Overheating!
#251
Might not be the best/smartest idea but has anyone ever modify your front bumper impact bar(Drill/cut holes) & grill to increase the airflow? I'm not talking about the bumper cover but making the whole front grill usedfull instead of only the lower half.
Last edited by Silver_Surfer; 07-11-2008 at 11:14 AM.
#253
Baro Rex
iTrader: (1)
I'm actually pulling the grill out of my stock front bumper tomorrow. I have a mazsport turbo kit and the fmic goes way up behind the blocked portion of the grill. Ideally, I'll dremel out the grill and put it back in, but I'm exceedingly lazy at times. If it doesn't look horrid (I have no front bumper support so that won't be an eyesore), I might go to RotorJam this weekend sans grill.
With the mazsport, obviously I am running an Int-x. I had not heard about them eating coolant sensors. The sensor still seems to work (it'll raise while idling) but it might be failing and getting worse or it might be poorly calibrated within the Int-X. Does the int-x trigger the fans its self? Or does it filter the signal to the stock ecu? Maybe I'll just hardwire the fans until I get it sorted. In other news, though, the mild humid NJ summer seems to agree with the car perfectly fine.
With the mazsport, obviously I am running an Int-x. I had not heard about them eating coolant sensors. The sensor still seems to work (it'll raise while idling) but it might be failing and getting worse or it might be poorly calibrated within the Int-X. Does the int-x trigger the fans its self? Or does it filter the signal to the stock ecu? Maybe I'll just hardwire the fans until I get it sorted. In other news, though, the mild humid NJ summer seems to agree with the car perfectly fine.
#254
What Mazda found out is that a lot of the air flow is going down the sides and under the radiator. So your loosing about 30% of the air going into the nose of the car down the sides and under the rad. Mazda sealed up the sides and bottom of the rad between the skid plate.
I was going down the freeway yesterday about 80 mph in 3rd gear about 4500 rpm. it was 97 degrees out. My coolant temps were at 189. So what Mazda did obviously improved on driving at speed.
The only other issue is going to be driving in stop and go traffic when it's 115 degrees out side.
I don't like Slick 50. You can use it but will not.
#255
Out of NYC
iTrader: (1)
I tried to remove the thermostat, but the bolt behind the housing .... the position is just too gay to reach. I guess I need to get some smaller or thin wall Socket b4 I can replace it on my own. How did you remove yours anyway? I hate the T-stat's housing location, freaking gay crap.
Ahh, I just flush my system today by pouring some of those Prestone Flush stuff into my system. Flush it again with distilled water. then Add 50/50. This time I think I bleed my system correctly so, gonna take it out for a ride. be back in couple of hours
#256
Out of NYC
iTrader: (1)
Only problem is is there is the front absorption cross bar there. No air is going to go past it. 90% of the air enters between the bottom of the grill and the lower lip. Any air flow improvements should be made through that opening.
What Mazda found out is that a lot of the air flow is going down the sides and under the radiator. So your loosing about 30% of the air going into the nose of the car down the sides and under the rad. Mazda sealed up the sides and bottom of the rad between the skid plate.
I was going down the freeway yesterday about 80 mph in 3rd gear about 4500 rpm. it was 97 degrees out. My coolant temps were at 189. So what Mazda did obviously improved on driving at speed.
The only other issue is going to be driving in stop and go traffic when it's 115 degrees out side.
I don't like Slick 50. You can use it but will not.
What Mazda found out is that a lot of the air flow is going down the sides and under the radiator. So your loosing about 30% of the air going into the nose of the car down the sides and under the rad. Mazda sealed up the sides and bottom of the rad between the skid plate.
I was going down the freeway yesterday about 80 mph in 3rd gear about 4500 rpm. it was 97 degrees out. My coolant temps were at 189. So what Mazda did obviously improved on driving at speed.
The only other issue is going to be driving in stop and go traffic when it's 115 degrees out side.
I don't like Slick 50. You can use it but will not.
Cuz it sounds like a pretty good mod thats cheap and easy to do.
#257
Try and find something fairly dense and rigid. But still flexible. Preferably flat stock. A couple of inches thick and about a foot wide
That way you can shape it to fit. MM found some perfect foam in a Fabric/Craft store. (he has a side business we shouldn't talk about ) Try to find something in black as to not be to visible. And good luck.
#258
FI by Pettit-BHR-Cobb AP
iTrader: (3)
Try and find something fairly dense and rigid. But still flexible. Preferably flat stock. A couple of inches thick and about a foot wide
That way you can shape it to fit. MM found some perfect foam in a Fabric/Craft store. (he has a side business we shouldn't talk about ) Try to find something in black as to not be to visible. And good luck.
