Fixing FL5 Civic Type R Limp Mode with a CSF Radiator!

Fixing FL5 Civic Type R Limp Mode with a CSF Radiator!

The fit and finish of the CSF radiator is superb and it looks great in the CTR engine compartment.

The CSF logo is embossed on the top tank by this notch in the core support.  The radiator has a high polish finish on the end tanks.

The CSF radiator is a very clean and neat installation and a perfect fit.

The CSF radiator was tested against the OEM radiator on a dyno with a large performance front-mount intercooler.  It was able to reduce the coolant temperature by 7-8 degrees C, a 7% improvement.  Now the coolant temperature dithers right around the fan turning on point with no overshoot in temperature.  This shows a greater improvement than the raw numbers suggest as it shows that the cooling system now has some reserve capacity.

The radiator was also tested at Buttonwillow Raceway during days with ambient temps as high as 98 degrees. With the stock radiator, and ambient temps in the mid-80s, water temps in the 240 range were seen. With the CSF radiator temperatures did not go higher than 238 even though the ambient temps were over 10 degrees higher and the car’s heater didn’t have tube run at full blast to keep the car out of limp mode.  If we wanted water temps to drop below 220 we simply had to back off for three corners. On the cool-down lap temps for water would drop to 200-190 and the oil temp would go down from 289 to 240. By the time we would get to the garage both temps would be at 185-190. With the stock radiator, it would take several minutes of idling in the garage to get down to that, and that was with ambient temps being in the low to mid-80s. Not the mid to high 90s. The car never went into limp mode despite the 98-degree heat and pushing it hard.

We feel that the CSF radiator is an essential upgrade if you live in a hot climate or do performance driving on the track, particularly in hot weather.  It is also an important upgrade if your car is tuned to produce more than stock levels of power. The radiator’s quality, fit and finish, and ease of installation are superb. The CSF radiator is a great complement to your FL5 or DE5!

Sources

CSF Race

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10 comments

  1. Would love to know if CSF has any plans to make replacement radiators for the BMW F chassis cars with the B58 engine.

    Reply

  5. Can you share which front mount intercooler you used? I’m running the PRL intercooler and stock radiator on my DE5, and debating if I should swap back to OEM intercooler (less airflow blockage to the radiator I’m told) in conjunction with a beefier radiator.

    Reply

    1. The car the radiator was tested on was running the stock intercooler. Currently the only cooling mod is the CSF radiator (still on stock coolant too). The CSF radiator alone may take care of your temps and allow you to continue running your aftermarket intercooler. FYI, CSF is also currently developing an oil cooler kit.

      Reply
  7. Pingback: FL5 Civic Type R / DE5 Integra Type S High-Performance Radiator

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