Im not sure where to post this, and I couldn't Find anything by searching.
Ive noticed recently, since its starting to get a bit colder now, that my engine temp doesn't stay around 195 while driving.
In my sunfire the temp used to hover within 10 degrees of 195, even while driving. maybe dipping to about 20 below it when the heat was on, but comming back up thereafter.
I have a Vis Invader style Carbon Fiber Hood on my cavalier. When im driving in cooler weather and i turn on the heat, the temp takes a dive and has trouble coming back to 195. The heat is still hot and everything. Im just curious if this is going to hurt the motor or anything, i know cooler is better, but theres a reason that the thermostat is supposed to be at a certain temp.
Should I worry? Im thinking it might not give me hot heat when its actually gets cold, I may be closing off the hole in the hood somehow.
On the other hand when I do my eco-swap and slap on the supercharger, it should make it nice and cool
just thinking about this today.
thoughts?
I wouldn't be driving that car around in the cold/winter months with that hood on it.
Swap your stock one back on for the winter, because carbon fiber & salt & cold & fiberglass don't
mix too well. That's just what I would do if I ABSOLUTELY HAD to drive mine in the winter.
But I've picked up a Sunfire GT for DD/Winter purposes before I started all my heavy modding.
Just some advice, that's all...
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Yes, it's my REAL car. No, it is NOT photoshopped or "this is how my car will look someday". It's the REAL DEAL.
Once it drops below -20 celsius my Cavalier won't heat up. You can either have a warm engine and the interior heat off, or a little bit of interior heat, and a cool engine. All I have is an AEM intake, which I'm told won't make a difference. So if it's cooling off already, then I'd say it'l lbe alot worse in the winter.
Haha, i cant wait.
I dont have a stock hood, so im going to wrap the c/f one in protective film, its all I can really do to protect it.
I dont really drive too far, so it isnt a huge issue. And itll be hiding in the garage on days when theres a lot of snow anyways, I have a work van for just such occations.
I would be looking into a new thermostat. It almost seems like yours maybe starting to stick partially open and not be able to warm up all the way like it should.
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2009 Ford Mustang V6
Couldnt hurt, its an easy thing to do. -- im still going to wrap the hood in winter anyhow.
How does your catback sound? the megan one, I just got one today (for the piping) but i might give the setup a shot for a while.
Personally... I would be more worried about snow and water finding it's way through the hole and into the engine bay.
I've walked outside in the morning to find over a foot of snow on my car... plenty of times..... I've thought about getting a hood like that (whenever I have the dang money), and that is a real concern of mine..
I honestly dont think that a vent in your hood should be making that much of a difference. You would think that since carbon fiber is a better insulator than steel... it would make up for the difference. I'de check the thermostat before anything else.. like said before...
If it's only opening half way or so... it could be causing to problems your talking about.
Cooling / heating issues aside... if you still have your stock hood.. your probably better off swapping it back on there for winter anyway...if for no other reason than to keep the CF one from getting messed up.
Weebel wrote:
Cooling / heating issues aside... if you still have your stock hood.. your probably better off swapping it back on there for winter anyway...if for no other reason than to keep the CF one from getting messed up.
WOW. Did you read anything other than the first post? LOL
A. I already told him that...
Quote:
Swap your stock one back on for the winter, because carbon fiber & salt & cold & fiberglass don't
mix too well.
& B. He already said that...
Quote:
I dont have a stock hood, so im going to wrap the c/f one in protective film, its all I can really do to protect it.
I see this happening a lot because people seem to neglect reading more than the opening line of a post.
I'm not being a dick, just pointing out the obvious.
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Yes, it's my REAL car. No, it is NOT photoshopped or "this is how my car will look someday". It's the REAL DEAL.
Kevin Richter wrote:I see this happening a lot because people seem to neglect reading more than the opening line of a post.
I'm not being a dick, just pointing out the obvious. 
Welcome to the good ole JBO. My favorite is when someone will go on a 5000 word rant about something after only "skimming" the post. Only to find out the entire rant had nothing to do with what the subject was about. Those are classic.
"Formerly known as Jammit - JBO member since 1998" JBOM | CSS.net
My cav has a stock body and in very cold and windy conditions, it will not reach 195. In winters past, I taped up the bumper opening to block off the rad and just left the little gap between the bumper and hood. This REALLY sped up warm up time, the engine reached proper operating temp and stayed there much longer after the car was shut off.
You should expect a decrease in fuel economy if your engine doesn't reach operating temperature. If the motor gets around 160F, I wouldn't worry much.
2002 Cavalier 2200 5spd