Top Fuel Cooling

[bigwheel]

I've been to Santa Pod a few times and had a close look at stripped down Top Fuelers and Funny Cars. I can't see any radiators. How are the engine block & heads cooled?

[ringram]

Maybe they dont run long enough to worry about water cooling, just oil?
Afterall they only run maybe 1-2min at a go.

[bigwheel]

I wondered about oil cooling but can't help where thousands of hp get cooled off

[ads_green]

water cooled from resevoir but no need for a radiator as it's just not running for long enough.

The fuel burn is impressive - most do about 1 gallon a second.

[stevieturbo]

Top fuel cars do not have a cooling system.

The cylinder blocks are machined from billet with no waterways....purely for strength. Given they only run for a few seconds at a time, a cooling system isnt necessary.

[ads_green]

stevieturbo said:

Top fuel cars do not have a cooling system.

The cylinder blocks are machined from billet with no waterways....purely for strength. Given they only run for a few seconds at a time, a cooling system isnt necessary.

orry yes you are right - in the top fuel dragsters the fuel is the coolant

[bigwheel]

ads_green said:

stevieturbo said:

Top fuel cars do not have a cooling system.

The cylinder blocks are machined from billet with no waterways....purely for strength. Given they only run for a few seconds at a time, a cooling system isnt necessary.

orry yes you are right - in the top fuel dragsters the fuel is the coolant

"most do about 1 gallon a second" That would do the trick..

[P15TON]

The blocks are solid. The fuel is not the coolant. There IS no coolant. And they get HOT! Everything takes ages to cool down after a run. First job is to get the clutch off (using welding gloves) & the rear main cap off to stop the heat trashing the rear main.
...Oh how I miss this stuff...!

[ads_green]

The nitro meth fuel has a cooling effect in many ways.

When it enters the chamber its alot cooler than the engine
When it mixes with air the chemical reaction has a cooling effect
And any unburt fuel helps take heat out of the chambers before being burnt else where in the exhaust (hence big flames).

[SS HSV]

P15TON said:

The blocks are solid. The fuel is not the coolant. There IS no coolant. And they get HOT! Everything takes ages to cool down after a run. First job is to get the clutch off (using welding gloves) & the rear main cap off to stop the heat trashing the rear main.
...Oh how I miss this stuff...!

Hi Pete, you not racing anymore? Heard from Clive in Canada yet? (apology for going slightly off-topic)