Just been removing my foglights to (hopefully) improve air flow through the radiator in preparation for another hot summer....
Started taking other bits apart as I\'ve never really got my head around the plastic manifolding for the standard SMIC / air filter etc.
I\'ve got HKS filters, and I noticed that where the original filter has been removed, the opening in the plastic ductwork is still there. Does that mean that when stationary, the rad fans are blowing hot air into the manifold, and back through the SMIC?? :2eek Would I be better off blanking this bit off?
Also, on the SMIC end of the plastic ductwork, there is an extension attached which appears to have no purpose - it has an air pipe going into it, but no outlet. Any ideas what its for?
Finally, I hadn\'t realised before how close the SMIC intake ductwork is to teh back of the rads; has anyone had any luck insulating it?
Anyway, more happy Sunday tinkering to do :cheers
I\'m not sure how much effect removing the fog lights will have.
If you\'re moving then you\'ll have air going into the intercooler. If you\'re not moving you won\'t, and I doubt removing the fog lights will help.
To get air going in to my apexi induction kit, when I had a SMIC, I put some perspex on the hole that normally goes in the air box to direct the air to the intakes. Doesn\'t look much but it was cheap and directed air into the intakes better
I also put some heat sheilding around the intakes, including a plate over where the original air intake box goes to reduce heat from the radiator piping.
Probably reduced temps by a couple of degrees. Didn\'t have much effect when stationary, but temps came down quicker when moving.
Here\'s a pic of the air flow director, looks rubbish, but worked okay.
Cheers for the advice, I\'ve got a secondhand stock airbox so I was thinking of modding it to do the same as what you\'ve done.... ie use the bottom of the old box to go between the rad and the mushrooms, and rivet some aluminium in some strategic places.....
I understand what you mean about the foglights, just really trying to get all the basics right; minimum obstruction to the rad, max sealing to get all the air through it.
Also, hadn\'t realised that the aircon rad covers all of the rad! My aircon doesn\'t work anyway, so unless I can get it working fairly cheap, I think it will be coming out! :)
The stock air-box is a cold air feed and to be honest if you\'re not thinking of modding your car a lot, I\'d stick with it. Mazda did a good job designing it, a lot of induction kits will lose you power cos they suck in warm air.
You csan always change the stock filter with a K&N one if you want a few more horses.
However if you are doing the modding route then I wouldn\'t worry about the current cooling situation as you\'ll pull most of it out and replace it, i.e. high capacity ali rad (e.g. Koyo etc) and a new intercooler (front mount or v-mount).
If you\'re really worried about under bonnet temps, get a vented bonnet as well.