splinter

My motor's performance is greatly affected by its coolant temperature. Enjoyed a night at the dragstrip recently. It ran reasonably well, but I was discouraged how much its MPH was reduced by high temps and heat soak.

Have any of you reset your fan activation temperature via Star Diagnostics?
Reference: https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/123809-another-tip-heat-management.html

Ideas, feedback, and experiences welcomed.

flush

Hmm, I've never seen my car temp go above 90..... about 82-83 normally. Even in the hottest Seattle days last year (100F)...

Code3 Performance

You might consider Evosport phenolic spacers. I think I am going to pick up a pair, since the temps are rising again in Cali.

splinter

Allow me to elaborate, if I may.
Just as with your AMG, the thermostat allows a minimum operating temperature of 82C upon warmup. However, during low speed driving, or continuous enthusiastic operation, coolant temperature will shoot up to ~100C and essentially remain there. During a long downhill section, or a mile or two of steady (light load) cruising, the temps will again return to their regulated minimum.

The cooling system has been properly serviced, with a 50/50 mixture of distilled water and MB's (#1 03 0002) anticorrosion/antifreeze. The radiator seems to easily disipate its heat when it has sufficient airflow. My intent with having the fan kick on before the 100C threshold, (as it does now) is to reduce IATs and help keep the engine in its "sweet spot".

BTW, my sister lives on Mercer Island. You are indeed fortunate to reside in such a beautiful area of of our Country.

splinter

I'll install a set before our debilitating summer heat arrives.
A rather serendipitous reply, as LA was 95F today. Thanks for the tip!

flush

hmm, i'll see if i can do a couple track days this summer

MARK CUMMINS

The Fan Mod is a Great Mod....It Will Turn the cooling fan a little early....
Great for the Heavy Traffic here in So Cal

Its Done Via the SDS aka Star

Steve @ mbenznl.com Did our W203 severals ago....NO Adverse problems

splinter

Recently had the modification performed. A competent technician adjusted the fan on/off settings with his DAS equipment. The hysteresis between the thermostat opening and fan engagement temperatures has been noticeably reduced.

Rationale was an attempt to help reduce intake air temperatures. Higher density inlet air improves volumetric efficiency. Cooler air provides an improvement of approximately 1% horsepower increase for every 11 degree (Fahrenheit) drop in temperature. Our supercharged motors are even more susceptible to a reduction in their rated output, in everyday driving situations, because of their (heat generating) artificial aspiration. Of course, this assumes an appropriate correction in mixture strength and spark timing, for which our Bosch ME 2.8.1 regulated ECUs automatically provide. One can verify this oft-proved and well documented series of facts in several SAE publications.

During preliminary testing, IATs and knock retard have been significantly reduced. Thus far, the initial results have been positive. The figures deciphered from data logging are encouraging. Performance and drivability have improved markedly from the standard 100C fan engagement temperature. I will soon get her back to the no-lies dynamometer. Track results (or lack thereof) are scheduled next, in order to document and verify the results for those of you who may be contemplating this modification.

SiLvaC32

redline's water wetter?

Zeppelin

I fail to see how lower coolant temps translate to lower IAT's.

Eurocharged Rick

if the engine is running cooler, then it is not heat up the intake/supercharger/intercooler system as much...

splinter

Not necessarily specific to MB, but some interesting technical information nonetheless.

AWDman

the -10 deg fan mod will not materially affect IATs.

separate the liquid to air IC from the radiator circuit. (evosprt mod). insulate the airboxes....when i have track days i replace the windshield fluid with water and water wetter.......otherwise folks have looked into larger laminova IC cores, bigger better IC pumps to better cool IA.

i may look into the fan mod- not for a reduction in IATs but to try to cool the tranny a bit more as (in my case) it's transmitting most/absorming some of my tuned (~430hp) motor's output whilst running hard for extended periods during track days. (the tranny cooler is integrated into the rad).

if you really want to feel a diff eliminating effects of heat soak put some sunoco 260 gt plus (104 ocatne) in your tank....in fact if i were a drag racer this would be a must do. a 5 gal pail would be more than enough. trick is to arrive at track running on fumes, so that when you dump the 104 in it's diluted as little as possible.

enzom

If you do try this mod, make sure the tech knows what he/she is doing. At least as it relates to the E55, in order to have the fans kick in ten degrees lower, you need to change the setting to +10. If the tech sets it to -10, it will make the fans go on when the coolant is ten degrees celsius HIGHER than the factory preset temperature. Counterintuitive, but true.

Vadim @ FD

Definitely get it done if you can.

All it is - is a lower setting at which the fan comes on. It keeps heat soak from creeping up during driving in traffic and make the car more consistent.

In terms of lowering the IAT, I have measured before and after and there was no appreciative difference in peak numbers.

splinter

It did not, as I had hoped, substantially reduce IATs. I anticipate code3smith’s heat exchanger will address that issue.

What the mod did do was to markedly reduce the DME’s knock retard adjustments. At WOT it now pulls less timing, on the order of 5 degrees, than it had previously when its coolant temperature was hovering around 100 degrees Celsius. For those of us in CA, where only 91 octane is readily available at the local hydrocarbon dispensary, every little bit helps. It has improved a consistent and repeatable .1 and 1 MPH at the strip.

The STAR DAS equipment required to perform the adjustment retails for ~$15,000. Oh, how I'd love to invest some time scrolling through its menus. Other members (thanks drexappeal & emrliquidlife!) referred me to a gentleman who did the deed for less than a tank of fuel. At the same time, he 86’d the seat belt audio and activated the Netherlands setting. His $20 tip was well earned. If you’re in LA and contemplating doing the mod, let me know and I’ll return the favor.

slowrey

Is this the desert mod?

TopGun32

get a bigger IC HE core...

a better pump..

and try the fan mod as icing on the cake.

1qikctr

i need this mod ASAP.

dkflipse

Me three! Waiting on web-site, etc.

TopGun32

thanks!
this is really helpful.