Vented Hoods
- Thread starter AndyG
- Start date
Hard to find those, at least reasonable cost wise...I waited too long there was a pair on CL under a $100 but did not pull the trigger fast enoughYes that's a good analogy. Exact same principle.
Speaking of louvres I stumbled across these on eBay a couple months ago..
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These louvres are used, from a 98 Grand Cherokee. It was an impulse buy from eBay.
I bought them for looks primarily but also for heat relief during the brutal Texas summers
What i would like to see someone do. Is place a couple of temperature sensors in and around the engine bay. Get good readings. Then do the ventilation. Just to see what kind of difference it would make to the ambient temperature.
I would but im not crazy about the vented hood look.
I would but im not crazy about the vented hood look.
They might look cool, but I would have concerns with water and road mist with dissolved salts and dirt getting into the engine bay. Mine is used often as a DD and I'm trying to preserve things, not invite more issues! If it is just for heat venting, it seems like there would be better way.
As for any mod that is done "just for looks", I always advise folks to especially think those mods through. This is isn't targeted at anyone specifically here, but in my modding of autos over the past 30 years, many folks seem to choose and do many smaller mods because they are cheaper and they can afford them NOW. I fell into this trap when I was younger a few times. However, the problem with this is if folks would just save their money for a few months, they could actually afford the more functional and gratifying mods that actually add value and real world functionality.
As for any mod that is done "just for looks", I always advise folks to especially think those mods through. This is isn't targeted at anyone specifically here, but in my modding of autos over the past 30 years, many folks seem to choose and do many smaller mods because they are cheaper and they can afford them NOW. I fell into this trap when I was younger a few times. However, the problem with this is if folks would just save their money for a few months, they could actually afford the more functional and gratifying mods that actually add value and real world functionality.
Have you ever opened your hood after driving in the rain or going through puddles? Everything is wet.
That's according to your definition of functional and gratifying. What is cheap and decorative to you may be someone else's star on the Christmas Tree.
My hood vents are there primarily to reduce the hood flutter. I find it unpleasant. IMO, just adding stronger latches is a band aid fix. Removing the cause of the flutter seems to be a better solution. After that, I do believe that letting the heat escape will prolong the life of the plastic in the engine bay. Heat speeds decomposition. Reducing heat slows this down. And I will admit that this is purely for the sake of long term preservation and prevention. I won't see any meaningful benefits tomorrow or even next year.
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Of course, that's why I was commenting. Opening up more pathways for things to get in is MY concern about doing this and I thought I would share. What if someone drives down salty highways a lot in the Winter (dry or wet)? All that mist and dirt will more easily get into the engine bay. If that doesn't apply to you, or if you don't care, then I respect your opinion, but it doesn't sway mine.
I don't think you understood my 2nd comment. There are mods that folks do that are more than just decorative that actually have a detrimental effect on how things work. Some may even be functional for the end user, but could end up being detrimental if not thought through and done properly (35" tires and 29 lb wheels without re-gearing on a 3.07 Dana 35 for example). My advice was to think things through before moving forward with mods, specifically the ones that are being done "just for looks" . What is wrong with this advice?
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You might want to close up that huge opening below the engine.
Yeah, I realize this, but I don't want more mist, dirt, and water getting in from the top as well. I like to keep my engine bay clean from time to time as mine is a street Jeep. This would just make it harder and allow more salt particles to get in, and thus harder for me to keep it clean.
I can't say that I've noticed any meaningful change in how dirty the engine gets from daily driving before and after the vents went in. Judging by the spray patterns under the hood near the fan shroud, I'd guess that the fan already does a good job of distributing road spray all over the engine bay.
Thanks, and yes it does! I pop my hood periodically when detailing and try to keep things clean, but on a Wrangler it is very difficult. I worry most about the salt. Even when you drive down the highway on a dry salty road, you can often taste it. My goal is to keep as much out as possible. While I do love the louvered hoods, it won't be a mod I will consider. I'll just have to enjoy looking at the other Jeeps that have them!
Ouch! @cliffish that would have been a good price.
Mine were $120, could not resist, so i allowed myself some functional bling
I think any relief you can give the engine from constant heat will benefit all ancillary components like sensors, especially.
You jeep heads up north may not fight this but down here in the south it can easily be 150* at pavement level. That has to wear on components, even those designed to operate in hi heat don't like doing it.
Anything to keep the heat from just camping out and baking engine components has to give some long term benefit, imo.
I use Torque on a spare phone as an extended dashboard to read directly from the PCM.
Anecdotally, when I added my vents, the intake decreased about 5-10*F and, along with my Windstar cold air intake, the engine temps often remained in the high 180- low 190s. I needed to switch to a 205° thermostat just to bring the bottom end back up to the high 190s- low 200s.
So...just food for thought on the daystar hood latches. I have them, one of the first things I put on the jeep, because of hood flutter. They did stop the flutter, but they are so tight that they have bent my passenger side latch. Its very difficult to get latched now. I'm going to replace them with factory latches when I find a vent system I like. I really like the grand cherokee ones, but they are Spendy. Thinking about some Pontiac ones...
If I did it, they would be for looks only...no real need where I am. I put the poison spider on my old JKU but did not cut the hood, that was mostly due to the fact that it was under warranty and did not want the dealer shooting down any electrical claims. I have to say I am not a fan of the poison spider louver on a TJ, hood is too small for that big of a louver.
I think the Grand Cherokee vents are the best option. Mine were $20 at the junk yard.
MonkeyMike
TJ Enthusiast
I fitted my poison spider with rivets then raptor lined it all. No change to engine temps at all.
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