View Full Version : Home Depot Oil Cooler Guards


Rotary Rasp
02-08-2005, 08:57 PM
When I got my car a few months back, I noticed that there was a huge gash in the drivers oil cooler when I got home from the dealer. I called the dealer and they said they would have to look at it to see whether they would replace it. The dealer was 50 miles away and I had no time to take it down there. So I let it go for a long while. Then, the other day I was at Home Depot and I found some galvanized wire mesh for $1.49. I thought, what the hell it's worth a try. I was able to install it without removing the front bumber, but it took a few hours to do. What do you guys think?

RX8_Ownz
02-08-2005, 09:06 PM
Very good job.

BTW, what bulbs are needed for running lights on both front headlamps?

I hate that yellowish color. Also you're running HID foglights, too?

Rotary Rasp
02-08-2005, 09:18 PM
I have 8500K HID headlights, 6 LED 194 white running lights and 7500K fog lights


running lights were bought at: www.autolumination.com

RX8_Ownz
02-08-2005, 09:43 PM
I have 8500K HID headlights, 6 LED 194 white running lights and 7500K fog lights


running lights were bought at: www.autolumination.com

Thanks for putting up.

I was confused w/ running lights and parking lights.

Is this bulb still 6 LED 194? (Pic)

Rotary Rasp
02-08-2005, 09:45 PM
well, which one, there are 3 bulbs in that picture

XeRo
02-08-2005, 09:48 PM
rotary..are you aware that you're decreasing your field of view with the higher burning temp?

mikeb
02-08-2005, 10:41 PM
nice diy on the coolers

Rotary Rasp
02-08-2005, 10:48 PM
XeRo, yes fully... http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=51946
Now how bout them oil cooler grills?!?!?!?

XeRo
02-09-2005, 12:17 PM
yeh..so actually...how did you get them to mount without removing your bumper cover?

RX8_Ownz
02-09-2005, 06:21 PM
well, which one, there are 3 bulbs in that picture

I drew the white circle on that pic.

Rotary Rasp
02-09-2005, 06:30 PM
wow, somehow i looked over that... anyway, that is called "194 6LED" Bulb from autolumination

XDEEDUBBX
02-09-2005, 06:42 PM
looks good...but i would have painted it black

Rotary Rasp
02-09-2005, 06:57 PM
thats what i was going to do at first, but then, after test fitting them, i thought to my self...they'd look too stock if i painted them.

Paul_in_DC
02-09-2005, 07:28 PM
They look pretty good. That's one of my spring projects.

irish8
02-09-2005, 08:09 PM
Looking good!! Nice mod!!

- Irish :cool:

Hard 8
02-11-2005, 12:39 PM
Way sano. What exact material did you use, and in what department did you find it? TIA.

Tigerfootball
02-11-2005, 02:57 PM
how were you able to cut it so precisely? it looks great.

sohcpunk
02-11-2005, 03:07 PM
Your setup sounds interesting, are the fog lights an HID retrofit too? Would you mind coming down to one of our OC meets so we can check them out?


I have 8500K HID headlights, 6 LED 194 white running lights and 7500K fog lights


running lights were bought at: www.autolumination.com

Napboy
02-11-2005, 03:17 PM
now back on subject... how did you mount the grills? is there a diy by chance?

Rotary Rasp
02-11-2005, 04:43 PM
Its been a week or so now and the grills are holding up great. The mesh is sold at Home Depot in the buiding materials department. It comes in aprox 30" x 10" and cost $1.49 per sheet, you only need one. It is made to be installed over rain gutters to keep leefs from filling them up. They are galvanized steel so they shouldn't rust. The mesh comes with a bow in it (you'll see) which makes it a little tricky to work with. It is strong but can be cut with a good pair of cutters. After it is cut, take a grinder to the ends to smooth it out. Then jack up the front of the car, be sure to use a wheel block. Remove the plastic sheet covering the fog lights. You don't have to remove the rubber flap that hangs down, that will come off with the whole sheet. There will be three screws and a half dozen or so plastic snaps. It helps if you turn the wheel away from you. Next, remove the bottom oil cooler grill bolt. Now you must remove the fog light housing. There are two screws on the bottom and one on the top (the top one is hard to get to). Now remove the foglight. Next, slide up the grill from under the car. Once you got it all the way in, use a couple of wire ties to fasten the top of the grill to the top of the oil cooler. Now, reinstall the oil cooler bolt and the fog light. It will stay in place pretty well stince the fog light clamps it in there. Now reinstall the plastic sheet and lower the car. If you have more question, please feel free to ask. It's not very hard to do, just takes some time.

rx8wannahave
02-12-2005, 07:47 PM
Rotary Rasp,

GREAT JOB!!!! They look great, dont paint them...they look great...better than paying RB over $100 for a freaken screen...I mean...come on man...(but I love you RB...don't hate me)

This is a cheap, great looking, functional oil color protector...and I'll say it again...it makes the car look even COOLER.

