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Engine running a bit hot, Upgrade intercooler or Datalogic?
Hello Everyone! I have had my 1999 FD for about a month and finally got the Defi temp gauge working. The car seems to go up to 100-105c (212F to 221F) often.
I tested the fans and they do come on, but not until 105c which I think is stock settings. The inter cooler seems very small to me.
Battery already relocated to back
FC commander installed
Vented hood
HKS Single turbo converted
Should I get a V-mount intercooler and radiator or get a Datalogic or both to lower my temps (and probably improve horsepower)?
Those are stock temp swings. Not ideal for this era but stock. Being on an untuned power fc and single turbo is enough to buy a dataLOGIT on its own. So yes, either that or hit up Xavier.
Those are stock temp swings. Not ideal for this era but stock. Being on an untuned power fc and single turbo is enough to buy a dataLOGIT on its own. So yes, either that or hit up Xavier.
Thank you very much, FD. Can you expand on Xavier? I am new to the forum.
The car seems to go up to 100-105c (212F to 221F) often... I tested the fans and they do come on, but not until 105c which I think is stock settings.
So basically the car works as intended right? But just like all of us, you want to run cooler temps. With that said, your bottle neck at this point in time are your fans. It is only when the fans can't keep up that we start looking at other options, such as larger radiators, vented hoods, water pumps, etc.
Since you mentioned datalogic, means you have a Power FC. And assuming that you have the commander to go with it:
Via the commander set the Power FC's fans to kick in at whatever you temp you want. For obvious reasons, just not below the opening thermostat temp (80-85°C).
If you don't have the commander then the cheapest route is to get an FC thermoswitch. They are set to kick the fans on at 95°C opposed to the FD's 105°C. It's a simple direct swap, no modifications whatsoever.
Originally Posted by Kuboja
The inter cooler seems very small to me.... Should I get a V-mount intercooler and radiator or get a Datalogic or both to lower my temps (and probably improve horsepower)?
The intercooler won't do anything for your water temps, its purpose is to lower post turbo intake temps. Now a V-mount won't do much either for H20 temps either that is unless it comes with a different radiator AND it happens to be bigger than the one you have. So as you see it's not really the V-mount but the radiator.
With all that said, if you have the funds then yes EVENTUALLY get a V-mount as it is the best of both worlds. It has the intake cooling of a FMIC and the water cooling of a SMIC. I say eventually because you just got the car, enjoy it & learn about it before taking on non essential improvement projects.
So basically the car works as intended right? But just like all of us, you want to run cooler temps. With that said, your bottle neck at this point in time are your fans. It is only when the fans can't keep up that we start looking at other options, such as larger radiators, vented hoods, water pumps, etc.
Since you mentioned datalogic, means you have a Power FC. And assuming that you have the commander to go with it:
Via the commander set the Power FC's fans to kick in at whatever you temp you want. For obvious reasons, just not below the opening thermostat temp (80-85°C).
If you don't have the commander then the cheapest route is to get an FC thermoswitch. They are set to kick the fans on at 95°C opposed to the FD's 105°C. It's a simple direct swap, no modifications whatsoever.
You are spot on with your assumption, just want cooler temps where my Defi light does not keep going off at 100C.
It did come with a Power FC, yes. I failed to mention that it also has an HPI Radiator... so maybe I will wait on the V-Mount until later but get the Datalogit to change the fan turn on time plus monitor other engine parameters. I will also try to find another Thermostat like Slides suggested above. (73 celcius thermostat) not sure where to get one, but sure I can find it. Thank you for all the details!!!
The power fc disregards the stock thermoswitch so switching it for the lower temp one will do nothing for you. The stock thermostat opens well below 100c so changing it for a lower temp one will also do nothing for you. It will simply delay the circumstance you have now.
Your fix here is to plug into the power fc and lower the fan temps. The defi gauges have an adjustable warning to them so you don't HAVE to see it flash at 100. Just set the warning higher.
Xavier Borg is the person who has actually revolutionized power fc tuning. He has modern hardware and software to assist in tuning on a power fc. He is here on the forum if you search his name.
The power fc disregards the stock thermoswitch so switching it for the lower temp one will do nothing for you. The stock thermostat opens well below 100c so changing it for a lower temp one will also do nothing for you. It will simply delay the circumstance you have now.
Your fix here is to plug into the power fc and lower the fan temps. The defi gauges have an adjustable warning to them so you don't HAVE to see it flash at 100. Just set the warning higher.
Xavier Borg is the person who has actually revolutionized power fc tuning. He has modern hardware and software to assist in tuning on a power fc. He is here on the forum if you search his name.
Thank you! That makes since. I just ordered a Datalogic controller so will be able to adjust my fans and other things when I get it.
