preparation at the track - pls advise!

[Falco]

I was at the thrack earlier this week. The track was very crowded and I had some problems to keep the truck at the optimum temperature range. Beside coolant temp I've a tranny oil temp gauge and an engine oil temp gauge and was monitoring the intake temps via DM too. So I've tried two things:

1. Let the truck idle a lot while waiting. This way it could keep the temps, the tranny too. Engine oil was around 170F, tranny oil temp around 140F, coolant around 160F. That's fine, but my intake temps were around 150F at the starting line which is not acceptable with outside temps in the high 60's, low 70's. It was 120 at the trap, but the truck was some half a sec slower than usual and I was getting up to 8* deg of spark retard.

2. Let the truck sitting and start it from time to time. This way at the starting line I got 150F for engine oil, 110F for tranny oil, 155F for coolant and 100F for intake temps. The truck were running really well, near to its best.

While the 2nd way seems to be much better, I'm a bit concerned to push the truck with cool oil temps... Especially with a cool tranny. What do you think? Can I hurt anything whit this method?

I've tried to keep the tranny temp a bit higher whit shifting it while it's idling several times, but it didn't not help too much. Also though about using ice with the 1st method. What do you think? How do you use ice?

Sorry for the long post...

TIA,

 

[nick041881]

i get to the track a little early and park the truck with the hood open and two bags of ice on the motor for an hour or so. then i get my friends help to push it all the way up the staging line. only when im about to stage, do i start the engine. not sure if running the motor hard while its cold for 13 seconds is that bad for it...? anyways i can feel the difference when i do it this way compared to just driving up there and taking off!
good luck,
nick

 

[Falco]

Thanks Nick. :lol: Would be nice to hear some other tactics too... Anyone?

Later,

 

[Eluding]

I let the engine cool for at least an hour with the hood up. I spray water on the radiator, lower CCHE, and the transmission cooler. I put ice on the intake and intercooler. Coolant temp is usually 150-160. By the way, putting ice on the IC and intake is worth a consistant tenth over just letting it cool down and using the water.

 

[GM TURBO]

Another thing I had thought of and actually saw Myclone doing - leave the truck off and let the intercooler run - assuming you have the IC hotwired. I am sure that normal for some of the older - I mean more experienced guys - but might be something else to try.

 

[InvisiBill]

Wow, I feel cool. I was doing that the first time I ever went to the track... With the stock setup, it doesn't help that much when there's no air flowing through the CCHE though. *adds Spals to "When I Have Extra Cash" list*

Depending on the track setup, park your truck facing into the wind too. Here there's just a big parking lot where you just find an empty spot out of everyone else's way. If you face it into the wind, you will get some fresh air through the CCHE, and the open hood will scoop the cooler air too.

 

[Falco]

Thanks guys! Good ideas!

 

[SY732]

I use two bags of ice and spray the cche with ice water, running the ic pump and spals every 15 mins.
I try to get the IC and MAT temps down to the low 50's, 70's if it is too humid.
I also make sure i get the coolant temp up to 150 b4 I stage.

 

[Falco]

And thanks again. I'll try to use ice next time for sure....