Oval Queens response to a cooling head question:
quote:
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Originally posted by HolmWrecker
Aftermarket heads=Hype.
In 10 years of racing, I've never had a need for a bigger (heavier) head. I only run in the summer as well, when it's hottest out and I have no temp problems other than those I alone create.
Tune and usage are the only factors that dictate engine temps, not a fancy head lacking the features the stock head has.
To simply cut fins in a hunk of round stock does not make a better head.
Remember, a bigger head is not a 'needed' part and will never, ever fix a tune problem. There is an exact science to a head, they look simple, but there is a lot of math and years of knowlege built into a head.
Head size and shape is often an integral part of the design of the enigne, made that way for a reason.
They also raise the trucks center of gravity which is already high enough in my opinion.
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Here's Traxxas take on after market heads and I fully agree:
quote:
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Larger Cooling Heads
There are some misconceptions about cooling heads. First, do not install a larger cooling head to solve an overheating problem caused by improper tuning! You might reduce engine temperature slightly by adding cooling capacity, but your engine could still be self-destructing from improper tuning. Many of the machined aluminum cooling heads on the market may appear visibly larger but in fact cool less efficiently than the stock head that was engineered for your
TRX 2.5. There is much more science to head design than simply cutting fancy slots in a piece of round aluminum. For example, the stock
TRX 2.5 head has fins that are tapered (thick in the middle, thin at the edges) to quickly and efficiently draw the heat away from the engine.
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My Response to her:
I totally disagree, my OS CVX .15 in my T Maxx with that crummy little square head did NOT provide adequate cooling even with the body off. Once I replaced it with a Hardcore Racing Mutant head my engine ran much cooler and I was able to tune it for performance. With the square head it ran extremely hot unless I had it so rich it was spitting more fuel out the pipe than it was burning, and had no power. With the Mutant I have it running 220 - 240, nice stream of smoke, and plenty of power. Why does the CVX hyper have a billet head and not that crummy square head? Because it is a better head, thats why. Just because an engine comes with a certain head that does not make it better, or right. If that was the case you would never need to get different shocks, or tuned pipes, or headers, or any other after market part because what the manufacturer gave you was the best. I wish it worked that way but it does not.
One mill is not going to perform the same in different vehicles. An OS with the square head might run at perfect temps and have good performance in a street car or losi as both those vehicles weigh only a fraction of what a T does. In those application the factory cooling head may be sufficient, however the stress a big heavy 4wd truck such as the T-Maxx is going to put much more stress on that same engine, causing it to run hotter. If by replacing the cooling head then tuning for performance will allow you to run at 220 - 240 where as the stock head will have you at 300 or more, than I feel it is a very good investment. What would you rather have, the same engine making the same power but with the better head running at 220-240 or that same engine at 300 or above? Which engine is going to last longer between rebuilds? I'll take the cooler engine anyday.
A better cooling head is by no means a good solution for impropper tuning. But keeping your mill running for performance while tuned properly, and keeping it cooler at the same time can only be a good thing.
It's nice to have you here.
