Any racing guys thought about using microtube heat exchangers? They're much more compact and efficient than standard radiators. This can make packaging intercoolers, oil coolers, and radiators much easier.

https://mezzotech.com
this company makes radiators for the Dallara Indy car, so this isn't vapor ware, just curious why it hasn't caught on.

 

I think you know the answer to this already.

These have "caught on" in the racing world. Just not in the the $20K Honda world. These are regularly found in the Audi R8LMS, the 488 etc, and any recent dallara chassis....

When the Honda boys find a radiator that bolts up and keeps temps down for $289 from a chinese manufactured mishimoto or the like, it's not a question. Those Mezzo units would cost as much as a new long block. Then if you incorporate the water/oil coolers with the radiator and plumb them properly, it gets out of control even for the spendiest club racer.

Besides, a lot of it comes down to weight in the end. A lot of the club guys have to meet min weight. So spending this much cash to save so many pounds just doesn't make sense. Especially if they have to ballast up.
-Paddy

 

 

 

ARC makes a direct drop in micro tube radiator, but it's not cheap ~$1,270, it's thinner than OEM and 25% more efficient.

https://www.nengun.com/arc/super-micro-radiator?country=US&gclid=Cj0KCQiA2snUBRDfARIsAIGf pqFawu7QtkWcWTm-yQRwFJusPywgpW-s_hZy1E4Y-OaemHYOP6iRjqAaAhOOEALw_wcB

 

thank you
Slowcrash_101 for your website

 

This is the ARC Brazing page: ●●●ARC Brazing●●●

 

So Just for giggles I sent the above company a design I had saved for a radiator just out of pure interest as to the pricing. We never got as far as pricing and the gentlemen who returned my call was very nice. But they are NOT setup to do little projects such as what we would need. The Rough number he fired off to me was $30,000 for the 1st one and roughly $5k for each additional. I knew when he said they do Indy car and F1 that the pricing was going to be exponentially more then I was willing to spend. So who's got $30k to get this started and then talk everyone else into giving you $10k a radiator till you get your money back. HAHA.

 

They list an off-the-shelf radiator for an S2000. But the underlying question would be why. In F1 and Indycar the radiator is a key part of the aerodynamics because of its significant impact on drag.



This is a video of someone taking apart a Ferrari F1 micro-tube intercooler:


There is a lot that can be done without a microtube intercooler but few have done them: higher pressure/temperature to run a smaller radiator, ducting the radiator, exhaust port, combustion chamber coatings to reduce heat transfer. The goal would be to significantly reduce drag. Does any racing series in the US where the rules would allow it have close enough competition to justify the costs? In racing classes that use a dyno wt/hp rule, reduced drag is free horsepower and a smaller better routed cooling airflow may also allow more downforce.