Notices
Engine Performance This section is for discussion on all engine building related questions.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: KPower

Coolant reroute on VVT head gasket?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 28, 2020 | 11:16 AM
  #1  
Mr Plow's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 211
Total Cats: 97
Default Coolant reroute on VVT head gasket?

Is there any benefit to installing a cooling reroute on a standard VVT engine that is turbocharged?

I've read and viewed conflicting advice saying it makes the cooling worse against it makes it better, but not full Mk1 headgasket better. I would like to know the current thoughts/experiences of the collective?

I recently watched a Flyin Miata video that noted their coolant reroute as an improvement on the standard VVT setup which conflicted with most things I've read. Are coolant reroutes not basically all equal?

I've also read that the VVT HG restricts flow passing from the front of the block to the front of the head to promote flow around the engine. Would a reroute not make the front of the head hotter?

Please let me know your experiences

Many thanks

Old Jul 28, 2020 | 11:26 AM
  #2  
shuiend's Avatar
mkturbo.com
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 15,235
Total Cats: 1,700
From: Charleston SC
Default

You want the reroute no matter what head gasket you have.
Old Jul 29, 2020 | 01:58 AM
  #3  
Warpspeed's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 61
Total Cats: 12
Default

Miata has a lot of cooling issues that the same engines when used in Mazda front wheel drive applications never had.
Mazda tried to fix this by changing the size and location of the coolant holes in the Miata head gasket, but with very limited success.

Best solution seems to be do the coolant re route from the back of the head, and use a factory head gasket from a front wheel drive engine that was designed to have both the thermostat and coolant exit at the back. The FWD factory head gasket will have the right sized coolant holes in the right places to work properly with coolant flow from front to back.

As the radiator is probably now about twenty years old, fitting something a bit bigger and better is not going to hurt either.

Last edited by Warpspeed; Jul 29, 2020 at 02:09 AM.
Old Jul 29, 2020 | 04:13 AM
  #4  
Mr Plow's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 211
Total Cats: 97
Default

Many thanks for the replies. I've upgraded the radiator already.

I'll do the head gasket change to an earlier item when I build the engine at a later date.

This query relates only to an unopened VVT engine which will initially run low boost ahead of building an engine at a later date. Is there benefit or potential issues from installing a reroute to a VVT engine at this time. There is lots of earlier discussion on potential pluses and minuses. I'm looking to see if a consensus has been reached.

Old Jul 29, 2020 | 05:37 AM
  #5  
yossi126's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 901
Total Cats: -13
Default

I am running a reroute on a vvt hg for years with no issues, incl. countless track days.
Old Jul 29, 2020 | 07:14 AM
  #6  
shuiend's Avatar
mkturbo.com
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 15,235
Total Cats: 1,700
From: Charleston SC
Default

Originally Posted by Mr Plow
I'm looking to see if a consensus has been reached.
A consensus has been reached. A coolant reroute is beneficial no matter which head gasket you are running on a VVT motor. Running the earlier head gasket is better then running the normal one, but running a reroute and normal gasket is better then no reroute and normal gasket.

Last edited by shuiend; Jul 29, 2020 at 08:32 AM.
Old Jul 29, 2020 | 08:28 AM
  #7  
Mr Plow's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 211
Total Cats: 97
Default

Thanks for your experience people - I've got the kit sitting so will get it on this weekend.
Old Jul 31, 2020 | 10:51 PM
  #8  
Higgs Boson's Avatar
Newb
 
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 37
Total Cats: 3
Default

I run a reroute on a turbo vvt engine with stock headgasket. No issues, works great.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Joe Perez
Engine Performance
60
Dec 5, 2017 11:28 AM
elior77
Engine Performance
10
Jun 20, 2017 08:04 AM
btabor
Engine Performance
26
Dec 8, 2015 02:49 AM
ihiryu
Engine Performance
15
Aug 18, 2013 08:07 PM
Techsalvager
Engine Performance
0
Apr 17, 2012 04:09 AM




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:11 AM.