Before you purchase a Datalogit, you may want to consider the considerably better/newer design product from Xavier Borg. He posts to the Power FC section on the forum, or you can get info on his facebook page FCTweak. He is extremely good at responding to emails and messages.
Before you purchase a Datalogit, you may want to consider the considerably better/newer design product from Xavier Borg. He posts to the Power FC section on the forum, or you can get info on his facebook page FCTweak. He is extremely good at responding to emails and messages.
It did come with a Power FC, yes.... but get the Datalogit to change the fan turn on time plus monitor other engine parameters.
So I take it you don't have a commander then?
Originally Posted by Kuboja
I will also try to find another Thermostat like Slides suggested above. (73 celcius thermostat) not sure where to get one, but sure I can find it. Thank you for all the details!!!
Just make sure you understand what happens when you replace the stock thermostat with a lower temp one. Its all about what you use the car for and how you use it.
My personal advice, if you have a street driven car (not a track car) then stick to the stock thermostat and just set the fans accordingly. My fans kick in at 85°C and the car stays at 85°C like 90% of the time. Sometimes even I think that's a bit too low as I'm on the lower end of operating temps. Hence the saying "too much of a good thing"
I suggest doing a coolant system pressure test to check if you have any leaks that might be contributing to your temps. I posted a link to a good tool to do this ages ago if you want to search for it or try and rent one from your local auto parts store.
Definitely get Xaviar's product and lower the fan engagement temps.
Where are you seeing these temps? Stopped at a light or while moving?
What are the coolant temps when the car is moving?
I suggest doing a coolant system pressure test to check if you have any leaks that might be contributing to your temps. I posted a link to a good tool to do this ages ago if you want to search for it or try and rent one from your local auto parts store.
Definitely get Xaviar's product and lower the fan engagement temps.
Where are you seeing these temps? Stopped at a light or while moving?
What are the coolant temps when the car is moving?
Temps raise while stopped, they go down when the fans kick in... just worries me to see it. Also after I hit the turbo hard for a bit the temps go up. If I am on the freeway temps are fine.
the probe of your coolant temp activity is continuing to prove it is functioning as it should in stock form. yes the numbers are "high" but they are literally the stock values. you are seeing the cooling system work as mazda intended. do not be alarmed by such things. there is no actual need to allow the car to run at those temps but by no means are you experiencing a defect or malfunction. everything is working as intended. when you have your equipment to plug into the power fc, you will just be changing the threshold in which the water temps fluctuate. the car will run and be better overall because of it. air temps will improve as well.
Originally Posted by Montego
Interesting, I was under the belief the power FC went off the thermoswitch unless set at a lower temp.
negative. fan control is relinquished entirely to the power fc. it runs them at whatever values are input. this is why you dont have to have the thermoswitch plugged in or present when using any aftermarket ecu
.
negative. fan control is relinquished entirely to the power fc. it runs them at whatever values are input. this is why you dont have to have the thermoswitch plugged in or present when using any aftermarket ecu
Cool, this is why I love this place. Learn something new all the time 🤙
negative. fan control is relinquished entirely to the power fc. it runs them at whatever values are input. this is why you dont have to have the thermoswitch plugged in or present when using any aftermarket ecu
The 93-95 cars only have one fan speed input that is controllable by the ECU. It's not the ECU it's how it's wired.
The 96+ cars have more direct fan control from the ECU, they got rid of the fan switch. That's why the Datalogit software shows multiple "fan on" temps- that only works on later ECUs.
The stock fan switch by the water temp sensor triggers at 107 deg. C. You can swap that for the 89-91 FC fan switch which is 97 deg. C. It's really a worst case failsafe for when it's CRAZY hot outside. If you have the fan speed set to 85 deg. C in the PFC and the AC on, if the water temp is, say, 90 deg. C that would be 2 fan inputs so the fans would be running at Medium. Stock fans wouldn't kick to High until 107 - with that switch it's 97.
All that said, changing the fan turn on point on the PowerFC is a great place to start. If you want the car to run cool, the fans need to kick on earlier to maintain temps. Mazda ran these cars SUPER hot from the factory for emissions/fuel economy reasons. That's also why our engines cook everything under the hood.
Picture not all that informative, undertray installed and all air going through the rad?
With a dual pass IC, I assume there may be an aftermarket radiator. No uncommon for installation of shiny new stuff to happen and not even the same level of attention to sealing as stock, which had foam around the sides
Picture not all that informative, undertray installed and all air going through the rad?
With a dual pass IC, I assume there may be an aftermarket radiator. No uncommon for installation of shiny new stuff to happen and not even the same level of attention to sealing as stock, which had foam around the sides
It had an aftermarket HPI radiator installed and air is hitting it straight from the front. I will look at the sides, but not sure it will get any more air than what it is getting now. V Mount might help later on.
