Not sure if this is the right forum, but I'm wondering what I can do to keep engine temps down in my 06 MCS? I just picked her up yesterday and have already noticed how long it takes for the engine to cool down (Fans kicked in right off the bat this morning ) AND it takes awhile for the A/C to kick in. I was thinking about running some "Water Wetter" and maybe M7's new APD. What do y'all think of this and does anyone have any other ideas/advice?

Thx

 

Hood louvers?

Could always pop the hood for a few hours when you get home. Most importantly male sure you keep the coolant at the proper levels and that the Power Steering fan (high pitch whiney) and the engine cooling fan (kinda like a jet at idle sound) are function and you should be ok.

 

Fans probably kicked in because you ran the AC. Without AC running mine doesn't kick in on 90º+ days unless I'm stuck in traffic.
Water Wetter as good as it is, I use it, won't really make the engine cool down faster.
Unless you mean something alse. I'm taking your meaning to be after you park and turn the car off.
APD will, in theory, only help a car in motion. Setting still I think it would trap heat.

 

Well, I've noticed that it takes quite a bit longer for the AC to blow cool air as well. I was thinking/hoping that the APD would direct enough air through the condenser to speed THAT up As for coolant temp, after sitting for about 7 hours last night, the temp gauge showed just under normal running temp this morning I guess what I'm looking for is (Other than going real fast) what can I do to make it run as cool and efficient as possible... does that make any sense?

 

Even in the Hot Desert sun, w/ temps climbing into the 115 range...my Mini temp guage never gets beyone the center mark...that includes major incliens and w/ A/C on full blast (gets that (little guy quite comfortable) I open the sunroof and windows w/ A?C on recirc when getting into the Hot mini before buttoning it up! Cools pretty well as a matter of fact!

My fans also will come on when I garage it...I also raise the Bonnet at night for good measure (do not want to cook anything if I do not have to!) I hear M7 has a 180 thermostat out but have not tried it...supposed to lower your coolant temps by a bunch!

 

I can appreciate some good guesstimates....But please.

peter
Team M7
562-608-8123

 

Yea, it won't freeze you out that's for sure. If you recirculate the air it can just about keep up with a hot day

Now that 7 hour temp bit sounds out of whack. I usually drive to lunch. Evevn when it's 95º or so when I leave work 4 or so hours later the temps have dropped well down. Even though the temp gauges in my IC read warmer than ambient. My car sets in full sun.

Either verify it with another temp gauge or just make the dealer look into it. You can buy or maybe borrow data loggers that trap coolant temp among other things and this might sow if the gauge is out.
I have a Davis CarChip E/X and it works quite well. There are other OBD scanners.

 

The standard MINI water temp gauge is gonna read right in the middle unless you break a hose or something.

It's simply a gauge version of an idiot light, altthough it is useful to show water temp warm-up from cold.

I recommend the m7 thermostat (had it on my first MCS for over 50,000 miles).

Anxiously waiting on one for my new MCS.

And water wetter is also slightly helpful, but that's not what it's really about.

Getting your header ceramic coated isn't too expensive and that helps some as well.

Finally, I hope the vents become a commercial reality. We can use them over here in Hotlanta, as well as over in Huntsville.

 

I wish I had a garage to park it in And before anyone takes notice of my badges, I didn't know I was moving to 'Bama until AFTER I ordered Astro Black It just seems to me like it takes WAY longer to cool off here than in Germany, but I understand that climate has to play a role. I don't know if it was on recirc or not this morning, but will double-check tomorrow

Thx for the help

 

Back again...

After testing the APD in conjuction with the M7 180 degree Thermostat
we have found the MINI running very comfortably, with no evidence of
over heating or suspiciously /marginal temp swings, that in 100 degree
socal hard driving/commuting.

The other very cool side effect is that the AC will be a little bit more efficient
from superior cooling of the AC condensor, all the way around a winner.

peter
Team M7
562-608-8123

 

Since it's my post, I guess I can go OT a bit
The 180 Thermostat... I take it it opens up at a lower temp than std? By how much? And how much of an effect would you expect with the APD alone?

