Track overheating

[Brocker]

This Saturday we were at the Talladega Grand Prix track - a short technical track a little over a mile in length. My turbo Goblin overheated after 15 minutes each session (began losing power and backfiring). Sunny and 84 F. The fellow that set the car up said he put some Dawn dishsoap in the coolant. Could that be the problem? Engine seems to run well otherwise. The engine as a ZZP mild tune. All fans are working. Never had a problem before.

 

[Desert Sasqwatch]

Uh, ok. I have to theorize that the dawn is foaming the coolant and it is unable to do its job - as a first thought. Do you have any engine codes posted?

 

[Gtstorey]

I could see soap suds causing the pump to cavitate possibly. I've never heard of doing that before, I wonder why? I would start by changing that out. I guess the requirements are for no antifreeze for that track?

Beyond the soap, maybe head gasket leak or failing thermostat.

 

[Rauq]

I've heard of running soap through the cooling system to clean out oil after something like a blown head gasket and rebuild, but I can only imagine it would cause issues if you're actually working the engine.

What makes you think it's overheating, as opposed to knocking due to IATs or something like that?

Also, build details would help in the signature. At a minimum your donor information, a build log would be even better if there is one.

 

[Gtstorey]

I would use radiator flush to clean out the system.

 

[Markm]

We haven’t run into overheating issues yet but I don’t ever recall running soap in the cooling system except for cleaning out residual oil contaminants. Is there a reason like contamination for the added soap? Flush it multiple times with fresh water. If it still overheats you may want to check the cooling system with a block tester to check for exhaust gases in the cooling system.

 

[Ross]

Use your hand to feel the rubber radiator hoses. The passenger side, lower frame rail should be getting hot, also check the the driver's side lower frame rail is cooler. You can also check the water lines on your intercooler heat exchanger, and make sure that radiator is working, and water is circulating too.

 

[95Blitz]

You can also check the water lines on your intercooler heat exchanger, and make sure that radiator is working, and water is circulating too.

Ross might be onto something here.

 

[gofast]

This Saturday we were at the Talladega Grand Prix track - a short technical track a little over a mile in length. My turbo Goblin overheated after 15 minutes each session (began losing power and backfiring). Sunny and 84 F. The fellow that set the car up said he put some Dawn dishsoap in the coolant. Could that be the problem? Engine seems to run well otherwise. The engine as a ZZP mild tune. All fans are working. Never had a problem before.

Here's the story on dish soap in the coolant. If you have heavy oil deposits in the cooling system, dish soap is used to clean it out. My excavator engine had that very issue after a head gasket issue. I was told to run POWDERED DISHWASHER SOAP added to plain water as coolant until the system was clean. I changed water several times. I was cautioned against using a liquid foaming soap like Dawn. The powered soap worked great to rid the system of oil deposits with no issues related to cooling with the soap in the system. I think there is a good chance the dawn foamed up and caused your problem.

 

[Rttoys]

This has been recommended by diesel guys on cleaning a cooling system.

https://www.fleetpride.com/parts/fleetguard-coolant-additive-cc2610?shopping=true&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21887088953&gbraid=0AAAAAqwOmIXc-I_gqcpWohNQROzB5NKCT&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIq66CpN79kwMVaivUAR2FqzeYEAQYASABEgLcUPD_BwE

 

[Rttoys]

On a side note. ToxicBill and I ran a 2.4 mile track last weekend in 80° weather and neither of us had issues on temp. I know my ect’s never got over 194-6°. 4 years ago I ran the same track in August with 100° temps and didn’t have any temp issues I can remember. Last year at goblinfest we ran a 1 mile cart track in 90° day without issue.

if it’s IAT, that’s a different story. I have had to add cooling to mine to keep those in check

 

[Brocker]

Thank all of you for answering. I did make a mistake. The dawn was added to the intercooler system and NOT the normal radiator. The fellow that set up the car for the track (corner balancing, best angles for front and rear wings, brake balance, etc.) has the car and will be looking at the thermostat etc. The car has other issues that he is addressing as well. He told me the temps were 239 when I came in and complained about the missing and backfiring. I may have built the car but I'm not experienced with engine issues.

 

[Gtstorey]

Has the coolant system been drained since the "never had a problem before". It might have an air pocket blocking flow.

You might want to add in something that you can see while driving to monitor coolant temps since 240 is getting pretty hot. If it gets to the point of missing and backfiring because it's hot, you are about to break something.

 

[duthehustle93]

Adding a few drops of dish soap as a surfactant is an old-school trick to decrease the surface tension of water... it's the backyard substitute for water wetter if you are trying to save money or if your rule set doesn't allow the use of water wetter. I'm not sure how well it actually works (it's seemed silly to me when water wetter is $15/bottle), but it's fairly common practice in series that don't allow the use of antifreeze (anti freeze makes tracks incredibly slippery and is typically not allowed for use in race cars).

Sounds like there's air in the cooling system.

 

[Markm]

I loosened the upper radiator hose to purge the air from the radiator on the initial start up and haven’t had any air issues. Some folks use the air evac but it doesn’t always fill the entire radiator which would need purged.

 

[David]

Going to need to refill both coolant systems. Im assuming the best way is to use the vacuum tool?

 

[duthehustle93]

I loosened the upper radiator hose to purge the air from the radiator on the initial start up and haven’t had any air issues. Some folks use the air evac but it doesn’t always fill the entire radiator which would need purged.

Yeah I tried the air evac route and it didn't do a great job as there was a bunch of air left in the radiator. My radiator still has a cap, so I just popped that off, made a huge mess in my garage because my timing sucked, and then was able to flush out the air.

 

[Rttoys]

OP
Looking at your posts, you finished the build several years ago and seem to have been on the track several times? This is the first time it has done this?

 

[Ross]

Going to need to refill both coolant systems. Im assuming the best way is to use the vacuum tool?

My red neck method is easier for the engine. Vacuum tool probably best for the intercooler..

The water pump on the engine can generate enough flow to push air thru the system. When your engine is warm, rev it up to 4000rpm for 4 seconds, top up coolant. Rev to 5000 for 4 seconds, top up coolant. Take some coolant with you, and go down the road, rev it to redline, top it up. Pretty soon you will have burped all the air out.