Hello all,

As you can see from my user info, I'm from Phoenix, AZ; we just recorded the hottest summer on record (yes, ever -- in the last 80 years of record-keeping) in 2003 and are on track to have an even hotter year. I'm sick and tired of how the heat (and running the AC) totally robs my 02 WRX of power, so I am going to get ready for the 100-degree-plus months right now while it is nice and cool.

So, I am looking for suggestions on how best to improve cooling efficiency and durability. I've got a short list to start with, in no particular order:

Radiator shroud (brand suggestions?)
Samco intercooler hoses
Ditto for radiator hoses
Better coolant (brand suggestions?)

Optional/questionable mods:

Larger hood scoop? (does this mate cleanly with the stock intercooler)
"Splitter" inside hood scoop?
Bag of ice to set on intercooler 1 hour before drive home from work

Off the table "Not Doing It" mods (due to $$)

FMIC
Radiator/Intercooler replacement
NOS spray on intercooler
Building a garage or a covered parking space

So, any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'm not really focused on increasing stock power, but more on increasing the life of my engine and minimizing the effect of the almost 45-degree increase in air temperature I'll be getting come July.

 

http://www.cardomain.com/member_page...=293448&page=2
That guy has got fans on his intercooler to keep his car cool during stop and go traffic.

 

I'm sorry to say that the only mods that are really going to give you any noticable gains are the radiator and intercooler swaps. I totally understand what you mean about the hot air and the AC feeling like it cuts the ***** off your car. I hate it too. Unfortunately, there's not a lot you can do about the hot air in the summer. All you can really do is figure out how you want to change your car to make up for it, and do it as effectively as you can.

You said your main goals are increase the life of your engine and minimizing the effect of the increase in air temperature. Well, in stock trim, the truth is that your engine should easily last 120,000 miles even if you're beating on it. By the time you get there, you'll definitely have the craving to do something to make more power. All I recommend is that you do your research and make sure the mods you make are safe for your engine, and you should be safe.

Aside from some Redline Water Wetter, there's not a whole lot you're going to be able to do to drop your coolant temps. IMO, the radiator shroud (if you mean the zerosports-type products) will do absolutely nothing to your water temps, nor will radiator hoses or IC hoses. IC hoses will give you a noticable power increase however. An STi hoodscoop, proper ducting, and splitters can all help increase the effectiveness of your IC. Keep in mind that USDM ICs can be had for ~$500 these days.

Another thing to keep in mind in those that AZ heat is underhood temps. Keeping the heat in your exhaust gas and out of your engine bay is good for two main reasons. Hotter EG has more energy to impart to the turbine blades. Keeping the heat in the EG means keeping it out of the engine bay and away from your IC. So replacing your UP with a Jet-Hot coated piece would be a highly recommended mod. Even looking into having your compressor and turbine housings Jet-Hot coated would be a good idea IMO. Also, the more heat-shielding you can get in between the turbo and the IC, the better. Check out www.speedmonkee.com for a heatshield idea. I'll post again if I can think of anything else. Good luck.

 

You could also use turbo and exhaust wrap on your turbo and downpipe. Like razor said, keeping your underhood temps low will increase the efficiency of your stock intercooler and radiator. The redline water wetter works great, after I poured a bottle into my radiater, my coolant temp dropped about 15 degrees on average.

 

Hmmm... Those are computer case fans, made out of PVC plastic... I think the odds are good that those would melt here in AZ, combined with the intercooler temp. Interesting mod!

 

water wetter works

and an IC sprayer can be had for 25$

 

Start with Water Wetter and diluting your coolant more. Nothing is a better coolant than water (well, nothing you'll ever want to put in your radiator) so by reducing the amount of anti-freeze you can increase the thermal efficiency of your cooling system. Try about a 70/30 split of water to antifreeze. You can get pretty close to that by adding one gallon of pre-mix and filling up the rest of the system with water (and the Water Wetter).

 

hood scoop, air splitter, tmic, water spray

all geniune sti will set you back about a grand. but you could save money and go with an after market spray kit and air splitter and a replica hood scoop.

instead of laying the bag of ice on your ic, you can throw it in your ic sprayer resevior it'd prolly last longer there.

 

Thanks for your feedback -- very helpful.

Now if you'll pardon me, I'm going to ask some n00bish questions

Razor, what is JetHot coating? I've been looking at uppipes for a while, and haven't seen this mentioned. Is it expensive? Is there any way to do a self-install on my stock pipes?

t-wrexxx, where would I get those wraps (another item I've never seen mentioned at the store sites I go to) -- and has anyone done a how-to install on the web?

Anyone know where I can get a painted (platinum silver) STI hoodscoop for an 02 WRX, or at least an oversize one? And which "ducting" and splitters are worthwhile? Some of the ones I have seen look like 26 cents of sheet metal and would seem to do more harm than good...

Thanks again for your input!

 

Thanks for the links. FastWRX needs to update some of those prices -- $300 for the ZeroSports splitter?? $169 for the shoud?? Gruppe sells the splitter AND the shroud for $100 combined!

Hmm. It looks like I may need to invest $800 or more to get the car as cool as I would like it. Perhaps I should just spend the $800 on making more power, and then I just wouldn't notice the loss of power as much

 

cooling systems are over looked usually and they save your car

 

It's worth it. Personally I would stick with the sti air splitter, I know some people have funny fitment problems with other brands especially when hooking up their sti spray kit (that is if you go with an sti spray kit).

Also, as far as power-mods-to-compensate vs. cooling mods. I think you'll be pleasently suprised at how well your car keeps up when it really starts getting hot there.

Then when you do your first power mods (catless uppipe + silicone ic hoses?) you will get to enjoy them on a hot day

 

instead of turning the air conditioning on, try just turn the temperature **** to the coldest, and leave the ac OFF, and then setting the air to hit your windshields, that should be a good way to keep the cabin cool while having ac off.