Mustang GT Track Student car configuration and high CHT

[accel]

This thread was inspired by multi-page and very popular https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/track-time-limited-due-to-high-cht.166499/ . I went through all 54 (as of now) pages and it was very time consuming.

Here's another thread: https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/th...mustang-gt-student-cars-now-available.193905/ on student car sales.

If you look through specs of those cars that were tracked daily for years, they have these cooling related mods:

• Ford Performance radiator
• External engine oil cooler
• Differential cooler
• from other sources it was mentioned engine oil was 5w-50

They were 2015 cars sold in 2023. Years of track service. Manual transmissions.

So my question is - how come we have that 54 pages thread on GTs overheating with complex radiator boxing, hood heat extraction and a lot of other suggestions whereas student cars get away with relatively basic/easy mods?

May it be coyote gen2 vs gen3 thing (higher red-line)? Or A10 specific again to higher rpms?

P.S. I never tracked my mustang, autocross was always enough for me to let steam out. But I'm just curious.

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[abatman]

random students most likely aren't pushing the car anywhere hard enough to get the car to overheat. if i slow my pace down by ~2s a lap then my car would never overheat

 

[luc]

This thread was inspired by multi-page and very popular https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/track-time-limited-due-to-high-cht.166499/ . I went through all 54 (as of now) pages and it was very time consuming.

Here's another thread: https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/th...mustang-gt-student-cars-now-available.193905/ on student car sales.

If you look through specs of those cars that were tracked daily for years, they have these cooling related mods:

• Ford Performance radiator
• External engine oil cooler
• Differential cooler
• from other sources it was mentioned engine oil was 5w-50

They were 2015 cars sold in 2023. Years of track service. Manual transmissions.

So my question is - how come we have that 54 pages thread on GTs overheating with complex radiator boxing, hood heat extraction and a lot of other suggestions whereas student cars get away with relatively basic/easy mods?

May it be coyote gen2 vs gen3 thing (higher red-line)? Or A10 specific again to higher rpms?

P.S. I never tracked my mustang, autocross was always enough for me to let steam out. But I'm just curious.

There are so many variables, students skills/speed, tires, length of sessions, temperature, etc
As a reference point my 17pp1 with track suspension and squared 305 nt01 is a track car only and with a few modifications, i have no problem running in triple digits temperature and for 20/25 minutes
Harrop horizontal oil cooler
No more oil to water cooler
15w50 oil
Wrapped exhaust around rear differential
75/140 gear oil
The highest, with an separate oil temperature gauge, that the oil ever got, was 267* on a 105* day
The way you drive the car also play a role. Smooth is fast and easier on the car
Obviously being a pp1 car, there is extra cooling from the factory

 

[accel]

Sort of yes, but not all students are easy on cars.
Some crashed them. Some come there to improve tracking skills, get instructor's opinion/input/directions/corrections/advice.

I wonder if coyote generation has something to do with overheating as well. Gen 2 has lower red line, less hp/tq. Probably the engine is less stressed out

Gen 2 base cars with affordable and straightforward tweaks served until 2023 per sale post above.

Current school program lists dark horse as a student car.

 

[NightmareMoon]

How long the sessions are, and how hard you’re driving both have a lot to do with coolant temp….. if the school keeps the sessions less than 15 minutes, thats half the struggle right there.

but… I believe those Ford track cars have a a huuuge oil cooler, not some dinky mishimoto thing which barely checks the box.

My ‘16 GT with near stock power, just the tiny OEM cooler at the filter, and stock PP1 radiator (same as the GT350) did ok for any 15 minute session, even in near 100 degree texas heat. Yes It could have been lower temp for sure and I would definitely recommend and oil cooler at a minimum if you’re serious about tracking, but you may be over estimating the scale of the problem.

FWIW I’ve not seen any threads where someone actually went to the trouble to box the radiator, addd a (good) oil cooler and still had CHT issues unless they were also running a blower, which is an entirely different ball of cheese.

 

[tosha]

student cars get away with relatively basic/easy mods?

Most of those cars had engines replaced if I'm not mistaken. All other arguments in this thread are valid too.

Please bring a stock PP1 mustang to watkins glen and I'll be happy to show you how to make it steam.

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