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twentysixtwo · 07-09-2008, 02:16 PM

Airdams (and the flexible flaps you see hanging down on some vehicles) do help the radiator but primarily when you are stopped.

The worst case for cooling is typically when you stop at a stoplight or pull into a drive through. The air coming out of the radiator bounces off the engine and ground and gets sucked back into the front of the radiator (recirc / stagnation).

This can have the effect of raising the rad intake air temp by 60 degrees or more!

When you are at speed your radiator almost always sees ambient air temp so even though your engine is pumping out more heat, air dams don't really change the equation.

07-09-2008, 02:16 PM	#12 (permalink)
twentysixtwo EcoModding Lurker Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ypsilanti, MI Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Airdam and tongues Airdams (and the flexible flaps you see hanging down on some vehicles) do help the radiator but primarily when you are stopped. The worst case for cooling is typically when you stop at a stoplight or pull into a drive through. The air coming out of the radiator bounces off the engine and ground and gets sucked back into the front of the radiator (recirc / stagnation). This can have the effect of raising the rad intake air temp by 60 degrees or more! When you are at speed your radiator almost always sees ambient air temp so even though your engine is pumping out more heat, air dams don't really change the equation.