A "cool" idea?

[supermanotorious]

I have an idea and I'd like you guys to play devil's advocate. Since I live in the desert and tow a heavy trailer, what about this for helping keep the engine and transmission cool: I make a custom length of misting line and attach behind the grill, in front of all the radiators, install a 12V pump and wire switch inside the cabin, then when climbing hills, I hit the switch and the pump moves water from a reservoir in the bed and the misters spray the radiators. I think a few light mists from time to time would considerably cool the fluids due to evap properties.

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

Friend of my Dad did that exact thing, used a windshield washer pump. He towed a camper with his F-250 back in the late 70's-early 80's. It stopped his overheating problems.

 

[landuse]

Sounds good to me

 

[Poboy kartman]

Water meth injection....ohhh....wait wrong thread!

 

[mckutzy]

Almost.... but a DIY intercooler sprayer is just that.... and alot of guy use Higher alcohol bug wash or a 50/50 mix(of rubbing and water).... its not flammable at that concentration.... and it will cool really well......
Spray on the rad stack and will help on engine heat aswell.

 

[Poboy kartman]

Put salt in the water....works for ice cream and beer.......

Oh wait...I forgot...Ice Ice baby....

 

[chancer]

Friend of my Dad did that exact thing, used a windshield washer pump. He towed a camper with his F-250 back in the late 70's-early 80's. It stopped his overheating problems.

Sorry Soup, I cannot play Devils advocate, this is a good idea. The best yet is the one above^ You could even just buy line and tee into your current Windshield washer system. Maybe even add a valve so you do not have to also hit the windshield. Easily open and close valves and refill the reservoir when your getting gas depending on the weather.

I had a friend in high school that did this... but to spray pedestrians!!!

 

[Jrgunn5150]

I see no reason it won't work.

But, I also see no reason a proper fan/radiator/shroud won't do it either. Unless you're trying to maintain 80 MPH up a 8% grade with a 305 Chevy and 3.08 gear's turning 35's lol.

 

[chancer]

No, He is in Phoenix. 118° Probably not considered into the Manufacturers Load calcs.
Plus keeping the engine cool is just better in the long run.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

No, He is in Phoenix. 118° Probably not considered into the Manufacturers Load calcs.
Plus keeping the engine cool is just better in the long run.

118 is absolutely calculated into the Manufacturer's load ratings. My warranty is as valid in Phoenix, or Death Valley, as it is in Alaska or Antarctica. That's why there's such a fudge factor built in, to protect them and their warranty.

So while I absolutely agree that keeping the engine as cool as possible is best, and I also agree that his idea is sound and would work, until he runs out of cool juice anyway, I merely mention that if everything is in working order to begin with, it should be staying cool to begin with.

 

[Flyinhillbilly]

What if you put a thermal switch in to kick the pump on like what's used for electric fans? Then it would kick itself on and off when the temp reached a set of predetermined parameters. X2 on the washer fluid.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

What if you put a thermal switch in to kick the pump on like what's used for electric fans? Then it would kick itself on and off when the temp reached a set of predetermined parameters. X2 on the washer fluid.

A Hayden fan controller is only about 25.00, and adjustable.

 

[Flyinhillbilly]

A Hayden fan controller is only about 25.00, and adjustable.

Ed Zachary

 

[chancer]

What if you put a thermal switch in to kick the pump on like what's used for electric fans? Then it would kick itself on and off when the temp reached a set of predetermined parameters. X2 on the washer fluid.

Too complicated and I think by the time the thermo switch adjusted itself the Pump reservoir would be empty. No offense.
I also like to give Soup some credit, as he watches his Temp gauge on the dash he can manually hit the windshield washer switch as needed. It should Just take the occasional squirt as needed.

Also just my opinion and we all know what those are like.

 

[Flyinhillbilly]

You can adjust the switch to kick on and off when you want it to. No offense taken, just throwing it out there. A manual over ride switch might not be a bad idea either.

 

[ML-TOYS]

Do you have a manual or electric fan

 

[itsid]

Too complicated and I think by the time the thermo switch adjusted itself the Pump reservoir would be empty. No offense.

I wouldn't agree.. it's by no means overly complicated..
in fact it's practically as simple as finding the thermostat that triggers the warning light in your cooling system.
(not the one that switches the radiator fan)
and tap into it...

as soon as the warning light goes on, the pump would start pumping to help cool down.

You can add another thermostat of course if you fear to mess with the engine electronics even the smallest bit.
Or you don't have a trigger switch since that's taken care of by the computer based on a temp sensor.
that'd mean adding a few dollars for a thermo switch (IDK 10 maybe)
this time a cooling fan switch would be indeed the one you'd want
(triggers a bit faster but we're furthher from the heat so that'd do)
and a way to mount it touching the radiator (some sheet metal you have)
based on the temp switch you got (most trigger at ~110°C [roughly 200F])
and the fact that they're threaded you can leave a small airgap between the switch and the radiator case to adjust the coolant temp it triggers

And of course you can still -in parallel- install a push button to your dashboard
(which in fact is more difficult.... fiddling another set of cables through that nasty throughhole under the dashbaord)

'sid

[EDIT]
Oh wow.. thermo switches are expensive nowadays... odd..
anyways, for less than 15 bucks you can have one for sure on ebay...

 

[supermanotorious]

I like the idea of tapping in to the windshield reservoir but then my wipers would actuate when I attempt to spray the radiator stack. I'm considering buying a reservoir/pump combo salvaged from another vehicle off Ebay or similar to put under the hood.

 

[Poboy kartman]

Put a blue ice in it to keep it cooler.

 

[supermanotorious]

here I am checking Ebay and Craigslist getting stressed I wouldn't be able to get the pump by this weekend when I go to install the Derale radiator, then I called AutoZone, $13 for a pump, I can do that lol, and for the reservoir, I can get rat rod creative!