So, I was reading a post on another forum about a guy using
regualr laundry, “fabric softener” as a additive for cooler coolant temps. This person who posted races circle track and claims that his car runs consistantly 10-20 degrees cooler using good 'ol fabric softener mixed in with the straight water. He claims that the fabric softener has the same properties as, “Water Wetter”, ect. Its a soap that actually makes water…wetter, and allowing it to wick away heat better.
SO, my question is…Does it really work? I was going to try running it in my intercooler setup to see if it runs any cooler (since there’s no gaskets or seals or any detrimental parts that would case any damage after prolonged use)
Im also curious as to what the long term effects would be of using the fabric softener…its not designed to be used in an automobile (esp. on that is driven a lot) So, will it eat away or make gaskets, hoses, metals brittle or make small parts of rummber/gasket fall off and get stuck in the rad.? Will, it break down to the point where its not effective for lower temps anymore?
Any insight or personal experience would be greatly appretiated.
Well, I dont have any profression controlled testing here but, taking a temp. reading today the temps were approx. 10degrees cooler. Drove the same way, outside temp is pretty much the same. I dunno. I wish we had some real proof…some real testing.
BTW, I used some cheap fabric softener “refill” milk carton little thing I bought for $1.** at the local Dollar General. I wonder if the more expensive fab. softeners would work better? ARGGHH, I hate variables.
fwiw ive heard that by adding acetone itll do the same thing because it reduces the surface tension in the water and helps it be less viscous… im not really sure and im not sure you wanna add acetone to your radiator lol but i have heard about it
This may work, but, look at cost and what you get. When you buy a thing of watter wetter, if you shake it up, it does not suds up. It also is a large size, like 6 - 8 oz that you can put in, depending on your application.
If you are using soap, you put in 2 drops, I don’t see that being as effective. Water wetter is like 7 bucks, soap is like 3 dollars. Do you really want to experiment with something that is a backyard trick to save 4 dollars, or do you want to get something thats been proven over and over.
I’m all for saving money and being creative, but at a certain point, re-inventing the wheel seems silly. If you could run piss in your radiator because it has the same properties as coolant, I still wouldn’t do it.
