Air flow through radiator
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 332
Likes: 41
From: Mesa, AZ
Air flow through radiator
With spring over in Phoenix, Friday forecast 102F, I did the semi annual clean out the radiator and condenser. With the top cover/support off and the car jacked up in the air, I noticed a lot of non sealed gaps around both units. There is also a large gap at the bottom between both. Just seems to me, did not stay at a Holiday Inn recently, that there is great potential for air flow to circumvent both the condenser and the radiator, not adding to the heat exchange/removal function.
Now is this design on purpose or just created from mass construction due to time constraints? Has anyone here ever attempted to seal up some of these gaps to create more air flow through the two, possibly using foam or rubber weatherstripping? There is a lot of unsealed space on each side and under the top support/cover. Or, is my aged, fatigued gray matter over thinking a non issue?
Thanks guys, humor me if you want.
Chas
Now is this design on purpose or just created from mass construction due to time constraints? Has anyone here ever attempted to seal up some of these gaps to create more air flow through the two, possibly using foam or rubber weatherstripping? There is a lot of unsealed space on each side and under the top support/cover. Or, is my aged, fatigued gray matter over thinking a non issue?
Thanks guys, humor me if you want.
Chas
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 353
From: Little Rock Arkansas
The A/C condenser should have some large weather strip type sealing on it's side. This keeps air flow going directly to it for the most part but also sees a lot of debris accumulate under the shroud where the air box sits. It's a lot easier to clean the radiator debris but not necessarily clean the A/C condenser debris.
I don't think you'd really gain anything over trying to seal up all those areas in any way. If anything you may look at putting some sort of screen up front in the opening below the fascia. There's a few vendors that offer products and many have also turned this into a DIY project.
http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/vem...or-protection/
I don't think you'd really gain anything over trying to seal up all those areas in any way. If anything you may look at putting some sort of screen up front in the opening below the fascia. There's a few vendors that offer products and many have also turned this into a DIY project.
http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/vem...or-protection/
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 1,339
From: Havre de Grace Maryland
But before installing the screen, this is what I did. I first took my shop vacuum and cleaned the radiator coils. Then I used my air compressor to force air through the radiator into the condenser. Then using a spray nozzle hooked up with a weed feeder that was filled with Dawn dish detergent (this stuff will take off skin!), sprayed the radiator and left sit for 30 minutes. Then did the process again. After 1 hour, sprayed the radiator again with the air compressor to force out any bad stuff. I then put the screen on. Just my method to clean the radiator and condenser.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,747
Likes: 224
From: Hillsboro Oregon
But I just used a continuous loop of poly screening that covers from the top of the radiator over the front of the condenser and back up to the top of the radiator. So when I do my cleaning I just pull the whole piece out from under the radiator cover.
EZ-Peeze
