posted August 15, 2005 12:23 AM
Engine Ice is the heat Normally running 185-195 degrees. Swapped out my coolant for Engine Ice and my maiden voyage average temps were 143-146. That stuff kicks ass (and at $20 a jug X 2 it better :-)
Also did the TRE and removed the Cali Emissions crapola. No more backfiring, it's smoother and the FI light is off finally.
posted August 15, 2005 11:10 AM
Edited By: trenace on 15 Aug 2005 15:09
Your result is a big reduction! (Though if your gauge is accurate, actually that is too cool.)
Engine Ice publishes what their ingredients are: what this result was achieved by was having less glycol and more water. Nothing more advanced or difficult or other than that. It's water, propylene glycol, and corrosion inhibitors. Period.
A clever way for them to make a lot of money though, offering a more dilute antifreeze, as indeed more dilute is generally perfectly appropriate for many conditions (anything but really hard freezing.)
A more economical way to do the same is to use a quality, preferably non-silicate antifreeze, e.g Honda Pro Coolant, and dilute it oneself with distilled water and an amount of Water Wetter appropriate to the amount of extra water being added.
Whether one uses an ethylene glycol or propylene glycol antifreeze for this really does not matter and one can do either, both are available, your choice. One doesn't have to buy Engine Ice to get propylene glycol as the glycol component if desired, though I don't know why one would in this application (when running straight glycol however there is a reason to prefer propylene.) For example another propylene glycol, silicate-free product is Texaco Extended Life Coolant/Anti-Freeze PG.
The absolute best cooling though is with no glycol at all, only distilled water and Water Wetter, though that would not give you the freezing protection the "Engine Ice" gives and obviously you have enough cooling already so no need for yet more.
BTW I cannot imagine how -- other than MONEY, or bamboozling -- the Engine Ice people have gotten any racing organizations to accept it in competition. Propylene glycol is every bit as slippery and hard to clean up as ethylene glycol. It has no more business in a bike on the track than any other glycol antifreeze.
Anyway, to sum it up: Engine Ice is diluted antifreeze (and dilution helps cooling) at a high price. Not saying it doesn't work, but I am saying it's not the only way to do the same thing, there are no unusual or new cooling ingredients to it at all.
posted August 15, 2005 02:43 PM
That is interesting. The temps you indicate are really kinda on the cold side. Not sure I'd like it staying around that temp. Remember that "too cold" can be a bad thing also, for complete efficient combustion. Mid 160's - 185 is a good range when cruising the highways, depending on the outside temps. On the dyno, we find that the new sportbikes like to be at 200 degrees (plus) before they show max power readings.
I've only got experience with Redline Water Wetter (known Tim since the 70's) which only takes a very small amount added to your water. The temps normally go down in the 10 - 15 degree area. Perhaps you can use too much Engine Ice? A 40 degree drop from your initial temps of 185 - 195 just really sounds extreme.
Swft - What do you guys run up for temps up there when it's freezing outside? :d
posted August 15, 2005 03:47 PM
Edited By: trenace on 15 Aug 2005 16:47
What kb is saying is (of course) true and something to consider... if your temperature readings actually are accurate, that is a lower than optimal temperature.
There indeed is such a thing as being too cool.
It actually would seem much more likely though that your gauge is off? Maybe what was "185-195" was "210-220" and your "143-146" is more like "168-171" or something like that? Or the gauge is inaccurate but with results differing from that?
quote:There indeed is such a thing as being too cool.
I am the exception to that rule.... :-)
I hope the guage is right, the bike's only got 2K miles on it.... again, those temps were while moving. I'll let you know what they're like tomorrow in stop and go heat.
posted August 16, 2005 04:40 PM
Temperatures in the 50's isn't cold. Last winter I ride mine to work when it was 4 degrees F. Now that is starting to get a litle cold.
____________
Don't show your stupidity, wear a helmet.
Moderator
Please... speak to the hand.
Posts: 3212
posted August 16, 2005 05:25 PM
quote:Swft - screw that. You know I hate riding in the cold....
.... and RAIN too! Even with a gift given rain suit (albeit CHEAP!)
***********************************************************************
NOT ALL RACING BODIES WILL ALLOW ENGINE ICE
CMRA (Central Motorcycle Racing Assoc.) is one of the sanctioning bodies that will NOT allow bikes with Engine Ice in it's coolant system on the track. For the very same reason you mentioned... it contains Propylene Glycol. Amazingly, even though AMA allows the use of propylene glycol (Engine Ice), it is actually SLICKER than normal anti-freeze's ethylene glycol, when spilled onto the track. Not that Water Wetter does not make the track slick when spilled, because it does as well. It can reduce dynamic friction (traction) by up to 50%. That would be equal to straight water. Normal 50/50 mix of anti-freeze and water can reduce dynamic friction by about 65%, while Engine Ice will reduce it at a scary 85%. That's SLICK! I'd hate to have my bike or the one in front of me blow a hose with that stuff in the radiator.
Interestingly enough, the folks at Engine Ice recommend that you flush your cooling system with a 50/50 solution of white distilled vinegar and distilled water before using their product. What they do not recommend on their website is that you add distilled water with their product. In other words, you are to pour in enough Engine Ice to completely fill the cooling system to the proper level. Engine Ice is sold in a half gallon (64 oz / 1893 cc) container at a MSRP of $16.99. The 2005 Kawasaki ZX-10R coolant system has a capacity of 2.6 quarts (83.2 oz / 2460 cc). Thus you will have to buy a gallon of distilled water, a bottle of distilled white vinegar and TWO 1/2 gallon bottles of Engine Ice to change out the liquid in a 10R's coolant system in the manner they recommend. That would cost about $40 to do one 10R. On the upside, it is safe for your pets to drink.
In the case of Red Line's Water Wetter, one 12 oz bottle is good for a minimum of 12 quarts (3 gallons / 384 oz / 11.4 L) of coolant solution. In other words, it would be enough coolant for 4.6 ZX-10Rs. Water Wetter retails for about $7 per 12 oz. bottle. A gallon of distilled at the local grocery store is about $1. That works out to about $2.90 per bike. That's almost 14 times cheaper that Engine Ice. If one wishes to spend more money, Water Wetter can be mixed with no more than 20% ethylene or propylene (undiluted) glycol to prevent freezing of cooling system during the winter.
____________
There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
HOME
NEW TOPIC
posted August 15, 2005 12:23 AM
Edited By: 
