37 replies to this topic

[Flyntgr]

In the deep South we treat the winter months as racing season, so we add antifreeze between events to keep the blocks from freezing. But what's the easiest or best way to keep it from freezing at the track overnight between Saturday and Sunday events? Any ideas (short of using electric heat)?

[davew]

Think about making ice the old fashioned way, with ice cube trays. Your freezer is about 5* and it takes hours to freeze the water. How long to you think it will take at 30* to get the engine cold enough to make ice. An engine builder once told me 25 hours at 25* is when you have to worry.

Dave

[CruzanTom]

In SC, just keeping the car under cover or in a trailer is usually good enough. For colder nights, a drop light left on under the hood seems to work, too.

But who am I to talk? My water pump froze last February at CMP because I left the car out all night in 19° and did none of these things. Missed qualifying and had to put the car in the trailer with a heater under the engine for a few hours to get things thawed out. Made the race, though.

[MPR22]

I have seen a block freeze in an hour long trailer ride to the track in 25 degree weather, windchill is an amazing thing. That poor guy was trying to get his license at the 2009 Super School at TMS and never got to turn a lap.

[Glenn]

You have any idea HOW many racecars still have antifreeze in them when they race.....just sayin, no one ever tech's it.

[Bench Racer]

You have any idea HOW many racecars still have antifreeze in them when they race.....just sayin, no one ever tech's it.

Good sportsmenship or rule???

[john mueller]

You have any idea HOW many racecars still have antifreeze in them when they race.....just sayin, no one ever tech's it.

Understood, but it caught be prepared to pack-up your stuff and go home... You'd probably be asked to kindly get the 'eff out.

[Brian Linn]

Understood, but it caught be prepared to pack-up your stuff and go home... You'd probably be asked to kindly get the 'eff out.

Is there a rule that forbids anti-freeze? I can't find it in SCCA's GCR - might be there, but can't find it.

[Rob Burgoon]

You have any idea HOW many racecars still have antifreeze in them when they race.....just sayin, no one ever tech's it.

However people will point and laugh when your car overheats or leaks green coolant.

[john mueller]

Is there a rule that forbids anti-freeze? I can't find it in SCCA's GCR - might be there, but can't find it.

If the organization rules don't have it you bet your butt the track does... Just don't do it. Really, if it finds it's way to the track surface it could ruin someone's weekend or worse.


BTW: I know it's in NASA's rules, just not sure where.

[Johnny D]

Here's NASA.

15.18 Engine Coolant

Ethylene Glycol-based antifreeze and other additives that may cause a slippery

condition if spilled on track are prohibited. Other water additives such as Redline Water

Wetter may be used.

[Keith Novak]

If the organization rules don't have it you bet your butt the track does.

That would surprise me actually. Tracks have sporty car club days all the time and while they tech for a variety of things like brake fluid present, and wheels bolted on I've never seen any concerns with antifreeze. They have a good number of failures too from people with more car than skill and "stage 3" add-ons that make things go "bang" under the hood.

[Bench Racer]

That would surprise me actually. Tracks have sporty car club days all the time and while they tech for a variety of things like brake fluid present, and wheels bolted on I've never seen any concerns with antifreeze. They have a good number of failures too from people with more car than skill and "stage 3" add-ons that make things go "bang" under the hood.

Great point keith!!!

[Jamz14]

Drain the water before leaving for the night. Refill with nice warm water in the morning

[Keith Andrews]

I've used a small space heater which made me nervous but worked great. I think the shop light idea is probably smarter.

[Jamz14]

You could also just lift your hood......call me over........ ask me a question about anything. 10 minutes later and many cubic meters of hot gas and voila!!!!

Or, I heard peeing on stuff cures just about everything. Just make sure you don't touch the tip to the frozen radiator.

[suck fumes]

That would be the Facebook picture of the decade!!! Tip frozen to a radiator and the face of the victim LOL!!!

[Ron Alan]

I have seen a block freeze in an hour long trailer ride to the track in 25 degree weather, windchill is an amazing thing. That poor guy was trying to get his license at the 2009 Super School at TMS and never got to turn a lap.

Wind chill is a human thing...nothing else. Wind can never lower the temperature of an object lower than the actual temperature.

I think antifreeze at the track...at least for racers is just an unwritten rule. As Keith said. it is never an issue with HPDE.

[MPR22]

Ron,
If that were true radiators would not work. Think heat exchange accelerator. Temp is still 25.

[Ron Alan]

Radiators are hotter than the surrounding temperature...which is the wind...but they will never cool lower than the wind temperature.

Wind chill is described as the "feel" the wind creates on human skin in relation to the actual temp. Wind will do a lot of things but it will never lower the temperature of an object lower that the temperature of the wind. In other words if the outside air is 25 and your car on the trailer is traveling through a 50 mph wind(towing), its still 25! But of course the wind blowing across the car will cool it quicker if it started at 50 degress in your garage!

We are saying the same thing...you are just using the words "wind chill" which is not the correct term. "Wind Chill" is a term which only applies to humans. At least this is how I've always understood it

http://en.wikipedia....wiki/Wind_chill

Edit...Actually in doing a little more reading I did find examples of what you are saying and calling wind chill factor! I've always associated wind chill with the body feeling colder than the actual outside temperature. But I see wind chill is used to describe how quickly an object will cool...wind being a factor in the formula! I guess I just never called this wind chill...but obvious I was wrong...never stop learning!