WaterWetter, an concerns???
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,484
Likes: 1
From: Everyday you must choose between the pain of discipline and the pain of regret. Fredericktown, OH
WaterWetter, an concerns???
I used Water Wetter in my street/strip Nova and it really does work. My question is, do you see any reason I can't use it in my LT-4??
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,168
Likes: 16
From: Phoenix AZ
Re: WaterWetter, an concerns??? (LT-4 CE)
I use it in my cars, not much chance of freezing in my garage in Phoenix and anything to bring the temps down here is worth trying. It says on the bottle it is safe for aluminum engine parts and radiators, but the rep at Ron Davis Radiators (Tim) where I got my radiator said NOT to use it, but didn't tell me why, only that they recommend Prestone and using anything else could void my warranty. Now for a company that sells radiators primarily for racing where antifreeze is seldom used and many times not allowed seems a little strange to me...
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,484
Likes: 1
From: Everyday you must choose between the pain of discipline and the pain of regret. Fredericktown, OH
Re: WaterWetter, an concerns??? (vetracer)
vetracer, sounds like you are mizing with pure water? I was just going to add to my 50/50 mix.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,655
Likes: 24
From: Charleston SC
Re: WaterWetter, an concerns??? (LT-4 CE)
Use it in my racebike mixed with distiled water and it works great the distilled water helps because it has no impurities and reduses corosion as well.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,490
Likes: 2
From: Oviedo FL
Re: WaterWetter, an concerns??? (ejfagala)
I use it in mine when I road race and it definitely helps. I have a Be-Cool radiator, and use 1.5 containers of Water Wetter with 80% water and 20% anti-freeze. My car never got over 205 degrees racing at Sebring, and that was in 85 degree weather...
Mike
Mike
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,036
Likes: 13
From: Edmonton AB
Re: WaterWetter, an concerns??? (LT-4 CE)
vetracer, sounds like you are mizing with pure water? I was just going to add to my 50/50 mix.
And use distilled water with the glycol, definitely do not use tap water.
Flush and replace the coolant evey two years. Do not use Dex-Cool unless
the car came with it ('96 only for C4s, I believe).
[A side note - antifreeze smells and tastes sweet. Small animals and
children are attracted to it. If antifreeze is consumed, severe illness
will occur - possibly resulting in a painful death. Do not leave the
old coolant out in uncovered containers.]
As for the original question:, nope, no concerns about Water Wetter.
[Modified by Slalom4me, 3:49 AM 5/14/2003]
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 0
From: La Fontaine Indiana
Re: WaterWetter, an concerns??? (Slalom4me)
If you use this crap be sure to use water only no antifreeze I put in in my vette with antifreeze and it turned into a thick brown substance about like gear oil. I called tech. at redline and they said that it could happen with some brands of antifreeze. I had to flush my system several times to get it cleaned out no more water wetter for me. :mad
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,672
Likes: 20
From: Lake Wylie SC
Re: WaterWetter, an concerns??? (black bart)
If you use this crap be sure to use water only no antifreeze I put in in my vette with antifreeze and it turned into a thick brown substance about like gear oil. I called tech. at redline and they said that it could happen with some brands of antifreeze. I had to flush my system several times to get it cleaned out no more water wetter for me. :mad
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 0
From: La Fontaine Indiana
Re: WaterWetter, an concerns??? (Slalom4me)
I called tech. at redline and they said that it could happen with some brands of antifreeze.
What brand of a/f did you have trouble with ?
What brand of a/f did you have trouble with ?
Unless you use just water I would not chance using it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,036
Likes: 13
From: Edmonton AB
Re: WaterWetter, an concerns??? (black bart)
What brand of a/f did you have trouble with ?
What ever came in the car when I bought it.
Unless you use just water I would not chance using it.
What ever came in the car when I bought it.
Unless you use just water I would not chance using it.
because others have used W/W with water/glycol mixes without
those kinds of problems. Perhaps there was some additive in
there?
Water in a street engine just isn't a good idea, especially tap water.
Racers drain theirs frequently, street-folk put it in there and forget
about it, leaving chemistry between the salts & minerals in the
coolant to work its magic on the iron, aluminum and other metals
in the engine.
[Modified by Slalom4me, 8:38 AM 5/16/2003]
Racer
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Texas
Re: WaterWetter, an concerns??? (LT-4 CE)
I've used it in Houston summer heat for the past three years. No problems at all and it made a 10 - 15 degree difference. Just added it to the antifreeze and saw the diff immediately. No downside I can see and it's been down the strip about thirty times.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,143
Likes: 7
From: San Diego CA
Re: WaterWetter, an concerns??? (LT-4 CE)
I run 70/30 mix with Purple Ice. It dropped my temps about 10 degrees. The more water the more it cools. The water wetter doesn't mix with the anti-freeze.
Could be that the thick brown stuff was a result of too much anti-freeze not enough water so the water wetter emulsified with the anti-freeze. Brown stuff in coolant sounds like rust or someone used the orange stuff without thoroughly flushing the green stuff.
Could be that the thick brown stuff was a result of too much anti-freeze not enough water so the water wetter emulsified with the anti-freeze. Brown stuff in coolant sounds like rust or someone used the orange stuff without thoroughly flushing the green stuff.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,192
Likes: 1
From: Airport Cruise-in 1 Veteran Airport Cruise-in 2 Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: WaterWetter, an concerns??? (John Row)
I thought that brown foam was just oil that might have gotten on the rad. cap. :eek:
Thanks for the info. :thumbs:
Thanks for the info. :thumbs:
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 13,356
Likes: 0
From: tucson AZ
St. Jude Donor '04 & '05
Re: WaterWetter, an concerns??? (LT-4 CE)
Use it on any vette engine.....no problems.....
