Anyone still use a "cool can" for fuel?

I've never used one, but was wondering if people who have experience with them still think they're useful. Thx

I asked this same question a couple years ago or so. I got answers all the way from "well top fuel cars are running 330 miles an hour in 3 seconds and they don't use a cool can" to "back in the day they would shave 3 seconds off of my ET but the NHRA banned them because they're a bomb looking for a place to explode!"

I briefly considered one...about 45 years ago...

Can't recall the last time I saw one.
There was an Engine Masters episode on fuel temp not too long ago - maybe look it up if you have the Motortrend+ streaming service ?

I remember them from the 70's and 80's. The fast cars had those Moroso cool cans on them. Personally I don't think they do much if anything since colder fuel doesn't buy you much. Colder air buys you a lot but colder fuel is just slightly more dense which means that it might require a jet change but that doesn't really make more power. If you have a really hot engine compartment then it might help prevent fuel boiling. But once everyone switched to electric pumps the fuel boiling issue went away.
I'd say that if you have a modern bypass regulator fuel system with a return line then you don't need a cool can but you can plumb one in and try it if you want.

Just joined so I could watch that episode specifically.

EDIT: I can't say that their methodology reflects what you'd see at the track, but it certainly showed repeatable trends in lower fuel temp => higher output

It's still a dead-head system for now, but I recently picked up most of the parts to change to a return-line setup.

I remember my dad and uncle used them on their cars WAY back in the day because most cars had steel fuel lines, a mechanical fuel pump and 94 octane pump gas, so they used cool cans to help stop vapor lock. As for today unless you're running an old school setup, most use return style regulators, so you wouldn't need a cool can because the fuel does not sit in the line and get hot vapor locking. Not sure if they still do or not, but I seem to remember seeing them on quite a few NHRA stock/super stock cars. However, if they still are using cool cans in those classes, its probably for contingency money. I've seen them on the cars, but never see the person putting ice in it between rounds.

Now for me, I did run a cool can on my '69 Z/28 "427" back in '84-'86 because when I moved to Arizona it was much HOTTER than Ohio, but I switched from using ice to using dry ice and alcohol. I can tell you that when I made the switch to dry ice it DID make a difference. Then I found a path to a new NOS Cheater nitrous plate system. LOL.

Wes
 

my :two cents: is in an all-out performance situation they may have value, in a bracket car it’s just another variable to add into the mix

The ultimate cooling device!

Given my chasing my tail trying to be consistent w/ heat-soak issues and my 1320, that makes a lot of sense. Hot lapping w/ fuel temp variances just adds to the problem.

The fact that I just checked how much room there is in my 73's engine compartment to fit one, only to determine there isn't enough... just ended that idea anyway.

They make a great place for a can of Pepsi, especially if you pull it out in the staging lanes.

I used one in my stock eliminator car, but only at points meets and events...was worth .03-.05 sec depending on the temperature. The hotter it got (90-100*), the more it helped but like some have stated above, not in bracket racing. Class racing is a different situation and worth it. At certain events even using a towel packed with dry ice on the intake (prior to a run) is helpful, especially if it's heads-up. The Moroso unit in the next post is THE one to use, if you're going to run one as they are real nice and will probably yield more than my old school one in the picture.

I just installed one in my stocker. It’s a Moroso unit, very nice, finned exchanger, well insulated with AN fittings. My intention is to use dry ice in alcohol. My thoughts are that it will help keep the fuel from vaporizing in the intake, displacing oxygen. My combo is carb restricted to begin with.

Unfortunately, the first test session last month was just after hurricane Ian. Apparently dry ice is a hot commodity during hurricanes. Will have to test with ice and water. Then the first qualifying run, my #7 rod decided to let go just before the traps, so I’m in rebuild mode and testing will resume next year.

I have this old one......

The Eelco logo !

My buddy from high school has had one on his bracket car since the 80's. Not sure if it does a bit of good or not.

That's the one I was looking at, but there's no room for it under my hood, unless I was to route the fuel lines to the cool can over to the original battery location and back to the regulator.