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!!

 

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 *** 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