Benefit from higher psi rad cap?

[MikeRWK]

Would there be any benefit if i went with a 19psi cap? or could it do any harm?

[mcfly]

you get to change all your coolant hoses

[MikeRWK]

haha damn i wanted a nice mishimoto cap.

[Skym]

After market high pressure radiator caps can overpressurise and create leaks where there weren't leaks in stock cooling system. Waterpump is one area where I've been told that it can leak.

Higher pressure radiator caps are designed to be used with thicker radiator cores, as the pressure drops with stock radiator cap. Also from what I understand, engine fitted with a metal headgasket helps to stop headgasket being a weak / leak point.

But be aware that some aftermaket radiator caps don't seal properly and have been known to fail, dump contents of cooling system.

[MikeRWK]

stayin away from that can of worms then.

[Skym]

I think upgrading to brass welsh plugs is the other mod they do with a higher pressure cooling system. I know it was done on the Group-A Gibson R32GTR RB26 engines.

[christdeyoung]

Aftermarket rad cap = waste of money

[MikeRWK]

ye i just wanted it for looks, i got some metallic red spraypaint that gives an anodized look when spray over chrome/stainless im gonna use that instead of gtn a new cap

[MikeRWK]

Went with metallic blue, looks nice.Just gotta put the nissan sticker back on once i get some glue.

[JD74]

Mike, you have officially taken the crown away from me for ugliest engine bay.....lol



...and to think, this is a good pic, as mine looks much worse now.....lol

[MikeRWK]

Haha a little more paint and mine will be more presentable.

[mcfly]

Aftermarket rad cap = waste of money

it does raise the boiling point of the coolant.

[MikeRWK]

oh mighty mcfly when would you suggest a higher pressure cap?

[christdeyoung]

it does raise the boiling point of the coolant.

Yeah, if your coolant is getting that hot, wouldn't it be a better idea to put in a better rad/fan(s) rather than letting your coolant run at a higher temp?

Would a race engine rater be fed slghtly hotter water to avoid thermal shock, or is this not an issue?

[Skym]

I gather probably cause a higher pressure radiator cap creates more pressure, that it creates more air bubbles which causes coolant / engine to overheat.

Also from what I understand higher pressure radiator caps are also used in air separation bottle setups to force bubbles to highest point, which is the air separation bottle. It's called airlock, which is bubbles trapped at highest point, that is top of radiator or top of waterjacket in engine. Airseparation bottles are mounted above top of engine, top of radiator to create a new high point and is where the bubbles are popped.

Under hard acceleration watertemps could rise to around 100 degrees with a stock thermostat (opens at 76.5 degrees), etc. On a racecar, they fit a low temp thermostat (opens at 62.5 degrees), etc that makes water temps rise to say 86 degrees max under hard acceleration.

My mates GTR racecar takes 2 hard laps or so before watertemps, etc rise.