Will running with the rad cover removed significantly affect the radiator? I was on the Infiniti G37S fb group and suggested to another guy that he should remove the rad cover for better air flow to the bay since he's got his hood cracked slightly open in the front for that purpose. He claims running with the rad cover off reduces airflow to the radiator. I think he makes a good point but I'm wondering how significant that is. What do you guys think?

 

It will reduce airflow through the rad and instead go over it... building up pressure in the engine bay. You still need to vent the air out of the engine bay and now also deal with a less efficient cooling system as you took away its forced airflow. Sounds like a idea that only make more problems but doesn't solve anything, but I could be wrong.

 

He has a vented hood.

I also want to get a vented hood or add vents to my oem in the future. I ask this question because I wanted to do the same as well. Remove rad cover with vented hood.

 

So instead of forcing the air through the radiator we are looking at running it over it? You solved the venting the engine bay issue, but why make a cooling issue? You are not getting more air. Cooler air sure (because it's no longer being pushed through the radiator), but that air should be used to cool your radiator. The reason most people fabricate radiator shrouds for older cars that don't have it is to aid cooling as the air is wasted going around the radiator. I will be honest, I haven't sen the CFD for the front of our car but all you are doing in removing the shroud is taking away cooling efficiency from the radiator. We don't have air cooled engines, you don't need cooler air around the engine vented quick as much as you need an efficient radiator system to cool the engine.

Root question: Will it effect the radiator? Most likely yes, Will it notable? Hard to say, but I think so. You have ECUTek, log the info I am sure it will show the numbers and it only take a few minutes to remove the shroud.

 

I see what you're saying. I do have EcuTek but don't have the means to datalog as I don't have the software and hardware. Only tuned through my local shop.

So with the point you made, the hood would need scoops and vents together with rad cover installed for air flow in and out of the bay.

 

A good vented hood design would take advantage of the pressure areas (low and high) on top of our hood to create a venturi to pull the hot air out. Used big words, and I honestly am not sure I used them correctly for this instance, it's been a bit since i had a fluid dynamics class. Currently all the air in the engine bay is forced out under the car, there was some talks about vented hood options a few days ago on this forum.

Honestly, at the end of the day I think any vent on the hood will help get the hot air out. I don't think removing the shroud will help with that, only reduce the efficiency of the radiator.

 

I'll look into that thread.