have you guys checked out the radiator from 2J Racing? I'm committed to buying one just as soon as its ready. I understand his goal is basically one that will bolt in allow the re-use of the stock fan, and another "racing only" model (where you presumably source your own fan).

Again, I have yet to see very high coolant temps while running in the desert heat. Oil, a bit -- but maybe the Mountune FMIC is helping out there, too? I will run water/Water Wetter for my next track day since I want to do some maintenance anyhow.

 

[McRib 1s Back]

That won't work at all. It will evaporate before you even get to the 3rd corner on your first lap.

I'm trying to source a upgraded radiator. I also have an OEM shroud on order so I can look into modding it.

Have you replaced your coolant with just distilled water and redline water wetter?

Maybe the variation where a sprayer worked on a regular cycle (like JDM IC sprayers on old Subies) would do it? I'm only pointing out that the idea isn't completely without merit -- the latency of evaporation of water is pretty high. Having said that, it's a real no-no to have something appearing to leak under your car at the track! I can see you getting flagged off in your first lap.

 

[razorlab]

Sprayer or a nitrogen purger thingie would do at least something, but the hosing down the radiator in the pits before going on track is doing nothing but getting your front tires wet.

Back in 2003-2005 when the Evo 8 just came out, a bunch of the 03-04 owners got flagged for using the IC sprayer at Thunderhill. The workers just see liquid and act accordingly.

Also, from logging, the IC sprayers really didn't do much anyway.

 

[JohnzyST]

That won't work at all. It will evaporate before you even get to the 3rd corner on your first lap.

I'm trying to source a upgraded radiator. I also have an OEM shroud on order so I can look into modding it.

Have you replaced your coolant with just distilled water and redline water wetter?

A buddy n I are building a radiator. Some issues we have notices is some a/c components. So the thickest we can run is 2in -2 1/2in, which will be more than enough.

If everything goes as planned in a few weeks ill have one made. If not ill just have to wait for 2js