ZL1 OEM Heat Soak & Heat Exchangers

[BaylorCamaro]

I just traded in my 2010 Camaro for a new 2013 ZL1. Prior to now I did not spend much time in the ZL1 section. I've read that the ZL1 has serious heat soak issues with its OEM setup. I've been told that it needs better cooling and I've also been told that a tune can really wakes things up with the ZL1. I'm hoping people with a wealth of knowledge can comment on this.

[Cody6.2]

Heatsoak is more of a crutch for people than a concern for a daily driven ZL1. And a tune wakes up any modern vehicle as even scaling back the nannies put in place to save wear & tear makes it feel different. All in all I'd be more worried about the oil that's getting sucked into the intake and caking on the rotors of the S/C than heatsoak. Again this is what I would be more worried about with a daily driven ZL1.

[DangerZL1]

The car still has plenty of power even when it's hot, but if you stay in boost for very long the OEM heat exchanger can't keep up. The temps can be significantly reduced without voiding your warranty by adding an aftermarket dual pass exchanger and a coolant reservoir, or by adding a chiller. I wouldn't let heat soak discourage you from the car. It doesn't have any cooling issues.

[Matt @ FSP]

As with any forced induction, especially top mount SC styles, there will be additional heat going into the motor. Now add the rising ambient temperatures, so you are already taking in hot air to compress it to make it even hotter (Think about a blow dryer). A few weeks ago a friend of ours had me take his stock automatic ZL1 down track and do some logging on it. The DA was +2300 ft., so it was a pretty hot and humid night. I was seeing off the line, IAT2 temperatures (Intake Air Temperature 2 - meaning the IAT in the blower) of 140*+ on launch, and trailing up to the 170* range top track. This was making the car pull back on timing 5*+. Now, you cannot just go and delete all of these IAT safeties because of possible detonation. The higher the octane gas, the less prone to detonation (i.e. I can run C16 race gas full timing at 250*+ IAT without worry, but I would never think of running 93 pump anywhere close to that IAT).

So yes, a tune would be able to tone down this "heatsoak" adjustment that the computer is doing, but even on the really hot days or if you are tracking the car, you may still pull IAT timing out to save the motor.

Now not saying that this is for everyone out there, but this is why I recommend methanol a lot on any style forced induction, not to increase base timing, but to keep the timing in the motor with the cooler air charge.

[BlackinBlack]

Originally Posted by BaylorCamaro

I just traded in my 2010 Camaro for a new 2013 ZL1. Prior to now I did not spend much time in the ZL1 section. I've read that the ZL1 has serious heat soak issues with its OEM setup. I've been told that it needs better cooling and I've also been told that a tune can really wakes things up with the ZL1. I'm hoping people with a wealth of knowledge can comment on this.

The heat soak issue is more of a problem for drag racing in the summer. Hot lapping with little airflow the car will build heat. Adding a coolant res will help by increasing fluid volume. I DD mine and in FL summer 100 degree weather while stuck in heavy traffic the car is fine. Of course cool weather it makes more power but unless you want to run a chiller a 30 to 40 degree ambient air temp will make the car have less HP. Just the reality of summer.

One thing to remember is this car was tested a ton by GM on the track.

[mrvenicess]

I agree with Matt from FSP, it was my car he drove. The heat and humidity in West Fl is brutal right now. Best I have done with my new ZL1 is a 12.5 with most runs in the 12.7s. I also traded in a modded 2010 SS that ran 12.3s. But, that being said I certainly dont regret the swap. On the street my ZL1 is much smoother and faster than my old car. Pretty soon I will be getting Matt to tune my car and add a few go faster goodies, IE meth, headers, and pullys. Need to get into the 11s!

[BaylorCamaro]

Well at the moment I am driving this daily down here in Houston. So the heat (95-100) plus the really high humidity will suck the life out of this car if it is prone to heat soak problems.

