Hello,

 

Been thinking today about some previous threads mentioning how mesh on a lot of aftermarket bumpers really restrict the airflow over the ICs and Radiator.

 

I've got a 99 spec front end with quite a fine mesh over ICs and Rad, noticed that on a warm day like today the temperature does tend to creep up when cruising at high speeds (100-110ish) (on my private test track!!)

 

Am I right in saying the effect of the mesh would be worse at higher speeds?

 

Although it wouldnt look as nice and of course I would run the risk of getting damage to the ICs or Rad from debris is it worthwhile for the cooling to remove the mesh? :confused:

 

cheers

 

Dave

Unless your car is over heating or getting close to over heating its not worth it.

 

A car gets hot for a number of reasons. Could be airlocks, radiator cap faulity, engine mods all cause temperature to go up.

 

Air flow will be restricted a little by the mesh, but at over 100mph it should be more than enough air getting in.

And it aint worth the damage it may cause when stones/crap go through them...:(:(

In sort of an answer to your question about mesh. When I was younger I drove artics, one particular load was Rover parts. They all came in big MESH crates. When empty, the truck would go faster with a tarp over the load, so the wind had to go round everything, than when the wind could go through the mesh.

In sort of an answer to your question about mesh. When I was younger I drove artics, one particular load was Rover parts. They all came in big MESH crates. When empty, the truck would go faster with a tarp over the load, so the wind had to go round everything, than when the wind could go through the mesh.

 

Not as daft as it sounds, i suspect mesh will trap pockets of air in the space between the mesh, much as string vests keep you warm! this was aparently developed from marauding vikngs who used to wrap themselves in fishing nets to keep warm!! I think that mesh will actualy reduce airflow but i doubt to ay serious amount Just for the record ive never worn a string vest :D :D

It's once again all about compromise ...

 

Mesh will protect your IC's & Rads from getting stone chip damaged and it looks good BUT it also severely restricts the airflow.

 

The reason mesh restricts airflow is that it acts as a solid object when air passes through it at high speed - basic aerodynamics which I'm not really good at explaining ...

 

I've been thinking that it should be possible to keep the mesh in place but feed cold air from elsewhere (via intakes and tubing, etc) to the IC's and Rads. To that effect, DTA will soon be able to supply carbon fibre ducts which take the place of the front fog lights and can be combined with flexible ducting to "guide" air to specific places in the car. Whether these c/f ducts will be sold through DTA or GetGreddy (as they are the main c/f suppliers to this forum) remains to be seen but they will be on the website within the next month or so.

 

HTH

 

Dan

Front fogs on Jap cars are also the side lights...info only

Front fogs on Jap cars are also the side lights...info only

 

Correct, but you can wire in bulb into the corner repeaters to act as running lights. I did this on mine about three years ago - looks pretty good too!

Non 1999 spec OEM bumpers don't have mesh at all do they?

 

Yes Danny is right, mesh (especially close mesh) restricts airflow and it gets worse as airflow speed rises. So you've got a trade-off between protecting the rad / i/cs and letting the air get to them.

 

Also, the rad / i/cs can be clogged up with gunk - so have an inspect and, if necessary clean in between your little fins. Mine were so bad the car would overheat if I put the aircon on - but after a clear out, everything OK again.

 

(BTW, if you had unmeshed c/f ducts, would that not just direct the stones straight at the thing you were trying to protect?)

(BTW, if you had unmeshed c/f ducts, would that not just direct the stones straight at the thing you were trying to protect?)

 

Yes and no - flexible ducting will prevent the offending item from hitting the IC or Rad at full speed and in all likelyhood it wouldn't even make it as far as the rad or IC. The ducting would need to make a loop or at the least bend more than 45 degrees for this to work. What the residual effect of these bends are on air flow and speed remains to be seen but as far as I'm aware this technique has been successfully used in the race industry.

 

Hope this clears up a few things,

 

Danny

Instead of worrying about a little airflow restriction from using mesh,I think you need to worry about the hot air that can't exit the intercooler because of the water bottles that Nissan stuck there.

Instead of worrying about a little airflow restriction from using mesh,I think you need to worry about the hot air that can't exit the intercooler because of the water bottles that Nissan stuck there.

 

Agreed ;)

interesting stuff! :D so whats the solution to the water bottles? relocate them somewhere else?

interesting stuff! :D so whats the solution to the water bottles? relocate them somewhere else?

 

You can try to do that although relocating anything in an engine as packed as the Zed's is going to be a futile experiment ...

 

Best to install IC vents - like MAC1 and AndyP have - this will cause a low pressure area to form behind the IC and draw the warm air through it and out the side of the bumper. Think SE/Nistek sell/install these.

 

Cheers,

 

Dan

interesting stuff! :D so whats the solution to the water bottles? relocate them somewhere else?

 

 

IMHO you don't need to do this if you running stock boost,however once you start running more PSI then the intercoolers do struggle to get rid of the heat.

 

 

I made up a smaller bottle that doesn't impede the flow at all.

Junking the carbon cannister also helps.