Technical terms! I'm trying to figure out if this is something I need to worry about ASAP in terms of oil cooling. I figure it helps to push as much air through the cooler as possible, and it wouldn't be there unless it's good. Although, I don't track my car *I'd like to one day...* and we are moving towards the winter. Would I be OK with just taking this off, or should I put up a buy thread for one of these pieces ASAP?

Picture for what I am talking about, as now I'm starting to confuse myself.

http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/e...g?t=1284825969

 

I would try to keep it there. Ducting is very important for cooling. At speed, air will tend to follow the path of least resistance, which happens to be around a heat exchanger instead of through it. To force air through it you need a duct sealed as tightly to the heat exchanger as feasible. The more air escapes from the duct, the less goes through the exchanger.

I would not call this critical or imperative. I would call it a concern to address within a few weeks or a couple of months' time.

IF yours is cracked or something then just patch it. You can take it out of the car after you remove the front bumper cover. Then use some heavy duty tape...I often use the aluminum foil tape used for HVAC ducting...to firm it up and reinforce it.

If there are chunks of plastic missing or the damage is more severe, you can cut up old oil or coolant bottles and use that plastic to reinforce or patch the ducts along with a rivet gun or very short self tapping screws. I've had to do this for the underbelly pan on my car, which had a hole rubbed in the front of it due to an unfortunate encounter with pavement at triple digit speeds (ON THE TRACK OF COURSE).

 

go buy the fog lights...

 

I had mine removed since I swap my front bumper for a kit, like RR said its not critical but if I do have my bumper down I would fabricate ducting for the radiator and the oil cooler.

 

Gotcha. Mine is broken in half, and I have no idea where the other half is....who has the passenger side piece for sale? :P

 

hit up a junk yard and find a car that got rear ended

 

Check with ray at malloy mazda for the price of a new one. It's probably under 50 bucks. Otherwise check with mrmazda7 on ebay, he may have one as he parts out rx8s.

 

WAT

fog lights do not replace oil cooler ducts.

 

no but its a different duct that goes in that spot and comes with the light kit.

 

My car came with no fog lights. I installed stock fog lights. The oil cooler ducts remained the same.

 

my ducts are different... hmm interesting.

 

I never had those air funnel thingy's.

I can't find them on the parts list