Has anyone tried water injection for the sole purpose of keeping IAT temps down? Since I'm stock I'm not looking to get the added benefit of higher octane with meth. I'm just looking to control IAT temps, Houston weather is brutal

Originally Posted by mrvenicess

I agree with Matt from FSP, it was my car he drove. The heat and humidity in West Fl is brutal right now. Best I have done with my new ZL1 is a 12.5 with most runs in the 12.7s. I also traded in a modded 2010 SS that ran 12.3s. But, that being said I certainly dont regret the swap. On the street my ZL1 is much smoother and faster than my old car. Pretty soon I will be getting Matt to tune my car and add a few go faster goodies, IE meth, headers, and pullys. Need to get into the 11s!

Yeah I've been talking to Matt and he's giving me a hard time about having a stock ZL1

But I am reluctant to mod, based on the luck I had with my last 5th gen.

[Modern07]

Originally Posted by Matt @ FSP

As with any forced induction, especially top mount SC styles, there will be additional heat going into the motor. Now add the rising ambient temperatures, so you are already taking in hot air to compress it to make it even hotter (Think about a blow dryer). A few weeks ago a friend of ours had me take his stock automatic ZL1 down track and do some logging on it. The DA was +2300 ft., so it was a pretty hot and humid night. I was seeing off the line, IAT2 temperatures (Intake Air Temperature 2 - meaning the IAT in the blower) of 140*+ on launch, and trailing up to the 170* range top track. This was making the car pull back on timing 5*+. Now, you cannot just go and delete all of these IAT safeties because of possible detonation. The higher the octane gas, the less prone to detonation (i.e. I can run C16 race gas full timing at 250*+ IAT without worry, but I would never think of running 93 pump anywhere close to that IAT).

So yes, a tune would be able to tone down this "heatsoak" adjustment that the computer is doing, but even on the really hot days or if you are tracking the car, you may still pull IAT timing out to save the motor.

Now not saying that this is for everyone out there, but this is why I recommend methanol a lot on any style forced induction, not to increase base timing, but to keep the timing in the motor with the cooler air charge.

Now where's my call?

[BeardWS6]

I run the Meth system and a new dual fan heat exchanger, few other mods and make 705rwhp 694trq at the wheels with a auto... This car is amazing..

[Modern07]

Originally Posted by BeardWS6

I run the Meth system and a new dual fan heat exchanger, few other mods and make 705rwhp 694trq at the wheels with a auto... This car is amazing..

Are you 100% Meth? Or Water/Meth?

[BeardWS6]

Yes, 100%

[jessrayo]

Originally Posted by BaylorCamaro

I've read that the ZL1 has serious heat soak issues with its OEM setup. I've been told that it needs better cooling and I've also been told that a tune can really wakes things up with the ZL1. I'm hoping people with a wealth of knowledge can comment on this.

If you beat on the car in 90+ degree temperatures, like drag race it, road race it, or autocross it, the stock intercooler system will have a hard time keeping intake temps down. It still has a lot of power but will not give you all 580 as the timing is retarded as mentioned above. I had the same motor in a CTS-V that I used as a daily driver and never noticed any power loss on public roads. The overall cooling configuration is better on the ZL1 than the CTS-V. I have never experienced any problems in the Camaro on public roads but do not have that many miles.

The intercooler system can be modified to improve this some, there really is no reservoir in the stock set-up and installing more fluid will help some. Putting in a bigger intercooler will help also.

I kind of think that many of the people complaining about the "serious heat soak issues" are changing pulleys and overdriving the supercharger without a compensation in the cooling department. Well, duh, think about it.

It is so easy to get astronomically crazy amounts of power out of this motor, but it works better if you balance everything and don't take big shortcuts. Now after having said that, unless you are putting it in a race environment like I mentioned above, most of the wide open throttle applications on this thing are going to be so short you will never have an issue. Even the Texas mile pretty much happens in around 30 seconds....

[Cody6.2]

So does any of the dual pass hardware from a Cobalt heat exchanger work on the LSA?

[Modern07]

Originally Posted by BeardWS6

Yes, 100%

Good stuff - this is the route I'm going - I'd read about potential problems with coating of rotors being damaged with meth, but I think that's more of an issue with the water/meth