Great job!

Rotary Rasp
02-12-2005, 08:58 PM
Whoa... I wanna go to a club meet. Thanks rx8wannahave, your PM brought a smile to my face (not that way you freaks!) :) Let me know what help you need. I'll take a picture of the left over mesh so you can see what to buy.

XeRo
02-12-2005, 09:09 PM
dang it ...i was at Home Depot today and totally forgot to run by that department...also...JC Whitney sells sheets of auto grade mesh for pretty cheap...

Rotary Rasp
02-15-2005, 10:20 AM
Here is a few pictures before I cut the mesh.

frankcastle123
02-15-2005, 11:35 AM
by the way this is also sold in black plastic and it comes in a roll in the gutter section in the bulding department for less than $5 a roll, i should know im one of the managers at a local home depot in miami.

Rotary Rasp
02-15-2005, 11:56 AM
I saw the plastic when I was there....I don't think it looks as good.

foxman
02-15-2005, 01:24 PM
Looks as good as Racing Beat to me, nice DIY.

rx8wannahave
02-15-2005, 05:54 PM
Yeah, but MUCH cheaper....

No problem Rotary...I'll contact you when Im ready to install it.

Call me crazy, but I'm thinking of putting on the side (I have a black 8) vents & rear end also....I wonder how that would look.....

leigh44
02-15-2005, 08:13 PM
by the way this is also sold in black plastic and it comes in a roll in the gutter section in the bulding department for less than $5 a roll, i should know im one of the managers at a local home depot in miami.

I'm a manager in ft.lauderdale (6356)and there is a manager in pompano(208) with one also.
Do yourself a favor before you install it spray it with a rustoleum clear coat a guy at our store put them on his turbo protege and they DID RUST and the silver flacked

Rotary Rasp
02-15-2005, 09:50 PM
Yes, I didn't mention it before but I did spray a layer of clear coat. You can see it in the photo below. How long did it take them to rust?

leigh44
02-16-2005, 08:26 AM
Yes, I didn't mention it before but I did spray a layer of clear coat. You can see it in the photo below. How long did it take them to rust?

He did not put anything on his and it was only like 3 months and they started to go

rx8wannahave
02-16-2005, 11:28 AM
leigh44,

THANKS for the information! Now...do you guys have installation managers and do you need them in Central FL...lol...lol

Thanks for helping, gosh...that's why I love this website...where else will I learn all of this stuff...lol

rXter
03-11-2005, 03:53 PM
galvinized? I guess not.

Rotary Rasp
03-11-2005, 06:58 PM
galvinized? I guess not.
huh?

goodstick
03-22-2005, 01:00 PM
Rotary Rasp,
Thanks for the idea and the DIY instructions. I'm very pleased with how they turned out and best of all it cost less then 5 bucks to do. Used Rustoleum Gloss black...what do you think? And by the way I have a jeep too

Rotary Rasp
03-22-2005, 01:26 PM
Looks good! What year is your jeep?

goodstick
03-22-2005, 02:48 PM
Here are the toys. Jeep is an 88 4.2L 3 spd auto. The jeep is in for some major mods including a lift and perhaps an engine overhaul in the future. The RX-8 will be getting clear sidemarkers and a Greddy Turbo by year end. I am a lucky man. :o

Rotary Rasp
03-22-2005, 06:14 PM
I have an 84 CJ-7, 4.2L inline six with the 3 speed auto. I'll see if I can find a good picture.

RX8-TX
03-22-2005, 09:26 PM
I saw the plastic when I was there....I don't think it looks as good.
Nothing like good ol' galvanized Gutter Guard. Did mine this past Sunday with a bunch of help from Irish8 (actually, I think I may have helped him work on my car... :D ) - Anywho, the result? Some solid screen protecting my oil coolers from Texas' mosquitoes. Here's a quick and dirty picture:

http://www.myrotarycar.com/people/Oil_Cooler_AC_Condenser_Mesh_Screen_Installed0_320 2005/photos/photo8.jpg (http://www.myrotarycar.com/people/Oil_Cooler_AC_Condenser_Mesh_Screen_Installed0_320 2005/index.html)

Sorry, but it was inside the garage without any kind of decent illumination. I coated the mesh with some primer and painted them metallic black (rustoleoum).

RX8-CARL
03-22-2005, 10:11 PM
Same idea but with stainless steel mesh

Rotary Rasp
03-23-2005, 02:51 AM
Where'd you get the stainless steel mesh?!?!?!

RX8-CARL
03-23-2005, 11:08 PM
It's made by RIPSPEED, From local Car accessories shop Halfords. May not be available in U.S.A, But i'm sure somebody will do something similer over there.
IMHO much better than ally or plastic.

Rotary Rasp
03-24-2005, 12:53 AM
It's made by RIPSPEED, From local Car accessories shop Halfords. May not be available in U.S.A, But i'm sure somebody will do something similer over there.
IMHO much better than ally or plastic.
I agree.