I use it in my '84 vette.....without problems.....(REMEMBER DISTILLED WATER)....
ok....
tony
:flag :flag :thumbs: :flag :flag
[Modified by oldace84, 10:44 PM 5/16/2003]
I use it in my '84 vette.....without problems.....(REMEMBER DISTILLED WATER)....
ok....
tony
:flag :flag :thumbs: :flag :flag
[Modified by oldace84, 10:44 PM 5/16/2003]
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: Medford Ma
Re: WaterWetter, an concerns??? (John Row)
"sounds like rust or someone used the orange stuff without thoroughly flushing the green stuff".[/QUOTE]
Happened to a friends car when he topped off, said he thought the orange stuff was probably better, cause it cost a bit more (FOOL!) they coagulate into a thick goo when mixed. Always better to ask, rather than assume!
Happened to a friends car when he topped off, said he thought the orange stuff was probably better, cause it cost a bit more (FOOL!) they coagulate into a thick goo when mixed. Always better to ask, rather than assume!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 8,540
Likes: 1
From: And on the fifth day, subpoenas were served to Obama senior staff
Re: WaterWetter, an concerns??? (LT-4 CE)
If you are using a coolant mixture and adding water wetter, I would suggest that there is no benefit that is measurable.
If you care to run pure water for the cooling benefit, you must use an additive such as WW to prevent corrosion, reduce cavitation, include some wetting agents for improved heat trasnsfer and provide some lubrication. That is the purpose of Water Wetter and regular coolant mixes.
The purpose of WW is to provide most coolant properties w/o anti-freeze for improved cooling. It has little value added to a coolant mix, IMO.
Pete
If you care to run pure water for the cooling benefit, you must use an additive such as WW to prevent corrosion, reduce cavitation, include some wetting agents for improved heat trasnsfer and provide some lubrication. That is the purpose of Water Wetter and regular coolant mixes.
The purpose of WW is to provide most coolant properties w/o anti-freeze for improved cooling. It has little value added to a coolant mix, IMO.
Pete
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 871
Likes: 0
From: Costa Mesa CA
Re: WaterWetter, an concerns??? (LT-4 CE)
Why? It's expensive.
You live in AZ you should do what I did. Pull the thermo. Run 1/2 to 3/4 gal antifreeze and the rest water. I run about 149F on the freeway at night in CA. 170F around town. The only time the fans come on is when I sit in a fast food drive-thru.
Don't just run straight water. It has no lubrication for the water pump. You have a really nice and rare car. I wouldn't screw with it too much.
BIG JIM
You live in AZ you should do what I did. Pull the thermo. Run 1/2 to 3/4 gal antifreeze and the rest water. I run about 149F on the freeway at night in CA. 170F around town. The only time the fans come on is when I sit in a fast food drive-thru.
Don't just run straight water. It has no lubrication for the water pump. You have a really nice and rare car. I wouldn't screw with it too much.
BIG JIM
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,143
Likes: 7
From: San Diego CA
Re: WaterWetter, an concerns??? (BIG JIM 54)
Don't pull the thermostat on an LT1/4 engine. In addition to controlling the temperature it also controls the water flow thru the radiator/heads.
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 2
From: The Motor City
Re: WaterWetter, an concerns??? (John Row)
I've got a mixed opinion. I put WaterWetter in my '89 coupe when I first bought it and it did what was advertised. It dropped my temperatures significantly.
But a year ago I discovered that my car was burning coolant due to a bad headgasket that was leaking at cylinder #7. I've replaced the gasket and haven't put WaterWetter back in my car. It's definitely runnung hotter than it did with it, but I have to ask the question - did the WaterWetter contribute to my headgasket going bad seeing as so many people have had bad experiences with it? I don't know, but I don't think I will use it again.
Cars & Parts Corvette magazine has a really good tech article in it this month dealing with tried and proven C4 cooling tips. I'll go through it tonight when I get home and let you know what they say.
If you really want to drop your temperatures, replace your thermostat with a 160deg unit. I replaced mine when I changed my head gaskets and it's great! In fact, I have to take my thermostat housing off to replace the gasket (it's leaking :rolleyes: ) and I think I will do what the guys at TPiS suggest and drill a couple of holes in the t-stat's surrounding plate. That should REALLY help keep the car nice and :cool: .
[Modified by TheCorvetteKid, 8:10 PM 5/27/2003]
But a year ago I discovered that my car was burning coolant due to a bad headgasket that was leaking at cylinder #7. I've replaced the gasket and haven't put WaterWetter back in my car. It's definitely runnung hotter than it did with it, but I have to ask the question - did the WaterWetter contribute to my headgasket going bad seeing as so many people have had bad experiences with it? I don't know, but I don't think I will use it again.
Cars & Parts Corvette magazine has a really good tech article in it this month dealing with tried and proven C4 cooling tips. I'll go through it tonight when I get home and let you know what they say.
If you really want to drop your temperatures, replace your thermostat with a 160deg unit. I replaced mine when I changed my head gaskets and it's great! In fact, I have to take my thermostat housing off to replace the gasket (it's leaking :rolleyes: ) and I think I will do what the guys at TPiS suggest and drill a couple of holes in the t-stat's surrounding plate. That should REALLY help keep the car nice and :cool: .
[Modified by TheCorvetteKid, 8:10 PM 5/27/2003]