Water Wetter and other Automotive Myths

If the product, Water Wetter, reduces the water temp. by 15-20 degrees as claimed and the the thermostat would insure that the coolant temp increases up to a certain temp. then why in God's name would a person use it? It just retards the initial temp. increase that one needs to run the engine at optimum condition and later the temp would catch-up with it! Explanation, please?

Racing and heavy track applications are recommended for this product. It DOES work. In fact, the only reason for coolant is to prevent water from freezing in cold temps and allow the water to work efficiently within the engine. A lot of racers run water only. Water Wetter helps make the water more efficient but reduces the problems if a coolant lines goes ka-bloom on the track. Good stuff, but again - only for use in track cars. C.

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Since I run this stuff in my race cars I agree with everything Chad has said except I don't understand the burst hose comment? It doesn't do anything for that condition as I speak from experience. To add a little more, as a racer I am just as concerned with oil temp as I am water temp and in cold conditions even more. The water gauge will show normal temps but the oil temp will not even be close to a safe range especially in cool conditions. It usually is well into the warm up lap before the oil temp is up enough to be race ready. Be very careful thinking the water temp gauge is telling you all you need to know.

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It works...and that is that. It might be a myth to you but to people that have tried the product, it is simply a product that works.

I don't buy it. Surfactants are useful for surfaces that the water can run off of. In a closed water circuit, where else can the water go? It may prevent air bubbles in some circumstances, however. Surfactants are very common, cheap, and effective in extememely low concentrations (200:1). Any antifreeze should already contain adequate surfactants, I would think. And yes, the thermostat controls the water temp, regardless of coolant. That phrase should be a tipoff to hype.

You believers should also install those electric superchargers that they sell on email. BIG power gains.

Wow!!! Can you imagine how fast your Hybrid would go with a Supercharger!!!

Not sure what "Water Wetter" does, but running straight water for cooling makes sense scientifically. Water has a higher specific heat capacity than just about any other liquid. That is, water can absorb more heat (energy) per unit mass than most other liquids. That's why racers use it when cooling is all that matters. Of course water alone has no corrosion or anti-freeze protection so it's not for everyday use.

I will vouch for water wetter, worked in a friends 'stang. Many dynos were done (Muscle Mustangs and Fast Ford mags) using water wetter in the intercoolers of Lightnings with some minor hp gains. Couldnt tell a difference in my Lightning but 5hp gain in a 5500 lb truck is hard to notice.

I think it is important that the main market for this product is an additive to an all water system when you run in races (most wheel to wheel organizations have these rules) that do not allow your cooling system to contain any anti-freeze. Anti freeze on the track is a very bad situation. I don't know that the benefits in a traditional coolant mix are all that great....but in an all water system, it works great.

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Whoops...The problems from coolant on a race track surface to be a bit more specific. Coolant is VERY slick. C.

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You're right - to a point. The big gain is simply removing the antifreeze from the mix. From the Redline .pdf about WW:

I use water wetter in my 964 race car at the track all the time. The only positive effect I would see is come anti-corrosion and anti-freeze properties w/o the slick anti-freeze problems.

Adding ANY non foaming water soluble lubricating fluid to plain water will increase the water's cooling effect. Adding 5-10% antifreeze to plain water will give the EXACT same cooling results as will the more expensive gimmicks. A properly setup cooling system will keep your engine more than cool enough running a 40/50 antifreeze mix anyway, so maybe the focus should be on what is wrong with your cooling system rather than what is in your cooling system.

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Doesn't do that. Good read: http://e30m3performance.com/myths/mo...ter_wetter.htm My race cars have all Red Line in them and as good as their products are if they make it I am for it

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I suggest you reread a few of the posts. This is a product that is primarily used for racing . Many racing organizations do not allow antifreeze, so your 40/50 antifreeze mix IS NOT PERMITTED. I agree with the comments about coolant - it is worse than ice. I'm thinking about switching to engine ice next season. Anyone tried it yet? Steve

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My comments were about increasing the cooling ability of the engine, whether or not you are at a track or in the road. The only benefit of using Water Wetter, or similar product is to provide the system with some anti corrosive properties, which is important. It will give you no cooling benefit. Use of water only, with or without water wetter, requires flushng of the cooling system, frequently. And never store an engine without antifreeze in it for protection from corrosion.

