Anybody use additives in your coolant, and does it seem to help keep the temp down? I see lots of places selling the Redline Water Wetter and Purple Ice additives, but wondering if anyone seen any benefits?

It's starting to get hot in CA...especially this week..hit 90s already. My car runs like dog when it gets hot. No missing or anything..just feels like the engine hates the hot weather.

Let me know before I decide to get a bottle of one of the additives and add it to my coolant.

Thanks.

 

I Use Purple Ice. it does help a little. close to 10 degrees

 

I use redline water wetter here. No real results to report as its still cool up here, but on my friends circle track car we saw about 12-15 degree difference when using it.

 

I'm running Hypertech programming, and one of the options is to lower the temps with a stock system/stock 180 thermo or a 160...and it made a big diff in temps. I'm not saying to get one for that reason..but I think maybe a manual fan switch/fan switch mod in combo with a 160 thermo might help more than the additives. My limited experience with them hasn't impressed me much. Our cars don't like hot weather...the pcm likes to back timing off in the heat and take away alot of power. The hypertech programming bumps up timing among other things and seems to have helped hold on to more power in hot weather.

 

I would suggest a cutome mail order tune and 160 thermo.
I used water wetter and i did see a 10-20 deg decrease with 2 bottles.
Also worked in my beater car.

 

Oh, forgot to mention, but I do have the 160 tstat and custom tune to turn on the fans earlier. I was trying to see if I could sneak another 10 deg cooler by using Water Wetter or Purple Ice...sounds like a few folks have seen some differences...that's good to know.

Thanks.

 

Water Wetter works in my car.

 

With the 160 and tune for the fans i never see temps above 180, how hot are you running?

You might want to put a spacer in between the head and your ICM, they tend do get heat soaked and start not working.

You dont want your car to run to cold or it wont go into closed loop...you might want to seach and see at what temp it does that.

 

I have ran water wetter for like 5 years now it does help keep the car cooler.

 

I run a weak antifreeze mix with water wetter. The water wetter got it to run a few degrees cooler.

 

are you guys basing the thought that the engine is cooler on your coolant temps or oil temps. i've always wondered if they work but you could see lower coolant temps if the additive simply inhibited the coolants ability to absorb heat. any answers?

 

Okay...it sounds like folks are seeing some results. I know it's not the most accurate reading, but I'm only using the little gauge to tell. I can tell if there's any delta before and after the water wetter.

Yeah, with my 160tstat and programming, I also never see more then 180, but it just that the fans turn on more often then usual when it's hot outside.

For $10 a quart, I'll take a 5 to 10 deg drop in temp anytime.

Thanks for the replies.

 

its worth your money. It does work, it doesnt work wonders. I use one bottle in every coolant flush.

 

ok hijack time. i know the water wetter works, I had it on my truck. But is it safe with an electric water pump. the only reason i ask is because i was going to but some bad *** coolant at a race shop around here earlier and it said not to be used with an ewp. not sure why it would matter but just wondering

 

Well I've learned alot from this thread it sounds like water wetter does help our hot-rods My only experience with it has been on bikes. Didn't seem to do to much there.