Thx

 

Correct it opens earlier keeping it at a steady 180 degrees, instead of 195 on the stock unit. The other benefit is the lower oil temp, underhood temps and ultimately less wear on accessories and seals. The APD will not lower the temps per say but it will allow the Radiator and Condensor to work at it's optimum at any time taking advantage of every square inch of cooling fin surface. (the M7 thermostat will lower the temperature).

peter
Team M7
562-608-8123

 

OK, recirc seems to help some, so thx for the tip

Now, as I understand it, the lower temp thermostat opens sooner (lower temp) allowing the coolant to circulate throughout the system (and building up less heat) sooner. Combine that with the APD, which should force cooling air through the entire radiator/condensor, and there's really not much else that can be done, right?

Will "Water Wetter" give much of a benefit? From what I understand, it allows the coolant to absorb more heat, right?

As for the M7 thermostat, I'll look for a DIY, but how much work is involved with the install? I've yet to do anything to this engine so I'm not too familiar with it (yet ).

Thx again

 

Here's the best article I've read on Water Wetter.

Tech paper from Redline

In short, no it doesn't absorb more heat.

 

Dude, EXCELLENT find, thx
The paper mentions 100% water and 50/50 water/coolant. What does the MCS run as std? It should be the lifetime coolant (G40 or something ) right? How do you reckon "Water Wetter" affects this?

 

I agree with obehave here, I would be worried about that 7 hour temp reading. I live in Puerto Rico (very hot and humid right now) and even when I park the car outside during the day it will only take from 1 to 2 hours for the temp reading to go down substantially. I would look into it.

The 180 thermostat sounds like a good help for cars in year-round warm/hot climates, but I have read some posts that under colder climates it might cause some problems. Maybe Peter can clear that up?

 

I remember reading something in regards to the cold weather/180 thermostat combo giving some people issues as well. That's one of the reasons that I'm curious as to how easy/difficult the install is. For the foreseeable future at least, cold weather won't be much of a worry But when/if I move back to Germany, I'd probably want the std part back in
As for the temp reading, I forget what it read, but yesterday morning the temp gauge DID show a reading right off the bat (I think it read 1/4 so that would be about 1/2 of running temp) This morning, I didn't notice any reading at all until I got to driving But then again, it had been sitting for about 12 hours this time (I LOVE getting off work at 3 in the afternoon )

 

It works in concert with your coolant just fine.
I've used it off and on for decades.
I have run 100%*water and WW in some high perf V8 motors and it works very well. I did drain and flush it for winter though.
I wouldn't recommend 100% water and WW in the MINI for warranty and maintenance reasons.

Life time coolant
Shyuh! Right!


Edited for clarity

 

Well, they TELL you that you never need to change it, just top off But the "Lifetime" remark was tongue-in-cheek My Audi dealer actually argued with me when I asked for a Coolant change at 100k miles
Now, if I were to put a couple of capfulls of WW into my MINI, just HOW would Joe-MiniMechanic know this??

Thx again

 

Really, define "lifetime"
You could dump a whole bottle in and they wouldn't know.

 

run it on recirc. till it gets good and cold. then switch back and forth from outside to recirc. as you get lightheaded.

 

madness sells a nice oil cooler too . i've got it . but i just bought the adapter and bought a bigger setrab from hrp. gotta use push-on hose with it though . it's rugged as hell .

 

If you live in anything but hot climate, a oil thermostat is incredibly
important. Over cooling the oil could be very detrimental to the lifespan
of your engine.
Check this out: http://www.rostravernatherm.com/oil-valves.htm

Good Luck.

peter
Team M7
562-608-8123

 

I assume you are saying not to run 100% water and WW for warranty/maintenance reasons. Surely you don't have a problem with adding WW to the oem coolant.
I just sucked out some coolant from the catch tank and used a whole bottle of WW.
I've used WW in all my vehicles for....many, many years.

 

Turkey baster = space for WW, simple easy and perfectly safe....

peter
team M7
562-608-8123