I came across this at www.fc3s.org Why would one do this? ANy real advantages? Thanks for any feedback!

 

If you lost the original panel, it is a must to help keep the engine running cool.

 

Bah, I've never run the stock undertray or a cooling panel, and my cars barely move the temp needle off the C.

 

WOW! Mine always runs at halfway between H and C. If I remove the stock fan, and replace it w/ a electric fan, ould this help keep cool?

 

The other advantage is at low speed, you are not feeding hot air coming off the rad into the intake.

Halfway up is generally a little on the high side, about 1/3 up on the stock meter/sender is normal.

 

Hmmm. I has never gone past that though! Oh ****. Now I am worried!!!!!!!!!!!

 

have you checked your thermostat any time soon?

 

How?

 

To answer the original question, it both segregates incoming air into an "intake" and a "radiator" path. It also helps to prevent air from flowing around the radiator, and thus failing to cool it.

It depends on the series. S4 cars run anywhere from 1/4-1/3 on the stock gauge. S5s run from exactly one hair's-width under 1/2 to exactly half. I hope everyone that read your post reads this one; otherwise, we're about to get inundated with "My car's running hot!" posts...

Brandon

 

I'm not too sure on this, but what I heard was to boil it in water and see if it opens.

 

Thats true, but for all that trouble, I'd just replace it.

 

Yo,


OMG! My car is running hot!!

*grin*

Just kidding, mine is always halfway on the gauge. I have a Series 5.

KS
1989 GTUs "But my buddy's GTUs is a shade under half."

 

probably. if you do replace it, I would use a factory mazda one. I used one I got at pep b0Iz and I think its already going bad ('bout 3 or 4 months).

 

I stand corrected, thanks Brandon!

But either way over or more than half way up would seem to indicate something in the system not performing at peak ability (be it a temp sender, thermostat, coolant quality, water pump, coolant passage, air flow, etc) or that the ambient temperature is way high.