air dam/ overheating while driving

[DarkBuddha 107]

About the airdam thing... you don't wanna direct air into the radiator (it should be getting plenty through the grille), but rather, you need an airdam to direct air out of the radiator. Essentially, at highway speeds, air can get stuck in the engine compartment, functionally blocking air flow through the radiator. One solution is to put a 2 or 3" airdam at the base of the radiator support to create a low pressure area at the bottom of the engine compartment, thus giving the air a place to go. You can find 'em on almost any car built since the mid '70s, so go pull one at the pull-a-part yard or make one out of some fairly stiff plastic (something stronger than the usual garden barrier crap).

 

Hope this helps.

[MikeStang 247]

When u say air dam are you talking about the plastic piece under the car that's usually bolted in behind the radiator that covers about from the radiator to the crank area.....just a piece that goes under the car that covers back to about the suspension components ?

[MikeStang 247]

When u say air dam are you talking about the plastic piece under the car that's usually bolted in behind the radiator that covers about from the radiator to the crank area.....just a piece that goes under the car that covers back to about the suspension components ?

[Cupid 10]

Same thing happened to me. My lower hose collapsed at hwy speeds. Just went with another hose. (higher quality w/o spring)

[Cupid 10]

Same thing happened to me. My lower hose collapsed at hwy speeds. Just went with another hose. (higher quality w/o spring)

[DarkBuddha 107]

When u say air dam are you talking about the plastic piece under the car that's usually bolted in behind the radiator that covers about from the radiator to the crank area.....just a piece that goes under the car that covers back to about the suspension components ?

If you're asking me, then the answer is neither. I'm not talking about a block-off plate or skid plate; you don't want to block off air flow out of the engine compartment, but create a low pressure area below the motor where air will evacuate from under the hood. An airdam should extend vertically straight down (or pretty much straight down) towards the ground, like so:

 

 

The idea is that the airdam creates a small pocket (low pressure area) and the air flow below the airdam helps pull the air from the pocket as well (venturi effect). The result is better airflow through the radiator and out of the engine compartment, which should increase radiator effectiveness and reduce underhood temps.

 

Make sense?

[DarkBuddha 107]

When u say air dam are you talking about the plastic piece under the car that's usually bolted in behind the radiator that covers about from the radiator to the crank area.....just a piece that goes under the car that covers back to about the suspension components ?

If you're asking me, then the answer is neither. I'm not talking about a block-off plate or skid plate; you don't want to block off air flow out of the engine compartment, but create a low pressure area below the motor where air will evacuate from under the hood. An airdam should extend vertically straight down (or pretty much straight down) towards the ground, like so:

 

 

The idea is that the airdam creates a small pocket (low pressure area) and the air flow below the airdam helps pull the air from the pocket as well (venturi effect). The result is better airflow through the radiator and out of the engine compartment, which should increase radiator effectiveness and reduce underhood temps.

 

Make sense?