My saga of keeping the car running cool

I figured I'd start another thread on this since my searches seem to dig up old threads with no real follow up or results. My car has been running hot and I tracked my results as I tried different things. Hopefully, this thread will come up and not all the garbage I came up with instead. Sheesh!



Setup: Home cooked turbo system, similar to an On3. Promaxx 180s, TFS 1 cam, explorer intake, SBE.
Has a 3" FMIC, A/C condenser, and SVE radiator, contour fans run continuously. 180 degree T-stat, 50/50 coolant mix

Location: SE Texas, it's been mid-90's and 80+% humidity this week
Sunday - Freeway temps: 210 degrees, street temps 205 degrees

Tuesday -

• Added air deflector under core support and 160 degree stat
• Freeway temps 195, street temps 200

Wednesday -

• Added sheet metal at passenger side core support to keep air from going around radiator
• Opened front bumper under Ford emblem to allow more air in
• Freeway temps - 191, Street temps 195

Wed. Afternoon -

• Drained 50/50 mix mostly
• Added 2 gallons distilled water
• Added 1 bottle of Water Wetter
• Freeway temps: 178-180, street temps 170-180
• Made a few freeway and street pulls and never crossed 190

I still need to move the fans down an inch to cover the bottom of the radiator and seal them to the radiator as well, but overall I made a pretty significant change for ~$100. I'm going to buy the Cobra bumper insert from LMR to cover up my hack job, but Ill add more photos in the comments of what I did.

7991LXnSHO said:

The Water Wetter or tractor version gets derided by some, but I found it to be a help in 50/50 systems.
What is the SBE after the Explorer intake?

Click to expand...

Stock bottom end