Tracking car hard in hot climate

[Estoril]

I just did 2 days at Summit Point with temps at 94-96 degrees both days. Oppressive. Zero problems on a stock, well-maintained setup. Instructor group, including two back-to-back sessions.

[bigjae46]

I just did 2 days at Summit Point with temps at 94-96 degrees both days. Oppressive. Zero problems on a stock, well-maintained setup. Instructor group, including two back-to-back sessions.

Where are you shifting? That makes a huge difference. I can run all day shifting at 7k rpm. I get about 15-20 minutes in 90+ degree weather shifting at redline.

[Obioban]

There is no way a OEM rad/oil cooler would ever keep up with the D088 if you are at all an advanced/top level driver. Even if new.

Since you never actually tried a new OE rad in your journey, I'm not sure what you're basing that on.

Oil cooler I'll give you. Stock cooler seems to always lock on at ~3/4 and hold. If the D088 is keeping it below the half way mark, that's certainly an improvement.

[elbert]

I was considering a do88 oil cooler, but now I'm not so sure after seeing this thread. Granted, it is for a different car, but QC is QC.

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2156902

[Nardo S54]

I’m on east coast but have my share of hot weather track days. Just last week my ambient temps read 105 in my Z4. But I typically do (6) 30-min sessions per day at my local track. Temps are usually 220-230 if I shift before 7500. If I take it to redline, then temps climb to mid 240s.

I did a full cooling refresh and stuck with OEM/OE parts. While I considered CSF rad, truth is the factory rad with plastic end tanks never once leaked in the last 18 years, and temp management has never been issue. So just did BMW genuine which was surprisingly reasonably priced from FCP.

The only piece I didn’t touch was the oil cooler and that was only because the item is currently NLA for the Z4 M. I was considering going with an aftermarket from Zionsville but wasn’t able to verify fitment since the Z4 application isn’t very common (and I hate being the guinea pig).

[eacmen]

dup post

[eacmen]

I just did 2 days at Summit Point with temps at 94-96 degrees both days. Oppressive. Zero problems on a stock, well-maintained setup. Instructor group, including two back-to-back sessions.

Were you at the NJ CCA event? I was there as well. My coolant temps were getting up to 220 and oil temps were getting up to 275.

I had to do cool down laps mid session.

I still have A/C with pusher fan. No puller fan. I used to have the CSF rad and just running A/C car would overheat at idle. Switched to factory rad and that issur went away. Willing to try putting the shroud and fan back on. But figured on track there should be more than enough airflow available the puller fan shouldnt be necessary?

If I didn't hit traffic the temps seemed to be stable, but as soon as I hit dirty air they spiked.

[Estoril]

Were you at the NJ CCA event? I was there as well. My coolant temps were getting up to 220 and oil temps were getting up to 275.

I had to do cool down laps mid session.

I still have A/C with pusher fan. No puller fan. I used to have the CSF rad and just running A/C car would overheat at idle. Switched to factory rad and that issur went away. Willing to try putting the shroud and fan back on. But figured on track there should be more than enough airflow available the puller fan shouldnt be necessary?

If I didn't hit traffic the temps seemed to be stable, but as soon as I hit dirty air they spiked.

Yes, I was there for that event. I did all black sessions both days and one Red on Sunday. Temps were stable despite some Red traffic. I am all OE for cooling components.

[BCEXP]

I would refresh your cooling system with OE parts and blow out the fins on your oil cooler and AC condenser.

Honestly, the E46 M3 has a rather robust cooling design.

[eacmen]

I would refresh your cooling system with OE parts and blow out the fins on your oil cooler and AC condenser.

Honestly, the E46 M3 has a rather robust cooling design.

Everything is fresh OE excluding the shroud and puller fan. That could explain the coolant temps but not so much the oil temps.

I do have the bimmerworld front splitter on the car. The AOA isn't ideal but maybe that could be starving the airflow over the coolers.

My issue is that this July event is the only one each year where i really stress the cooling. Every other event its a non issue.

[bigjae46]

Everything is fresh OE excluding the shroud and puller fan. That could explain the coolant temps but not so much the oil temps.

I do have the bimmerworld front splitter on the car. The AOA isn't ideal but maybe that could be starving the airflow over the coolers.

My issue is that this July event is the only one each year where i really stress the cooling. Every other event its a non issue.

If you have the AC condenser you really need a puller fan more than the pusher fan.

[eacmen]

If you have the AC condenser you really need a puller fan more than the pusher fan.

I thought this as well. When I was refreshing cooling system I tried both.

With just the clutch puller fan and shroud at idle and AC on the car would overheat.

Putting the pusher fan back on and removing puller I could run AC all day at idle and temps were stable.

Given that 90% of my use of the AC is sitting on grid id rather not overheat before going out for a session.

I know coolshirt is the real answer but not ready to make that jump yet.

[bigjae46]

I thought this as well. When I was refreshing cooling system I tried both.

With just the clutch puller fan and shroud at idle and AC on the car would overheat.

Putting the pusher fan back on and removing puller I could run AC all day at idle and temps were stable.

Given that 90% of my use of the AC is sitting on grid id rather not overheat before going out for a session.

I know coolshirt is the real answer but not ready to make that jump yet.

I would just put a high output fan on the back of the radiator and call it the day. It will overcool at idle.

[MTiz]

Driver407 OP, did you ever figure out a solution to get through these hot track days? I haven't thrown any money at my car this year but I'm in NorCal as well. Thunderhill and Laguna Seca with ambient temps outside above 90 degrees and my coolant needle will touch red (if I redline). Even does it in the canyons if I'm really sending it. I basically just don't go to the track from June to October. Water wetter alone did absolutely nothing for this heat we've been having this year.

My plan before dumping $1k into a complete refresh is to flush all the old coolant out and do straight distilled water + water wetter and seeing how it goes.

[Obioban]

I hate water wetter.