How many of you leave your hood up?
11-12-2004, 01:06 AM
#1
Team Owner
Thread Starter
How many of you leave your hood up?
After a long drive to let that heat out of your engine compartment so your components, plastic pieces, hoses, don't get damaged by the heat and discentagrate/fall apart in your hands or you accidently touch a wire and it snaps in half as every thing rubber seal gets deteriorated by the heat. So how many of you after every drive when the car is hot put your hoods up in your garage overnight or till the next drive? 
11-12-2004, 01:20 AM
#2
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Oct 2002
Location: Manalapan FL
Posts: 3,255
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would guess that most of the heat "damage" occurs when the engine is at its hottest...while running. Raising the hood after a run may cool stuff down a little quicker, but I doubt there is any benefit.
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
11-12-2004, 01:23 AM
#3
Safety Car
Yup!
Wow, I thought I was the only one!
Seriously, I've been in the restoration business long enough to have seen the ravages of heat damage often, so when it's hot out (over 80 degrees ) I generally pop the hood and leave the door glass down.
Not surprisingly, it's the weatherstripping that gets beat the worst here in North Cali. The softer the rubber, the quicker it goes.
At least Corvettes aren't the worst. Any Honda or Nissan in this area that's been out in the sun at all has a trashed interior inside of eight years.
Hans
Seriously, I've been in the restoration business long enough to have seen the ravages of heat damage often, so when it's hot out (over 80 degrees ) I generally pop the hood and leave the door glass down.
Not surprisingly, it's the weatherstripping that gets beat the worst here in North Cali. The softer the rubber, the quicker it goes.
At least Corvettes aren't the worst. Any Honda or Nissan in this area that's been out in the sun at all has a trashed interior inside of eight years.
Hans
11-12-2004, 01:30 AM
#4
Safety Car
Originally Posted by 74FLCONV
I would guess that most of the heat "damage" occurs when the engine is at its hottest...while running. Raising the hood after a run may cool stuff down a little quicker, but I doubt there is any benefit.
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
11-12-2004, 01:34 AM
#5
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Wrencher
Actually, engine heat spikes 20-40 degrees when you shut down, due to engine (combustion) heat transfering to coolant that is no longer circulating. With exhaust heat soak, 250 - 280 or more underhood is not uncommon on a hot day, especially in direct sun.
Isn't it called heat sink? 
And I thought I was the only one doing this but then again all of my components have lasted over 10 to 17 years and still going strong and of course a few that just fell apart in my hands.So it isn't just me doing this reaping the the benefits
. 
Last edited by LS WON; 11-12-2004 at 01:37 AM. Reason: additional info
11-12-2004, 04:28 AM
#8
Pro
Member Since: Apr 2004
Location: Atascadero Ca
Posts: 687
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mine is usually up simply because i'm working on it and / or am too lazy to shut it. Usually if i'm pulling in after a drive the hood stays down.
Although lifting the hood might help in keeping paw prints off the car
Although lifting the hood might help in keeping paw prints off the car
11-12-2004, 06:11 AM
#12
I leave the hood open 10 - 15 mins after a long run as heat soak does occur. When I park up the top of the hood is fairly cool to the touch but after a couple of mins it's hot. I figure once it's cooled a bit then it's no hotter than when driving, so it's OK to close the hood (for security as it's not kept at home). Besides, leaving the hood open all the time just reminds me of how much work I've still got to do - & I don't like being nagged, especially by my own car 
11-12-2004, 08:01 AM
#14
Melting Slicks
Originally Posted by LS WON
After a long drive to let that heat out of your engine compartment so your components, plastic pieces, hoses, don't get damaged by the heat and discentagrate/fall apart in your hands or you accidently touch a wire and it snaps in half as every thing rubber seal gets deteriorated by the heat. So how many of you after every drive when the car is hot put your hoods up in your garage overnight or till the next drive?
11-12-2004, 08:52 AM
#15
Burning Brakes
Originally Posted by Z-man
I do it...
11-12-2004, 12:02 PM
#19
Safety Car
I never thought of that. I guess it is something worth doing, especially since it is FREE. And as a side benefit, after the motor is cool I can do a quick check for any leaking fluids, loose items, etc.
kdf 1973 454
kdf 1986 L98
PS. I wont be doing this on my 86 C4. At least not until I get the later model gas assist struts. If you have not tried to open an early model C4 hood try it once. It really gives you a work out. You wont believe how heavy that hood is. No wonder they added the different type of struts later on.
kdf 1973 454
kdf 1986 L98
PS. I wont be doing this on my 86 C4. At least not until I get the later model gas assist struts. If you have not tried to open an early model C4 hood try it once. It really gives you a work out. You wont believe how heavy that hood is. No wonder they added the different type of struts later on.
11-12-2004, 12:14 PM
#20
Race Director
Originally Posted by LS WON
So how many of you after every drive when the car is hot put your hoods up in your garage overnight or till the next drive?
Although the response is quite different as I would say 80% or more here do it !!!! In the C6 forum is was a way different response.
I dont do it myself. Although I have thought about it when I put the car cover on, cause you can just feel the heat coming out of the engine bay.