Water Wetter. Good /Bad? What's An Otter Switch?
Water Wetter. Good /Bad? What's An Otter Switch?
Author
Discussion

Flintstone

Original Poster:

8,644 posts

276 months

Tuesday 12th October 2004
quotequote all
I saw that someone (apologies, forget who) solved an overheating problem with a fan kit, otter switch and water wetter.

Now I know what water wetter is but is it any good. Does it have any detrimental side effects (on the engine, not the driver).

And what's an otter switch? Some kind of scam involving aquatic mammals?

deeen

6,396 posts

274 months

Tuesday 12th October 2004
quotequote all
Otter switch is heat sensitive switch that switches on electic cooling fans above a certain temprature.

Never tried water wetter, the "bible" suggests its effectiveness is reduced with antifreeze though.

trooper1212

9,457 posts

281 months

Tuesday 12th October 2004
quotequote all
It swtches on when the water gets 'otter

RUSSELLM

6,002 posts

276 months

Tuesday 12th October 2004
quotequote all
trooper1212 said:
It swtches on when the water gets 'otter


Beat me to it

Flintstone

Original Poster:

8,644 posts

276 months

Tuesday 12th October 2004
quotequote all
Why don't they just call it a temperature switch then?

I dunno, some people

MOD500

2,687 posts

279 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
If you are after more confidence in the cooling system I found the Mod-Wise two stage cooling kit to be first class. It can be DIY fitted in ~2-3 hours too.

www.mod-wise.com

Hope that helps


Martyn.

griffdude

1,916 posts

277 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
Water wetter is an aditive that I believe tries to decrease surface tension, hence less bubbles in cooling system/cavitation in pump.

shnozz

30,627 posts

300 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
Paul, as I said when you test drove mine - the leven cooling kit is superb if you want to forget about hot running. To reduce mine from 90 degrees to 70 I fitted the leven kit consisting of

new thermostat opening at cooler temp
water wetter
new otter switch

The otter switch obviously only makes a difference when teh temp is already hot (just not quite as hot as previously) and was good as it meant when the fans kicked in they did so that little bit earlier and prevented it getting to knee jerk high temp. Adding the water wetter and the new thermostat basically meant it rarely gets to the temp where the fan cuts in unless I am sat in heavy traffic.

Oh, and I also fitted a smaller front plate as have the entire rad blocked by perspex seemed rather daft....

nick275uk

526 posts

265 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
Out of interest, I'd like to know why TVR have never fitted a modded Otter Switch, which comes on slightly earlier at lower temperature - it's a comparable part to the original, so wouldn't cost them any more.

Would have solved problems for hundreds of TVR owners and would have been one less "is it reliable" problem.

Just wondered........

david beer

3,982 posts

296 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
Um, 70 ! Why would you want 70, it can only be possible in winter when a heater would be nice, 90 for me, summer or winter. Never tried water wetter and most certainly do not use an otter. Each to his own of course. MOD500, nice car !

seasider

12,728 posts

278 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
Hi Paul,

I highly recommend the Mod-Wise two stage cooling system.
You can set the fans to come on at half speed which reduces the under bonnet temperature/heat soak/boiled legs....
The full speed fan cut in point is also adjustable, hence if hot summer or abroad your options are open....

The Gentlemen that supplies/makes these systems is also very helpful....

Especially with electrical numpties like me

flintstone

Original Poster:

8,644 posts

276 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
Yeah schnozz, the water wetter was your idea thanks. I managed to retain some information despite the battering of my senses during your demo drive.

I'll have to hold off before going for the full kit for a while but as a matter of interest how much was it?

seasider, glad to hear I'm not the only electrical numpty. S'all black magic if you ask me.

shnozz

30,627 posts

300 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
flintstone said:
Yeah schnozz, the water wetter was your idea thanks. I managed to retain some information despite the battering of my senses during your demo drive.

I'll have to hold off before going for the full kit for a while but as a matter of interest how much was it?

seasider, glad to hear I'm not the only electrical numpty. S'all black magic if you ask me.


it was about £35 for all of it mate.

leventech

207 posts

299 months

Thursday 14th October 2004
quotequote all
Some answers.

Water wetter works best with pure water however it mixes with Anti freeze so can be used in normal road cars.

There are 2 versions, with and without anti-corrosive additives.

Water wetter is frequently used in race cars (the 2 Purple TVR le Mans cars ran with it) or any other application where the engine can be loaded or expected to work in hot conditions.

There is plenty of technicial data available on its performance and how it works. The simple answer is that it improves the conductivity/heat transfer of the water metal interface in the engine cooling system.

It can be used on its own or with our cooling kit for maximum advantage. For more information call us.