Has anyone tried Redline water wetter for temp reduction?

[LouB]

My temperature is running as high as 105 degrees on the highway.
Newly rebuilt 302 engine, 4 core radiator, 7 blade fan and shroud. Although; it has been in the high 90’s here, I would feel better if I could get it down to at least the 190s.

Has anyone used “Water Wetter”? Before I try a bottle, I thought I would run it past to see if anyone knows about it or possible problems associated with it’s use.

TIA Lou

http://www.redlineoil.com/products_coolant.asp?subCategoryID=4

Their advertisement claim:
WaterWetter®


WaterWetter® is a unique wetting agent for cooling systems which reduces coolant temperatures by as much as 30ºF. This liquid product can be used to provide rust and corrosion protection in plain water for racing engines, which provides much better heat transfer properties than glycol-based antifreeze. Or it can be added to new or used antifreeze to improve the heat transfer of ethylene and propylene glycol systems. Designed for modern aluminum, cast iron, copper, brass and bronze systems. Compatible with all antifreezes, including the latest long-life variations.

 

[scsm76]

I am using it, but I don't have a good comparison of temp with and without it. I had a JD 4-core in good condition and I couldn't keep it cool on the trail, I switched to a RD alum. radiator and the water wetter and it rarely sees anything over 200° on the trail and on the highway it never goes above 185° with a 190° thermostat.

 

[72_EB]

I've tried it but I don't think it did much. I think most of my improved cooling came from a removed passenger air fresh air box, 2" body lift, cut driver inner fender, big trans cooler, flowkooler water pump, proper fitted shroud, and a 180 deg. tstat. Ah...cooling the EB...fun stuff I'm 180 all day long unless heavy wheeling I'll creep to 190.
Are you sure that old gauge is giving you the correct temp?
If I was starting with a hot running EB from scratch again, I'd get some of those inner fenders from American Bronco. Giving that heat a place to get out really seems to help.

 

[Naildriver111]

My temperature is running as high as 105 degrees on the highway.
Newly rebuilt 302 engine, 4 core radiator, 7 blade fan and shroud. Although; it has been in the high 90’s here, I would feel better if I could get it down to at least the 190s.

Has anyone used “Water Wetter”? Before I try a bottle, I thought I would run it past to see if anyone knows about it or possible problems associated with it’s use.

It's money well spent, Mine stays around 180 as long as I'm moving, but it runs between 200-210 when stuck in traffic @ 103 degrees. After adding Water Wetter, it came down to 190-200. I also have a newly rebuilt 302 engine, 7 blade fan and shroud, and stock 3 core radiator.

 

[brixter]

I have used it and it helps a little but in high 90s temps it sounds ok to me. I just got through driving home and mine got up to 195 , 205 degrees pushing a few HWY hills with stops. Outside temps are around 100+ degrees . Mine stays around 195 on hot days (90+) and 180 on normal or cool days. We have the same type set ups .

 

[LouB]

It's money well spent, Mine stays around 180 as long as I'm moving, but it runs between 200-210 when stuck in traffic @ 103 degrees. After adding Water Wetter, it came down to 190-200. I also have a newly rebuilt 302 engine, 7 blade fan and shroud, and stock 3 core radiator.

Nail driver, did you use just one bottle?

 

[Broncobowsher]

I tried it years ago. There was more variation in daily operating tempertures (heat and traffic) then there was by adding it. Back to back running I had no noticable change.

 

[LouB]

I've tried it but I don't think it did much. I think most of my improved cooling came from a removed passenger air fresh air box, 2" body lift, cut driver inner fender, big trans cooler, flowkooler water pump, proper fitted shroud, and a 180 deg. tstat. Ah...cooling the EB...fun stuff I'm 180 all day long unless heavy wheeling I'll creep to 190.
Are you sure that old gauge is giving you the correct temp?
If I was starting with a hot running EB from scratch again, I'd get some of those inner fenders from American Bronco. Giving that heat a place to get out really seems to help.

I got a real nice mechanical gauge so Im sure that its accurate. I am running with a 165 t stat. Was stuborn on that. 2 in body lift but I dont think thas enough. I was thinking of cutting some holes in the inner fenders. I have steel headers and when I open the hood it feels like a furnace just opened. Also have trans cooler and bipassed the radiator with auto trans fluid lines.

 

[RRRAAAYYY2]

Ceramic coat the headers and that will help tons. I will post on the street racing board I am on and see what everyone is using. Most tracks wont allow antifreeze anymore, especially in quick cars. There is something they are using and it helps tons. I will see if I can find out.

 

[blubuckaroo]

It' snake oil! Read the label, they can't make any legitimate claims about the stuff. Throw it out with the Slick 50!
Try running 1/3 antifreeze & 2/3 water. Cools better than 50-50. Just make sure your cap is good so it won't boil.

 

[SaddleUp]

My experience is that it does indeed help some however it will only be a few degrees. The principle behind it is that it helps the water to stick to the coolant walls in the engine better to wick away more heat. The same thing can be accomplished with a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid as well though. (Just don't add any more than that as it will foam up if you do)

 

[SteveL]

I run it. It does help a little but it's not a band aid for a bad cooling system. I also had the duffy 4-core for a couple years. I got tired of leaks so I swapped in a BC 3-core. Now they never see over 190 with a 351w.

 

[Naildriver111]

Nail driver, did you use just one bottle?

Yes, only 1

 

[blubuckaroo]

Fix the problems. Don't use band-aids!

 

[bronco60-niner]

stock radiator, 160 thermostat and stock fan here. Use 50/50 mix of antifreeze and distilled water and runs constantly at 170 in any outside temp unless we are doing some slow crawling for extended periods then it may get to 180 or a little over.

I tried the water wetter in my twin turbo mustang and it didnt do anything.

 

[SteveL]

the water wetter did help my 72 from spikes in heavy LA traffic. That was back when I was running a stock 351w with a stock bronco 3-core radiator and a shroud with an aluminum flex fan. I was creeping up to about 200 without it. I swapped to water out of the hose, no anti-freeze, and 1 bottle of water wetter and never hit over 185. Now I pour a bottle in every rig when I change fluids. At the end of the day you need a good cooling system that works well. The extra parts(water wetter, front shrouds, electric fans, etc...) just help keep it a little cooler in extreme conditions on or off road. Some guys deal with it on the trail at a crawl. Others have the same issues sitting in traffic like here so cal with the high temps.

 

[joser]

My 351W was a bear to cool for years. She would boil over if I was stuck in traffic for just a few mins. She would overheat while wheeling.

2 years ago when I rewired her, I did the intake manifold mod in the tech section. WOW did that help a ton. I can now leave her idle in the Phoenix Summer weather with no problems. Like a lot of people have said, band aids are not real solutions. If setup right, these things should stay within limits.

Good luck.

 

[RRRAAAYYY2]

I talked to the drag racers, and it was a 50/50 split over whether or not it helped. It appears to on guys running straight water, but not on guys running antifreeze already.

 

[BronCowie]

it's an alternative for drag racers who run on strips that don't allow glycol because of the cleanup problems associated with blown engines on asphalt.

 

[Bronchole]

if you leak it on the track there's no slippery freeze in the grove!!!!!!Otherwise it's only good for a few degrees and to aid in lubrication ;D ha ha he said lube!ha ha

Actually it doesn't do anything for lubrication or rust prevention, you need a seperate additive for that if you are running pure water.

My experience is that the wetter works, but not more than 20° for sure. It just helps a bit to take the edge off.

Dan