Miata Cooling Maintenance Guide

The cooling system of any racecar is vital to your engine's performance and longevity. A few simple maintenance items can keep it performing like it should.

Running at the hotter range of your engine's safe temperature zone has been known to decrease horsepower. Excessive temperature may cause the cylinder head gasket to fail or, in the worst-case scenario, catastrophic engine failure. Some of these failures are caused by low-cost and easily replaced cooling system components. Always keep a spare belt, thermostat and cooling system pressure cap in your tool box.

Tips:

• During the race season, use de-mineralized water with a cooling system additive (Water Wetter or similar; note that most racing sanctioning bodies do not allow ethylene glycol-based coolants).

• For long periods of storage without use - more than 60 days - or if car is stored where temperature is below freezing, make sure to drain your cooling system and replace with a 50/50 mixture of water and antifreeze.