Coolant System Advice please :)
Turbo Mini Forums

Hey guys,

so check it out, I have relised today that my coolant system maybe a bit mmis-matched so I will tell you what I have and can you please let me know what needs changing/modifying for it to work effictivley please :)

This is what I have bought/installed

Larger Capacity water pump:
http://www.minispares.com/product/Classic/...k%20to%20search

88 Degree Thermostat (I think, says 88 on it):
http://www.minispares.com/product/Classic/...k%20to%20search

Cheap Chinese alloy rad:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FULL-ALLOY-SUPPE...=item1c1e50c3f7

Fan switch in bottom of rad (on at 87 off at 82):
http://www.cbsonline.co.uk/product/Fan_Swi...M14_x_1.5_FANSW

Standard 11 blade plastic fan:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CLASSIC-MINI-11-...=item4162270525

Electric fan on other side of rad wired to the fan switch:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-UNIVERSAL-ELE...=item519f7e86b9



Im a bit concerned that this wont work well esp with an 88 degree thermostat and the fan switch commin on at 87. That said the fan switch is in the bottom of the rad so it will turn on when the water going back into the engine is at 87 deg and therefore should work?

I've set it up so that if I did long motorways journeys (200/ 250 miles non stop) or track days then it wouldnt overheat as I found with my std 998 that on such motorway journeys I would have to stop half way as the car/rad got so hot it was untouchable for hours

Opinions please guys :)

No sure about the hugn wang Rad, I would opt for a minispares 4 core then your sure! Opt for a 74 degree state

Apart from that you fine IMO

74c stat in a road car is way to cold. No one in their right mind would run a road engine that cold!

yes far too cold.

see how you get on with that fan switch, although the stat is 88 the water will be cooler bu the time it gets to the bottom of the rad wehre the switch is, so you might find it dosent cut in until the thermostat/ gauge sender is at 95-100 deg...

I'd say put in a fan overide switch to so you can crack it on to cool it down

also check the water pump pully diameter, big ones can make it run hot at idle.

Edited by Joe C on 28th Jul, 2012.

I disagree with the 88 degree thermostat, the reason been the optimum water temp for Power is 74 degrees (fact)

The reason many years ago was oil sludging running 74 degrees, this was caused by a combination. Of short journeys. And a blend of crude oil in 1970s, which caused the dreaded sludging problem, hence a wonder decision. Was made by the boffins at the time, up the thermostat. To 84 degrees, doing away with the slugging problem,

That was was great! 84 for summer. And was decided 88 for winter Great! But at the expence of power loss........... and that my friends is what we are after. Power! As most of us are petrol heads and regular. Change the oil no sludging occures.

I have run 74 degree thermostat in my mini for ten years with no sludging issues, as I employ. The above............ I hope this gives you the right information to make the correct decision.

to quote...

"many years ago"

while the optimum temp for power may have been 74 deg it isnt now according to the info I have seen. I belive Colin has actually put this to the test on the rollers on his SPI project.

lol

to go a bit furthur, in some modern high octane fuels there is a lot of ethanol and toluene to boost octane, these like a hot engine, and in fact if present in enough quantities hot charge temps.

Done now needs redoing lol

Frigidaire?

okay guys, so the verdict is give it a go as is? Or should I change the thermostat to the 82 deg one on minispares???

I dont want to run the 74 deg one as it is my daily drive

if its a daily try it with the 88,

Well I am past caring myselfe, each to their Own!

In my book Turbo minis is turning into a dick measuring contest, hence! . . . That's why many good and great members have stopped posting and left. !

Colin Have you go 10 inch. .lol

I have 37 years of experience. In engineering 11. Years. In r22 and ammonia refrigeratoion plant, and chief engineerining manager for 3 blue chip companys, I have a Yorkshire 12 inch. ....lmao

Stick to the plan craigie. In my experience, even with an 88 stat, your car will not run at 88 deg.

Your old 998 must have had a problem, mine have run forever with 60bhp engines and standard cooling. High cruising temps are usually the engine making too much heat, rather than a cooling issue. Too much advance, or lean mixture most likely cause.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

That ahold work depending on the alloy rad. Since 2007 I have run with a 2core minispares rad, std water pump, two blade fan and now a electric on the inner wing( this is because I was going to knock the mech fan on the head but couldn't get the cooling at speed.
Any high temps have been due to another issue like headgasket failure.

I run a supercharger and I don't care the TB is on the wrong side.
VEMS + 12 PSI + Liquid Intercooler = Small Bore FUN!

okay guys thanks for the information :) Ill let you all know how I get on :)