2.4L 4-cyl Turbo Dodge

[Dookie]

Guys,

I'm looking to maximize the cooling efficiency of my car. It's a 2005 Dodge Neon SRT-4, which has a water cooled turbo from the factory. I have installed a 180* t-stat (stock is 195*) and when the ambient temps are high here, my coolant temps hover around 195-200*, even when moving on the freeway. I've tried replacing the t-stat and radiator cap as well. Coolant to water ratio is about 30% coolant. Is it best to run straight water for cooling? Is Water Wetter found to be beneficial or more harm than good?

Sorry for the "noobish" questions. I don't frequent this site much, but have been registered for a while here.

Thanks in advance for your replies.

Dustin

 

[rszappa1]

I had a 1998 Plymouth acclaim with a 2.5 turbo and a 2004 PT with a turbo and I did use watter wetter in it. I figured that it cant hurt....

 

[Bill in Utah]

195-200 degrees is not ANYTHING to worry about. Esp in Las Vegas heat (I was there a couple of weeks ago and saw 220 in my Subaru and the outside temps were in the 90s)

I'd be more concerned with your 30% coolant. Get that up to a 40-50% and you'll be fine. You don't need to have issues with the metals in the engine.

I would NOT run straight water and forget the water wetter IMO..

Take care, Bill

 

[UNC017]

Those numbers sound pretty good, unless you're running a modified engine controller program. The engine management system is optimized for coolant temps around 200-210F on most newer vehicles, and the primary controller of engine temp isn't the T-stat, its the electric fans. Again, unless you've modified the programming to turn on the fan at a lower temp, its not going to kick in until somewhere between 200 and 210 regardless of the thermostat you have installed. The only reason to even consider running cooler is to run more boost without detonation, but just lowering the temp really won't even take you very far that way- you have to add additional fuel or water injection to really up the boost. Engine wear is actually LESS with the coolant running at anywhere between 210 and 230 degrees than it is at lower or higher temperatures, so there's absolutely no harm in running at that range if you don't get detonation, and with an aluminum head you probably won't.

This comes up *all* the time on Jeep forums because even the old 4.0 inline with an iron head is set up to run at 210, and it loves it there. But people used to seeing 180 degrees immediately think that its too hot. Nope, just normal.

 

[Chris142]

The engine will only run as cool as the cooling system will allow. Lets say the system can only maintain a 220f temp and no less. It's going to run 220F regardless of what temp the stat begins to open at.

Remember that the stat only controls the minimum operating temp. Once it's open it has no effect on maximun temp.
Nothing wrong with 200....Thing is working as expected.



The electric fans are not designed to come on untill around 230F unless the AC is on.

 

[Dookie]

Thanks for the replies guys. FYI on my car. Low speed fans on my car come on at 208*. High speed is 215*.

Would the ratio of coolant to water affect anything?

Also what about a higher psi radiator cap?

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: Dookie
Thanks for the replies guys. FYI on my car. Low speed fans on my car come on at 208*. High speed is 215*.

Would the ratio of coolant to water affect anything?

Also what about a higher psi radiator cap?


Coolant and water should be close to 50/50 in order to make the anti-corrosion additives work as they are designed. Be sure to use distilled water.

A higher PSI radiator cap will raise the boiling point of the coolant, but a properly functioning factory cap does enough to prevent boiling. Higher pressure radiator caps cause cooling system parts to go outside the factory specified temperature range. Don't use one, it can cause plastic parts to fail, and hoses to swell up abnormally.

 

[Dookie]

I should still use 50/50 even in the hot ambient temps we have in excess of 110*?

Also, should I stick with Mopar HOAT coolant or is something like Zerex G-05 preferred?

 

[Bill in Utah]

50/50 yep.

Stick with what is recommended for your model/make.

Bill

 

[Dookie]

Sounds good. Thanks guys.

 

[Canawler]

Originally Posted By: Dookie
I should still use 50/50 even in the hot ambient temps we have in excess of 110*?

Also, should I stick with Mopar HOAT coolant or is something like Zerex G-05 preferred?


Mopar HOAT is Zerex G-05.

 

[Paul56]

Dookie...

You could install something like this...

http://www.modernperformance.com/mishimoto-aluminum-radiator-0305-srt4-p-1938.html

Come join the gang of Neon & SRT-4 guys over at...

http://www.2gn.org