Car is a previously-built one that I'm in my second race season on with a JDavis Racing AL radiator.
Unfortunately after swapping out the AL model for a stock one, the temps still didn't drop.
With the stock radiator I was running 220+ in traffic and while in clean air managed to drop it to 210- (wavered between 205 & 210).
This was no change from while running the AL radiator. Temps were gathered via an aftermarket gauge & upper-radiator hose sensor mount (Advanced Auto's).
Some possible next steps are:
- Test the thermostat (it's new this season but ensure it's not faulty & opens at the spec'd temp)
- Bypass the heater core & monitor temps (possibly plugged)
- Scrub/flush/backflush the cooling system (commercial product or DIY formulation - I'm doing a flush without the thermostat installed regardless)
- Replace the water pump (not my idea of a good time)
Some questions:
- Commercial cooling system cleaning/flushing solutions - are there any still available that are worth a damn?
- Is there a DIY version of these solutions that should give me a similar result? I've heard white vinegar is a decently acidic solution that would be effective in this scenario as well as oxalic acid (wood bleach). Though the wood bleach strikes me as potentially deleterious to any AL parts and our engines are nearly all AL.
- What's the nominal flow rate of a properly functioning water pump? How do you tell if yours is failing/has failed without tearing into the front of the engine?
Suggestions/alternatives/known fixes appreciated!
Thanks,
Brandon