Hey guys, I bought my '04 STi this past Friday - the dealer said to have the IC spray reservoir in the trunk half full during the winter months to prevent freezing. What is everyone doing out there with the reservoir in sub-freezing weather? Drain, half-full, mix that doesn't freeze?:confused:

I left mine less than full, and dumped a little windshield washer fluid in there. The cap says to only use pure water but I don't see a little winshield washer fluid hurting anything.

Just keep it < half full.

I wouldn't put anything else in there. It would suck if whatever you put in there reacted with the IC fins.

Buy 1 gallon bottles of rubbing alcohol, it wont freeze and it lowers intake charge temps 20 degrees more then water.

Found HP!!!

Thanks guys. I sent a message to Subaru of America also and they stated to never add anything except clean water. The winter months we should run the reservoir half full(same as Glenn recommended and the dealer). Never heard of the rubbing alchohol. Interesting. I really appreciate the responses. I'm new to the Subu's, and I'm getting addicted to the car QUICK! Next is winter shoes, second set of rims and All weather tires....

I'm leaving mine half full.

I did add a little bit of winshield washer fluid (about 1/10 of a gallon) only because I was refilling my winshield washer tank which took slightly less than a gallon and I didn't want an almost empty bottle of that junk rolling around in the car, so I just threw the extra into the IC tank and called it a day.

Hopefully, it won't wash the STi off the intercooler.:rolleyes:

What happens when the rubbing alcohol drips down through the TMIC and hits the Down pipe? I am not sure this is such a great idea seeing how hot the STI engine runs.

Ben

u leave the tank half full in winter in case the water freezes. as water freezes, it will expand. a full, or nearly resevior will crack.

Be careful with rubbing alcohol, i can wear away rubber lines. i would recomend no more than a 25% alcohol mix.

Just keep it about half full, it states it in the owner's manual. I personally wouldn't put anything but distilled water in the tank, but to each is own.

Rick

Originally posted by bhodson
What happens when the rubbing alcohol drips down through the TMIC and hits the Down pipe? I am not sure this is such a great idea seeing how hot the STI engine runs.

Ben

Here try this dip your hand in alcohol, drive at 40 mph and put it out the window, what happened???

Dry and cold in less then 1 second right??? With the amount of air going through the intercooler itwon't have enough time not to evaporate. Im not saying dump a gallon of alcohol on your IC, but if you are driving hard, the only real time you'd use the spray, it evaporates as soon as it hits the fins. Rubbing alcohol has like 20% water in it too, you can see how wel;l the alcohol works cause it the water actually makes frost on the IC. IT's not a fire hazard at all.

I'll post if my car ends up burning though (doubt it):lol:

Originally posted by ami2fst4u
Just keep it about half full, it states it in the owner's manual. I personally wouldn't put anything but distilled water in the tank, but to each is own.

Rick


Subaru also recommends not modding your car too.
:D

Alcohol will help depending on concentration...

i want to fill it with gin, and reroute the tube to a drop down martini dispenser....

Originally posted by DISCOPOPE
i want to fill it with gin, and reroute the tube to a drop down martini dispenser....

LMAO !!!! :lol:

That would be sick!!!! :huh:

Originally posted by carguy19
Here try this dip your hand in alcohol, drive at 40 mph and put it out the window, what happened???

Dry and cold in less then 1 second right??? With the amount of air going through the intercooler itwon't have enough time not to evaporate. Im not saying dump a gallon of alcohol on your IC, but if you are driving hard, the only real time you'd use the spray, it evaporates as soon as it hits the fins. Rubbing alcohol has like 20% water in it too, you can see how wel;l the alcohol works cause it the water actually makes frost on the IC. IT's not a fire hazard at all.

I'll post if my car ends up burning though (doubt it):lol:

Alcohol does that because it has a low vapor pressure, not because it is good at heat transfer.

You will not damage your system if you add rubber alcohol; OTC rubbing alcohol is 70% water.


Full_Clip just got done with Chem 1.

Being someone who has replaced busted copper pipes before, I drained my IC tank, then put a little bit of -40C washer fluid in. I pumped that through to purge the system while the engine was cold, and will be leaving my tank empty through winter.

SOC's reason for not using any fluid with a bit of alcohol in it is to avoid liability issues.

Originally posted by Full_Clip
Alcohol does that because it has a low vapor pressure, not because it is good at heat transfer.

You will not damage your system if you add rubber alcohol; OTC rubbing alcohol is 70% water.


Full_Clip just got done with Chem 1.

..ummm...isn't it 70% alcohol and 30% water....???? as in a 70% solution....

Adding a bottle of rubbing alcohol to the tank will prevent freezing which would be far more damaging than any possible problem the alcohol would cause...and it won't burn either...concentration would be too low.

Originally posted by Full_Clip
Alcohol does that because it has a low vapor pressure, not because it is good at heat transfer.


Hmmm... I would like to see a test of the overall cooling effects of alcohol vs water. My guess is the alcohol would remove heat more quickly than water precisely because of its low vapor pressure. Then again, if the solution evaporated before it covered all of the IC surface area, then the total heat removed would be reduced. Has anyone paid attention to what happens with the IC sprayer when the car is on a dyno?

Originally posted by cjbruce
Hmmm... I would like to see a test of the overall cooling effects of alcohol vs water. My guess is the alcohol would remove heat more quickly than water precisely because of its low vapor pressure. Then again, if the solution evaporated before it covered all of the IC surface area, then the total heat removed would be reduced. Has anyone paid attention to what happens with the IC sprayer when the car is on a dyno?

Alcohol may vaporize more quickly, but water has a much higher heat of vaporization per volume. The result is that a gallon of water will have many times the cooling capacity of a gallon of isopropyl alcohol.

I use a minimal amount of windsheild antifreeze in mine. I dont want to risk popping the reservoir, pump, or lines. I don't think it is gonna hurt the IC.

well my water tank is half-full of water. and has been Freezing and de-freezing everyday for almost 2 months now... i park my car in a heated garage every night ... and it parks outside (at work) everyday ...

and nothing busted/cracked or leaking

its in the manual ... just do what it says ...

It seems to be popular opinion that the half full is the way to go. I'm going to do the half full route this winter. I sent email to Subaru and they definately confirmed to never add anything to the IC spray tank. Is it SOA CYA? Eh, don't know I just don't want to bust any lines. I thought of draining it but some of fittings/lines/etc... may dry out with out any liquids for the winter. Half full it is.... Have a Happy New Years! :banana:
Today the odometer hit 300, wahoooo! Now I need to get to 1000 miles so I can really open the STi up..... I'm such a boost junkie now. Go figure. Talk to you guys later, thanks for all the input. It's appreciated! Cheers(Tres Pistoles). Hehe. Man its only 7:15..... :eek: