Overheating on track

[ivan]

So i took the car out the Wakefield and after maybe 6 or 7 laps the temp gauge was around 3/4.

When i saw it i cruised in 5th gear for few a lap and it cooled down straight away, so i think maybe it was just a hot day and i was working it too hard.

Would I be better off getting an upgraded radiator, or just put in an oil cooler? i'm tempted to do oil cooler as it should be the cheaper option...

BTW. Completely stock car.

Thanks,
Ivan

[StanTheMan]

oil cooler is nice.....but if you are overheating....its just a band aid.

how hot was the day?

have you checked the obvious?
Which type of MX5 is it?

enough coolant. Is the number plate in the intake? new radiator cap? Give the radiator a good flush? Replaced the coolant recently? Is your current radiator a brownish colour? are the fans working?

[SuperMazdaKart]

try distilled water with Redline's Water Wetter

[feel_ixx]

Mine was overheating at wakefield as well. The same as you about 3/4, but only at the end of the day. I just pitted and went home. Haha.

[GS]

I had a similar experience the 1st time i took my NA on the track. In my case the number plate overhangs the intake, so once i removed that the temperature was good as gold for the rest of the day.

[mx5racing]

The std radiators generally struggle after a few laps - especially if you like to spend time in the 7000 + RPM area If you are happy to rev it to only 6500 you'll find they tend to hang on for a few extra laps.

If its a Jap import they have a hotter thermostat so change to a cooler one - 82 degrees is what we always ran.

Another stop gap measure is to run your heater flat out.

Oil cooler wont be necessay on a MX5 - just run the best quality oil you can afford.

Sounds like your having some fun with the car already!!!

Chris.

[wun911]

Does putting the heater on help get you a couple more laps?

[Benny]

Does putting the heater on help get you a couple more laps?

The heater is virtually a part of the cooling system and the radiator fluid runs through it.
By turning the heater on full blast, it will give the engine more cooling as it will help dissapate the heat.

Put the heater on demist so the hot air won't be blowing all over your face and feet and if you have the top down, you'll hardly notice the hot air coming out.

My SP never had any overheating problems at the track while it was standard, but now that it's been worked a little, it did overheat.
I put in a larger aluminium radiator and an oil cooler, and I don't have any worries now.

[Hellmun]

I've watched my temperature gauge on an NB8B which still has a standard radiator and I've never seen the needle move past half. I do run without the number plate on though. I've done 15 minute sessions and 10 lap races with other cars in front blocking airflow. Never had a problem.....

[wun911]

I dont think the temp guage is very accurate...

I was overheating on the track but needle was just a bit past half...

[manga_blue]

A standard radiator with a cooling system in good condition should carry you through a track day easily. As StanTheMan said, just make sure it's all OK: radiator cap, thermostat, fluid, gunk, blocked intake, bent radiator fins, insect wings, bird feathers, dodgy pump, etc. You'd be wasting money throwing a new radiator at it if the cause is just something simple like that.

[bruce]

Yup, when I had the NA, I would have done around 20+ track days with no cooling dramas.

[wun911]

I have over heating problems on the track!

I have PWR rad and a new thermostat, new radiator hoses top and bottom, I dont have anything blocking in intake but I do have a techno grill, the fan does turn when it gets hot, coolant is 30% AF 70% H20, I dont have any coolant leaks.

Some questions??

1 What are the exact symptoms of over heating? My car does about seven laps of Wunton then starts to stall and stutter it feels like the fuel has been cut off. I can however drive around town with no problems.

2 Can the car cut off the fuel when it over heats to protect itself?

3 Does the car have a temperature sensor can this be the problem.

[rossint]

Mine does a similar thing to yours wun, but only in the middle of summer when its up around 40deg here. The gauge will creep up and then the idle will rise and fall and the car nearly stalls. I've done all winter up the track without any problems and it never overheats on the road. The cooling system was flushed out about a year ago so that should be fine and the fans and thermostat are working. I have a cooling pro radiator to put in which I hoped would fix the problem.

[manga_blue]

Wun, when the cooling system overheats then it boils. If you leave it boiling then heads crack or warp and generally things get pretty expensive.

You're describing something more like the coilpacks or ignition leads failing after prolonged high load and heat - nothing to do with the cooling system.