Thread: Aluminum Rad vs Water Wetter

Well now that temperatures are getting warmer outside I'm afraid of over heating the car. On a 40-50*F day the car gets to 210*F when idling for less then 2 minutes (after driving).

I've been thinking about adding some Redline Water Wetter, but did see the Godspeed Aluminum Radiator for under $200 and wondering if that would be a better solution. Thing is though, I heard that warm up times may increase with Water Wetter and the car will cool down faster with the radiator.

Are there any other good/bad things that I should know between each option?

Thanks!

Do both

Too much cooling is only a problem if your engine isn't getting up to temps. Other than that, there's no such thing as too much cooling. At least that I know of.

I used water wetter and just straight water no collant. Takes about 5-10 min to get up to operating temp but then its good. I have an nx2k radiator and it stays right at 210 unless I do alot of spirited driving and heat up the turbo it will go to about 215 then drop back down. I'm going to get a godspeed aluminum radiator for sure next month though just to be safe.

If I remember correctly the OEM thermostat opens around 210°F or thereabouts. As long as you don't see it going over that while it's idling there isn't a problem. No matter what the temp will go up during idle because there is no airflow over the rad. mine gets up to that range and I have the GTI-R/Nismo radiator, water wetter and slim fans but it will stay around 160°F during driving.

If you are nervous about temps you can also wire in a manual fan override. I did this too for track days.

agreed and add a nismo thermostat for good measure. I have this on my turbo car along with the fan switch override for sitting in traffic.

I've noticed that my cruising temps are about 180* on the highway even when it's very cold.

I guess I'll try water wetter, and will see how it will do if not then aluminum radiator here I come

160°F is not even operating temperature. I don't even go into boost until my car gets to atleast 190 and that is still not full operating temp. You need to get that baby warmer.

i think you might have it backwards. the fans kick on at 210 degress and water wetter works. it works so well that i hardly have heat in the winter time lol. thats why we are only suppose to use half a bottle. but i always put the whole thing in. My car hardley ever sees 200 degrees and the fans hardley never ever turn on. i had to let the car sit for about 30 minutes on idle for it to come on

190? I thought the fully warm temperature is 170*F. I never bothered with real detail of the temperatures until my engine oveheated at 265*F and water started boiling out, so now I'm trying hard to prevent that