your opinion on this oil cooler protector?
 

looks like it mounts directly on the cooler.. Anyone have these and what is your opinion on fit finish, and most importantly how it protects?

http://www.racingbeat.com/FRmazda4.htm

Racing Beat stuff are top notch.
I have these and they are as good as they get.
If you're thinking of getting an aftermarket bumper, you may not need them, since some aftermarket bumpers come with a protective grill.

^^ +1

^+2.

Don't have them myself but have read the great reviews on here +3 and search.

get them, you don't want your oil coolers getting messed up.

Racing Beat FTW

it will be great if u can search b4 u make ur next post.

i did search and you know what??? half the stuff i find is years old.. so please don't assume i didn't do it.. i did and when you want to get real specific, the search function just doesn't cut it...

thanks for all the replies to my question, sounds as if they are top notch!

pete

I must apologize.. I did a different search and found not only info but pictures as well.. I apologize for the duplicate thread.

i will go kill myself now.


;)

Have we heard or seen of anyone that a oil cooler protector would have helped.

Because both the FC and FD had oil coolers even more in the air stream at the bottom of the car, and you never heard of failures from rocks on them.

Now the A/C cooler cover makes sense. I know there have been issues there, but oil cooler??? Hmm maybe someone can post if they really lost a cooler due to a rock and not an accident.

I think the point is that

if a rock take your condenser, it will cost 200-300 bux for a new one (if u install it urself) then like 20 bux for the Freon.

but if a rock take your oil cooler, it will cost at LEAST couple hundred PLUS the chance of motor failure.

are you going to risk it ? :)

Yep... unless I was on a track, I don't see the point.

I've been buying Racing Beat products since 1977.
Always top quality and service!

I can't believe Jedi hasnt posted yet..

well the old info is still accurate..

but did your mom buy you a car yet? or are you just posting to ask questions about a car you still dont have??

bluesky a name from the past.. some might recall it..

one could search it!!

beers :beer:

Hymee also makes some nice screens, black powdercoat and have held up well

you called??? :D:

Racing Beat products are without a doubt TOP NOTCH. This is usually one of the first mods I recommend for new owners. Those A/C condensors are NOT cheap.
(saw a dealership charge $800 for one)

made it 5 years without them and 73K miles, Screw it now! lol

Yea from What I hear there are a great product. I just got my 8 not to long ago and just ordered the a/c condenser and oil cooler screens along with a set of snow tires. If a rock took out my condenser I would be worried that they would say it was a road hazard and not cover it under warranty.

lol and how demolished do they look?

lol, I dont think you want to see them.

haha. well as long as they're working.

RB screens sre the best

FWIW the stock screen can be installed without removing any of the bumper or undertray.

DUH. OK, so maybe I should read the OP's post BEFORE posting. I was talking about the condenser screen not the oil screen.

Protection is the best thing. A new AC condenser is about $300. a new oil cooler is about the same. RB screens $90.
Get what I'm saying?

I have these screens on my oil coolers and mine still have stone dents in them. They do seem to keep the screens free of butterflies, but they seem to make leaves collect more ...

Newer (06 and up, maybe some 05s) RX8s come with a radiator screen. It's smaller than the RB ones, but would probably do the job. They still don't have the oil cooler screens, though.

I have them and I like 'em. Quality of workmanship is a cut above what I expected. I just hope they're not significantly interfering with oil cooling, something I suspect is pretty critical on the 8. They're probably ok to use. Probably. I hope.

jedi is right, one of the first mods recommended (if not required imho). bent oil cooler fins could mean lesser airflow and an inefficient oil cooler (from what i gathered so correct me if i'm wrong). definitely top notch.

Damn, maybe thats why Im running 15's!! :lol:

thing is the screen itself could be interfering with the oil cooling airflow as New Yorker said:

i still feel safer though that my oil coolers won't be needing replacement/repair anytime soon. and with running 15's, would insufficient oil cooling have that effect?

I use them to 'protect' the coolers - not from puncture, from bees....

Even a bee/wasp at 'highway' speeds will bend the fins over. They look like ass and the fin lays over the cooling path.

Don't worry about the mesh cutting the airflow, the coolers are very restrictive themselve and don't pass a lot of air. If the cooler only passes X cfm, the mesh only has to pass X+1, if you get my drift.....

S

Yup the CFM on our oil coolers suck. Thats why I might get some oil cooler fans. About the fins getting bent. Use a Radiator brush to make them straight ;)