Well I made it back from my first track day on this setup in one piece. Just.
After spending more time preparing for it than i have any other day I'm really disappointed in how it went. It didn't start out well after doing some (very good logs) and checking AFR (perfect) i noticed the coolant temps rising which i couldn't get back down very quick. Which would turn out to be the story of the day.
Got to the track a little late as i had to pull over and check the coolant, which was pressurised again, to meet up with Dave with the mk2 on here attended the usual briefing etc... when it started to rain. Great. Got out on track and done two laps behind the Porsche pace car and even when going pretty slow i could see the coolant temp rising. Pulled back into the pit area and managed to cool it down before going out on my first session on track. Within two laps temps had risen and i had to come back in. And this was unfortunately the story of the day.
I had to bypass the secondary water pump as it was screaming and obviously on its last legs with the hope it would fix my coolant issues, but it didn't. Went back in the hope of trying this solution it would sort my problems but it didn't, instead i managed to kill my MAF somewhere so had to limp home keeping a beady eye on the coolant gauge (which didn't have any issues on normal driving, was showing about 95 degrees tho) and another eye on the AFR.
But, i will say, even tho it was wet, when i did get a lap or two not having to cool the car down it was amazing, but it really highlights the fact i need to do the headwork, i was way out of power band on certain corners where i should be in higher rpm in a lower gear. Time to start saving i think.
Im at a complete loss now as to what the coolant issue is and
how to solve it, i really don't know what to do to fix it. Ive replaced the thermostat, the coolant bottle and cap, bypassed the afterun pump incase it was blocked and put copious amounts of heat shielding on anything even close to getting hot. The only thing i haven't checked is the water pump, which should be ok as its a metal impeller one.
Some pics to follow.