WaterWetter� WaterWetter� is a unique wetting agent for cooling systems which reduces coolant temperatures by as much as 30�F. This liquid product can be used to provide rust and corrosion protection in plain water for racing engines, which provides much better heat transfer properties than glycol-based antifreeze. Or it can be added to new or used antifreeze to improve the heat transfer of ethylene and propylene glycol systems. Designed for modern aluminum, cast iron, copper, brass and bronze systems. Compatible with all antifreezes, including the latest long-life variations

Thanks Cory, the corrision protection I did not remember but it is on it now?

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False claims. Nowhere in their test results or in real world applications do they show a drop in temperatures by as much as 30F simply using their product. Don't be a sucker by beleiving the claims, look at the testing. Actual CLAIMED benefit shown in their own test results is less than 5F. Same type of bull**** you hear from the doomsayers: "Household income has dropped 1% over the past 3 years." That statement is true and it sounds bad, but they did not give you all the information. What they do not tell you is that per capita income is up 8% during the same time which can only mean that there are more households in the country. Looks like more people are able to move out of mom and dad's house and into their own place. THAT is GREAT news. "Trust by verify".

Not sure why there is an argument here. Waterwetter and similar products are used because: Antifreeze is not allowed in a race car because glycol is very slippery if it gets on the track; Modern cooling systems need corrosion inhibitors which you don't find in water; Water conducts heat better than a glycol/water mixture, so temperatures can be lowered if the cooling system is somewhat marginal. Waterwetter (etc.) have a much higher percentage of water in the cooling system than a 50:50 antifreeze mix so the system has better cooling capacity. On the other hand if the temps go much below freezing you have a problem; Race cars do not run (normally) in temperatures where freezing is likely so the low temperature advantage of anti-freeze is not required. Regards,

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The problem is the claim by Redline that "WaterWetter� is a unique wetting agent for cooling systems which reduces coolant temperatures by as much as 30�F. ". This is as blatant a lie as you can get. It does no such thing. Redline's own test results illustrate an additional cooling benefit of less that 5%. Personally, I don't trust someone who is as misleading as they are. Seems that their false advertising has convinced some, tho. BTW: If you run Water Wetter, you are running a glycol/water mixture.

There were tons of test done by Ford magazines when the product first appeared, I believe in the mid-90's. I would think they were unbiased. All showed improvements with overall temperature in radiators. Later, WW was used in water-to-air intercoolers with some minor hp gains. A friends Mustang dropped about 10 degrees with this stuff mixed with 50/50 coolant. I believe this chemical works and would use it again. Plus it is cheap.

I dunno... I know if you mix about anything in water, you will form an azeotrope which simply means you have raised the boiling point and lowered the freezing point compared to water alone. Salt is a good example. Ethlylene and propylene glycol are 2 others, with corrosion protection added. If I HAD a radiator in my race car, I might add WW to have something other than just plain water. In my street 996, I will use a 40-50/50 mix of antifreeze/water and leave the WW out. If I raced my 996 or drove it around city traffic much, I would add 1999Porsche911's constant run fan mod or add the 3rd radiator as I don't think WW would solve my cooling issue IMHO.

How about Oil Oilier? Does that work?

riad Only if you use 0W40

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Ding Ding Ding! This is WW's primary purpose is to raise the coolants boiling point. Corrosion resistance and water pump lubricant are other benefits. Also, adding static pressure to the coolant system will also raise the boiling point. This is the reason most racecar coolant systems have schrader valves fabricated into the system.