[BDASooner]

I'm at the track tomorrow where temps are forecast to be in excess of 100 degrees. We run in sessions of about 20 minutes, with 45-50 minutes between sessions. Last time I ran at these temps I got overheating issues by the 3rd or 4th session.

Any advice on managing the temps? the last lap of each session I use as a cool down--is it best to be in the highest gear possible?--ie limping around at 1500 RPMs, or 2500 RPMs?

Does it help to lift the hood during sessions? I'm guessing this should help cool the engine, or does it really do anything?

Not much of an opportunity to drive around and cool the car between sessions, so is it better to sit in park and idle, or completely turn the car off?

Any advice appreciated.

 

[paparazzi]

I have a pesticide spray can that I fill with ice water and spray my intercoolers and intake manifold between runs.

 

[jaspergtr]

I am more concerned about trans temps and brake temps than I am about engine temps...

The best method (for me, that I've found) - is drive relatively slowly:

Too slow, not enough air moves through the brake rotors, and not enough air blows over the transmission...

Too fast, temps don't reduce as much, and you're more likely to brake when finished.

I drive around until my temps are about 230-ish or so, then coast to a stop.

 

[BDASooner]

Is it OK to spray ice water on the brakes as well, or can this sudden change in temperatures cause a problem?

 

[descartesfool]

Best way to cool the car down is to drive it around outside the track on the public roads, while going to buy gas for example. Absolutely do not spray ice or water on anything. Leaving the hood up does nothing to cool the engine internals or brakes or transmission or differentials. Just check the gauges and you will see that this is ineffective. It will reduce under-hood temps, but that is about all. To get cooling, you must have airflow. Drive the car at low speeds until temps on the gauges for transmission, engine oil and coolant come down to close to normal. Running a cool down lap in a high gear at moderate speed without using the brakes much will help a lot, but it is usually not sufficient to get the temps down much, depending on where they throw the chequered flag.

The factory Nissan manual has this recommendation, of driving about 5 miles after a track session, and that works.

 

[zeyd]

Open windows, Hot air on full power if stopped.

Best way is to have a drive to you'r next gas station ( and ... you'll probably need it

)

 

[BDASooner]

Thanks guys--unfortunately this particular track --Hallett Speedway in Oklahoma--doesn't really allow for cool down driving as you have to cross the track to leave. I can probably drive around at 5-10 mph on the infield, but not much more than that--and that requires some braking. Probably better just to stop.

And Yes, I will need gas--why I am bringing my own as their gas is about $1.00 per gallon overpriced and only 91 or 105.

Thanks for the help guys. Looks like I'm going to need to do some aftermarket cooling if I want to continue to track in Oklahoma in the summer.

 

[pbsis]

You will be fine, in my EVO i used to slow down about a lap before the cool down lap. So on the last lap I would decrease my pace by about 50 percent. This would basically give me 2 cool down laps. Just wave all the ppl you passed by on the last lap.

 

[icarus]

Thanks guys--unfortunately this particular track --Hallett Speedway in Oklahoma--doesn't really allow for cool down driving as you have to cross the track to leave. I can probably drive around at 5-10 mph on the infield, but not much more than that--and that requires some braking. Probably better just to stop.

And Yes, I will need gas--why I am bringing my own as their gas is about $1.00 per gallon overpriced and only 91 or 105.

Thanks for the help guys. Looks like I'm going to need to do some aftermarket cooling if I want to continue to track in Oklahoma in the summer.

Do at least one full cooldown lap in 6th gear without shifting at a speed which you don't have to ever touch the brakes. 2 laps would be even better. HKS DCT Cooler will solve the tranny temps. Larger oil cooler will help, but not solve the oil temps. Based on my most recent Blackstone analysis on my engine oil, I'm not scared to run it up to 280F a few times on a track weekend, it seems to hold up to that.

 

[NJNYCGTR]

I don't know if this is universal, but I noticed my trans temp decreasing faster when I just held it in 6th gear for a lap vs 4th and 5th. This was not done as a test, just me trying to lower my temps, but all cool down laps were done within 4-5 degrees F of each other. I don't have a lot of track experience, but is what I have noticed.

 

[jonnyt5050]

Probably obvious... but make sure you do NOT put on your emergency brake after tracking.

(and don't hold your brake with foot with car stopped either if you can help it). Throw it in Park when you've decided to stop.

 

[vividracing]

Probably obvious... but make sure you do NOT put on your emergency brake after tracking.

(and don't hold your brake with foot with car stopped either if you can help it). Throw it in Park when you've decided to stop.

If you get desperate, you could try a couple of these!

 

[thebishman]

I'm at the track tomorrow where temps are forecast to be in excess of 100 degrees. We run in sessions of about 20 minutes, with 45-50 minutes between sessions. Last time I ran at these temps I got overheating issues by the 3rd or 4th session.

Any advice on managing the temps? the last lap of each session I use as a cool down--is it best to be in the highest gear possible?--ie limping around at 1500 RPMs, or 2500 RPMs?

Does it help to lift the hood during sessions? I'm guessing this should help cool the engine, or does it really do anything?

Not much of an opportunity to drive around and cool the car between sessions, so is it better to sit in park and idle, or completely turn the car off?

Any advice appreciated.

Lots of good advice from other track rats above. If I'm reading your post correctly you're asking about popping the hood to increase airflow whilst on the track? Do not do that unless you're on the cool down lap and those speeds are very low; you're asking for trouble. Also, be very careful about "backing off 50%" anytime during a hot lap; you're very likely to get black flagged and be given a serious talking to about impeding traffic; (especially since Hallet is a short(ish) track with some blind areas). On the cool down lap, knock the car into Auto mode and out of 'R' for the transmission, this way the car will default to the lowest safe engine speeds. Best bet besides slowing down slightly when temps are close to the red zone is to install the HKS transmission oil cooler. Even then Hallet in the summer will tax both you and the car. Have fun.

Bish

 

[JDMR35]

A sudden change in temperature (like using ice/ice water) may cause damage.