Importance of Front Grill?
#1
Importance of Front Grill?
I recently threw an aftermarket front bumper onto my 8 and plan on upgrading to an AEM intake in the next couple of weeks.
My issue is that I am slightly concerned about running the intake without a front grill. I have this dumb paranoia that the intake cone will get covered in dirt and debris but even with a grill that would happen, wouldn't it? Part of me wants to have a front grill because I think it will provide some kind of protection to the intake, but the AEM does look pretty cool dipping out behind the bumper like that so I don't necessarily want to "hide it", you know? Part of why I want the AEM is just to make the front end of the car look nicer; that huge hole in the center just makes it look like it's missing something.
Just looking for some opinions on whether or not it is important to have a front grill when running the AEM intake. Obviously I don't have a grill right now so it looks really bland and boring when you look at it. The guys who did the work on my bumper said that front grills are just a mind game; all of the dirt and dust gets in there regardless of whether you have a grill or not and that the only thing I should be worried about is a squirrel running in there or something.
My issue is that I am slightly concerned about running the intake without a front grill. I have this dumb paranoia that the intake cone will get covered in dirt and debris but even with a grill that would happen, wouldn't it? Part of me wants to have a front grill because I think it will provide some kind of protection to the intake, but the AEM does look pretty cool dipping out behind the bumper like that so I don't necessarily want to "hide it", you know? Part of why I want the AEM is just to make the front end of the car look nicer; that huge hole in the center just makes it look like it's missing something.
Just looking for some opinions on whether or not it is important to have a front grill when running the AEM intake. Obviously I don't have a grill right now so it looks really bland and boring when you look at it. The guys who did the work on my bumper said that front grills are just a mind game; all of the dirt and dust gets in there regardless of whether you have a grill or not and that the only thing I should be worried about is a squirrel running in there or something.
#2
Administrator
iTrader: (7)
the grills aren't to protect the filter from dirt and such but rather larger objects that could damage something.
I have grills protecting both oil coolers and the AC condenser (RB grill) but my AEM is exposed. It's a gamble I'm willing to take since I do not often drive the RX-8
I have grills protecting both oil coolers and the AC condenser (RB grill) but my AEM is exposed. It's a gamble I'm willing to take since I do not often drive the RX-8
#4
Also thanks both of you for pointing me to the RB screens. They are definitely something I'll be forking over money for in the near future.
#5
Sunlight Silver Bias
Join Date: May 2010
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If anything, you can always get protective sleeves for the filters on your intake. There are plenty of members on this site that run a MS bumper which doesn't have a good "grille" but they still love every minute of it.
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