Basicly that is correct, but the seal is actually all around the radiator since the condenser sits in front of it. You can seal every gap around the entire raditor and frame to improve the flow. This way its all forceed through like you said vs by passing it through any gaps.beemerphile1 wrote:Sounds like you are blocking air leakage from coming around behind the condenser. Is that correct?
If there is substantial leakage, the insulation could force more air through the condenser rather than around it.
The radiator fan is always on when the A/C is. I don't think it would cause the car to run warmer, even if you sit in place during a hot TX summer the fan cycles on and off while the engine idles (when the A/C is off). I think this would help prevent as much standing engine compartment air from being sucked into the radiator. I hope that makes sense, it's 2 am and suddenly English looks like absolute tongues to me.danimal86 wrote:I just gave this a try (along with wrapping one of the lines going to/from the condenser), and i'm not sure which one made a difference or both, but the AC seems cooler quicker.
Correct me if i'm wrong, but framing the radiator with the insulation just helps at slower speeds (when the radiator fan is on)?
Would this make the engine run warmer in stop-go traffic because the radiator fan has to pull air though the condenser before it hits the radiator?
That makes sense about the fan always running. Thanks for the info. Its supposed to hit 100deg today, so i'll give it a good test on the ride home.lannvouivre wrote:The radiator fan is always on when the A/C is. I don't think it would cause the car to run warmer, even if you sit in place during a hot TX summer the fan cycles on and off while the engine idles (when the A/C is off). I think this would help prevent as much standing engine compartment air from being sucked into the radiator. I hope that makes sense, it's 2 am and suddenly English looks like absolute tongues to me.danimal86 wrote:I just gave this a try (along with wrapping one of the lines going to/from the condenser), and i'm not sure which one made a difference or both, but the AC seems cooler quicker.
Correct me if i'm wrong, but framing the radiator with the insulation just helps at slower speeds (when the radiator fan is on)?
Would this make the engine run warmer in stop-go traffic because the radiator fan has to pull air though the condenser before it hits the radiator?
Also, the experience I'm remembering with the fan cycling is from cars besides Vibes with overheating problems (shophands get the boring jobs, like watching the temperature reading on the scanner for over an hour waiting for a car to overheat)
I'd guess you increase the risk of overheating in conditions where the car is not moving and the ambient temperature is high. Without the makeshift duct, the radiator fan pulls some ambient air through the rad without it passing through the condenser as well. As you can imagine, with the AC on full blast the condenser is warm. So forcing all air going through the rad through the condenser first may compromise the rad's ability to shed heat.Rayven01 wrote:This seems like one of those things that's so simple there's got to be a catch. It would cost car makers pennies to build them like this from the get go, in some cases saving them money by improving efficiency enough to warrant a cheaper compressor. There' got to be a reason they don't...
I think there is a little trade off going on: yes the air going through the radiator is warmer than it would be without the seals, on the other hand the fan is pulling more air volume at a higher speed. Also the air flow may be more even across the radiator. Without the seals there may be warm air circulating from the back side of the radiator to the front. That is a loss of efficiency. If your temperature gauge stays in the normal range you should be good.I'd guess you increase the risk of overheating in conditions where the car is not moving and the ambient temperature is high. Without the makeshift duct, the radiator fan pulls some ambient air through the rad without it passing through the condenser as well. As you can imagine, with the AC on full blast the condenser is warm. So forcing all air going through the rad through the condenser first may compromise the rad's ability to shed heat.
What? How do you figure that?vibrologist wrote:on the other hand the fan is pulling more air volume at a higher speed.
I thought about that myself. I think I was wrong on that. There could be a little channeling effect but not enough to get the volume up.kumquat wrote:What? How do you figure that?vibrologist wrote:on the other hand the fan is pulling more air volume at a higher speed.