Haven’t posted in some time, but I have what should be asimple question for those with a dedicated track evo. I was tracking the last two days in hot weather with track temps getting well over 100 after lunch. I’ve got 30+ track days over the last four plus years, the car is more-or-less stock, and I beat on it fairly hard at the track. On hot days, the radiator boils over and spits out fluid from the overflow tank (see pic). My question: Is something available to catch the overflow. I saw a catch can with anintegrated radiator overflow tank (Kosmic?) but when I tried to get one theywere indefinitely back ordered.
I am going to get the MAP oil cooler before my next trackday and next time I go to the track on a hot day, I will just forgo theafternoon sessions.

 

What were the ambient temps and track temps?

In this case your focus needs to be more on 1. alerting yourself to the fact that it's boiling over/overheating and 2. upgrading your coolant setup to keep it safe during such days. Upgrading your oil cooling is good, but doesn't fix the problem. Getting a different overlflow is ok, but again doesn't fix your problem. Things like a better radiator, better flowing fans, changing coolant to water+coolant boost, ducting the bumper to said radiator, etc. Also may need a more conservative tune if your boost/afr/egt's are off.

Far as alerting other then the "oh s***" gauge in the cluster, you can run the dump side of the overflow tank up towards the windshield so you can "See" when there's a problem. Adding an aftermarket water temp sensor/gauge will also help you to determine if there's an issue with more precision.

Then "while your in there" you can do the map oil cooler as well as adding an oil temp/pressure gauge. Cause engines aren't cheap

 

What was coolant temp? You for sure need to upgrade your radiator and oil cooler. My car did the same thing last track day. Running 230* coolant temps. Its not technically overheating, but it will overfill the reservoir.


However, if you don't have a dedicated track tune, you may want to start there. A track tune will have slightly richer AFR's, and less boost.

 

Would running a waterless coolant help? I haven't had any boiling with my Evans because...well....it can't LOL.
I don't have a temp gauge, though, so I can't say exactly where its running.

 

This is more to do with expansion than actually overheating. So, unless the waterless coolant doesn't expand, it won't help.

 

I don't think it expands much as it barely pressurizes the system. I think my radiator cap is 7psi, or so. I run it because I like how little pressure it puts on the OEM radiator end tanks. Not sure if any of this would help OP or not, just thought I'd put it out there to see what y'all thought.

 

Sobottom line is, I can improve cooling but I need to monitor temps on track. Iwill get a MAP oil cooler. I am also already moving my boost and a/f gauges froma pillar to a dash pod and adding oil pressure/temp and water temp to thepillar. I am running a waterless coolant, and yes it does expand.

 

Umm, an oil cooler isn't really going to help your water temps...

 

My bad. The fluid all over the side of the car was not the waterless coolant. But the waterless coolant did disappear (but it did not make that much mess). Before my last, short, session I put some standard high performance coolant because the reservoir was dry. This is the first time I used the waterless coolant and I forgot to get some spare fluid.


I also understand that the oil cooler is not the end all and that I need to keep an eye my temps on track.


I will certainly consider other measures to address cooling as I start doing more to the car. How much better would an after market radiator be? I'm going to be doing a bunch of aero at the end of this year, so I will take a closer look a air flow then.