Water Wetter Who uses it and how you like it
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LittleCaesar
New member
My buddy uses it in his 70 Chevelle with a 383 stroker in it when he takes it to the strip now and then. It keeps the temps cooler. He didn't have the bucks for a nice Ron Davis radiator when he finished the project this past spring.
In the 4runner, not needed IMO as long as the coolant system hasn't been neglected.
In the 4runner, not needed IMO as long as the coolant system hasn't been neglected.
I used it in my 350+ rwhp Camaro and 450+ rwhp Mustang. I swore by the stuff. You use so little of it, which allows you to use a lot of water and since water is what actually cools your engine. I also lived in a much hotter climate.
In my little ole 4Runner, in a cooler climate, I don't use it. But I wouldn't hesitate to.
In my little ole 4Runner, in a cooler climate, I don't use it. But I wouldn't hesitate to.
badattitude
Member
I put a half-bottle in after I overheated a little bit. The cause of the overheating was apparently a clogged bypass hose (to the overflow tank). I probably don't need the water wetter but I use it anyway. From what I understand, it increases the cooling ability and decreases the anti-freeze capability. I hesitate to use any "additives" at all but I think water wetter is ok. It and seafoam (which I don't use anymore) are the only additives I've put in my 4runner. At least water wetter is red like the coolant.
I've been using it from 130,000 miles to 167,000
I've been using it from 130,000 miles to 167,000
From my understanding it's a surfactant, almost like a soap. It helps the coolant adhere to the surfaces inside the cooling system, and thus transfer heat a bit more effectively.
I don't use it in the 4Runner, it's totally stock in terms of power output, and the OEM cooling system seems very capable and has plenty of excess capacity.
I do use it in my turbo Volvo wagon, where a little 4 cylinder engine is making ~400 hp at the crank, but still has the cooling system Volvo built to handle 115 hp. To be honest I haven't done any rigorous back to back testing with it, though.
I don't use it in the 4Runner, it's totally stock in terms of power output, and the OEM cooling system seems very capable and has plenty of excess capacity.
I do use it in my turbo Volvo wagon, where a little 4 cylinder engine is making ~400 hp at the crank, but still has the cooling system Volvo built to handle 115 hp. To be honest I haven't done any rigorous back to back testing with it, though.
LittleCaesar
New member
I got to see some pics of this engine.
I once had an opportunity to buy an 850R wagon but the guy wrecked it on his way to meet me to test drive it.
Atrox Caeda
New member
I wouldn't use it in my 4runner. I had to run it in my track bikes per race regulations and it works fine for that application. Those bikes were never in the snow and in freezing temperatures. My 4runner often is and I live in Southern AZ! It would not be a good fit unless you lived in Hawaii or Florida and never traveled into the mountains.
Here it is. It's a RWD redblock (ye olde steel blocked engines) 240 Volvo wagon, not a FWD whiteblock (the more modern aluminum blocked engines):
Brique
New member
lol, a 400hp volvo, that's freakin awesome. Any punks tried to take you off the line and get shamed yet?
I remember riding in my friend's dodge durango one time (the suv durango, not the newer minivan durango) and some dude in a mustang starts revving his engine at a stop light, so my friend is like "ok, what the hell." Dude got smoked by a stock durango, it was hilarious.
I can only imagine that scenario in your Volvo. 10x the hilarity.
I remember riding in my friend's dodge durango one time (the suv durango, not the newer minivan durango) and some dude in a mustang starts revving his engine at a stop light, so my friend is like "ok, what the hell." Dude got smoked by a stock durango, it was hilarious.
I can only imagine that scenario in your Volvo. 10x the hilarity.
No one ever revs on me in traffic, the rest of the car still looks pretty stock.
I take it to the track occasionally, where it can run in the 12's if it's feeling good (it gets moody). Which is pretty surprising to most people. It's got a horrible launch, though, usually 2.1, 2.2 60' times, so it has to make up time in the latter half of the race.
Arnezie
New member
No not as a bandaid but still getting around 200 degree temps with everything new. Jiggle valve down and still getting 198* it was over 215 before new water pump ,coolant, thermostat, radiator , cap and all. I've run it in my motorcycle and BMW and had great results in cooling everything down under 190
LittleCaesar
New member
Post a track run if someone capture's you on video.
My first girlfriend's mom had a 940 turbo. Think it was a 94. Brand new off the lot. Those things used to sell like hotcakes in the late 80s and 90s until bought by Ford. Nothing more needs to be said.
LittleCaesar
New member
SweetWaterSurprise
Banned
Never used it in my Runner, but have used it in my Rat Rod, 63 Linc and 944 track car
Arnezie
New member
Coveman
Member
It is similar to LAUNDRY SOAP in that it reduces water's surface tension- we use similar treatments in fire fighting. Reduced surface tension allows more contact and heat absorption.
By itself it may not be an effective anti-corrosive additive. using water wetter and water alone in an engine may lead to corrision over time.
water wetter may have little effect in normal cars, because the cooling system is thermostaticly controlled, your car will reach operating tempature until the thermostat opens. Then as the temp drops, the thermostat closes
if your car is overheating water wetter may help, as the thermostat is already open so more heat exchange is possible
By itself it may not be an effective anti-corrosive additive. using water wetter and water alone in an engine may lead to corrision over time.
water wetter may have little effect in normal cars, because the cooling system is thermostaticly controlled, your car will reach operating tempature until the thermostat opens. Then as the temp drops, the thermostat closes
if your car is overheating water wetter may help, as the thermostat is already open so more heat exchange is possible
I never used it in my 4runner but I did use it in my 96 probe GT. It had less than 30k on it when I put it in as it would always run a little hot if not on the highway. A couple weeks after I put it in, I started getting pinhole leaks in the all aluminum radiator. Luckily it was still under warranty. They ended up replacing the radiator 3 times. They were re-using the coolant each time. I'm not exactly sure what is in that stuff but it didn't play well with the factory antifreeze and the alum. radiator.
Robb235
Senior Member
I've used water wetter in my R6 sportbike, but never in a passenger vehicle. I just don't see the point in putting it in your 4Runner. In the bike, the coolant temp is more often than not hotter than the thermostat rating, meaning that the t-stat is open almost all the time. I think the t-stat in my R6 is 160F or 180F, yet it will frequently be 200+. I can get pretty big fluctuations in coolant temp depending if I'm sitting in traffic or cruising on the highway. My 4Runner on the other hand reaches 190F, and holds that temp rock steady. Doesn't matter if I'm towing, climbing a mountain, etc. the coolant temp hardly moves.