That way you can shape it to fit. MM found some perfect foam in a Fabric/Craft store. (he has a side business we shouldn't talk about ) Try to find something in black as to not be to visible. And good luck.
#260
Modulated Moderator
iTrader: (3)
I have removed the support for intercooler installation...and opened up the back of the grill...it can't help but improve the airflow..
Easiest way to open up the grill is to use sanding discs and grind the back off... and then trim up the melted bits with a razor knife
Using a Dremel on each little hole is maddening and very slow
#261
Out of NYC
iTrader: (1)
Earlier today, when I was working on my car, starring at the front bumper like an idiot for like an minute. a question popped up inside my head.
"Since I already have Mazdaspeed front bumper, do I really need to keep the Racing Beat screen in there?"
Cuz right now is like
Air coming in from the front - Mazdaspeed Bumper's Screen - Racing Beat's Screen - A/C Condenser - Finally Radiator. Aye
hmm .... too bad Mazda's official screen cost too much(and I forgot its part number), at least it blocks only lower 1/2 air flow
oh guys, how did you take the thermostat housing off? with what tool ? cuz the bolt behind the housing ... I know its 12mm in size but the space is so damn tight none of my wrenches/whatever fits
"Since I already have Mazdaspeed front bumper, do I really need to keep the Racing Beat screen in there?"
Cuz right now is like
Air coming in from the front - Mazdaspeed Bumper's Screen - Racing Beat's Screen - A/C Condenser - Finally Radiator. Aye
hmm .... too bad Mazda's official screen cost too much(and I forgot its part number), at least it blocks only lower 1/2 air flow
oh guys, how did you take the thermostat housing off? with what tool ? cuz the bolt behind the housing ... I know its 12mm in size but the space is so damn tight none of my wrenches/whatever fits
Last edited by nycgps; 07-12-2008 at 12:54 AM.
#264
Well I drove from Phoenix to Vegas with MM yesterday. Cruising speeds were up and outside temp was down in the mid to upper 80's. Car ran real cool. 181 to 212 pulling a long hill at a high rate of speed. Most of the time she was cruising at 183- 187. Speed was above 80 mph. I can't say how fast I was going a few times but the car stayed cool the whole time.
The fix, I use that word lightly, that Mazda did seems to be a freeway speed cooling improvement so far. But there is nothing wrong with that.
Waitng to do some city driving in the heat.
The fix, I use that word lightly, that Mazda did seems to be a freeway speed cooling improvement so far. But there is nothing wrong with that.
Waitng to do some city driving in the heat.
#267
Paul.
#270
Registered
Have you guys noticed that the larger '09 plastic front grille also seems to have a considerably larger amount of open space on it compared with previous years? Of course the oil coolers are also larger, but I haven't seen mention of the larger grille opening yet.
Not sure if you can still sort of see this in this reduced size poor quality phone pic ... maybe if you squint.
Not sure if you can still sort of see this in this reduced size poor quality phone pic ... maybe if you squint.
#271
Let me clarify.
I didn't simply take the t-stat out.
First, I drilled holes in it. No difference.
Then, I riveted the valve open. No difference.
Then I cut the valve out of the body completely.No difference.
So, it essentially became a restrictor disk instead of a t-stat.
I didn't simply take the t-stat out.
First, I drilled holes in it. No difference.
Then, I riveted the valve open. No difference.
Then I cut the valve out of the body completely.No difference.
So, it essentially became a restrictor disk instead of a t-stat.
Paul.
#272
Zoom-Freakin'-Zoom
iTrader: (5)
Have you guys noticed that the larger '09 plastic front grille also seems to have a considerably larger amount of open space on it compared with previous years? Of course the oil coolers are also larger, but I haven't seen mention of the larger grille opening yet.
Not sure if you can still sort of see this in this reduced size poor quality phone pic ... maybe if you squint.
Not sure if you can still sort of see this in this reduced size poor quality phone pic ... maybe if you squint.
beers
#273
Registered
With regard to the separate issue of the oil coolers. I thought I'd read early on, months ago, in the first tidbits of information coming out about the 09s that the oil coolers are actually larger, ie, don't just look larger. Is that not ture?
#275
Registered
With respect to the smile-shaped openning on the new plastic grile, it definitely looked like a bigger openning to me when I compared an '08 and an '09 side by side ... but, no, I did not actually measure. LOL, maybe I should count the number of open diamonds!
Last edited by robrecht; 07-13-2008 at 11:47 AM.