Guys & Girls,

What's the story about the six engine vents in the hood? I suspect they're for cooling but to let the rain water enter the engine compartment seems like a design flaw.
I'm sure there is a previous thread on it. Can someone point me to it?

Thanks. Phil

 

Don't worry about it. Yes a little water may get in washing it but easily wiped off, I've never noticed any rain water in it.

 

You're kidding right?
Design flaw? You THINK its for cooling?

I shake my head....

 

Total non issue. Many threads about it.

C8 Coupe Engine Compartment v Rain
Washing Tip
Advice washing coupe please

Don't waste any more time worrying about it.

 

As others have said it’s a non issue. If you’re concerned about washing the car you can buy washing blocks that fit in the vents. Sometimes their on eBay cheap.

 

Blue painters tape and a Harbor Freight moving blanket to cover the engine compartment works well and is almost free. The commercial "Blocks" for the vent ports are $150 to $250 on the internet.

 

You know what's even cheaper than that? Open the trunk after washing and go in there with the crappiest microfiber towel that you have and would never use on your car and give everything a quick wipe down. After you do it a few times it will take you less than 10 minutes.

 

I think the design concept was that most people do not drive their Corvette in the rain, because there is sure a big leak there.

 

Other than a small amount of water getting in, the vents themselves are probably very effective for airflow and cooling.
I'd love to see a 3D wind tunnel map of the laminar airflow going over the deck lid onto the spoiler.
I think more heat comes out than most people realize, and it probably helps reduce heat in the engine bay dramatically.
I like them and do not see an issue.

 

That's it! You discovered the GM Secret!! It's planned obsolesce, the engine slowly dissolves in rain! That is why I had to sell my two C7's and when driving in rain they even had a fan pulling water thru the rad and blowing it on the engine. (see pics.) And in a C8 coupe there is a hard to see unless you look closely, 3/4 inch gap at the bottom of the rear hatch glass and the frame, talk about water entering.

Yep my two C7s had wide open vents on the hood!





SIDEBAR
In reality it's ONLY an issue for those:

• Who are 1st looking at a C8,
• That haven't washed it yet and
• That thought it would a problem and put towels over the vents when washing and don't drive their car in the rain!

Fact is there is a lot of dust and dirt that comes with the large amount of air coming into the engine compartment with the air thru those large rear fender openings! Yep it has to go somewhere. Unlike many front engine cars where incoming engine compartment cooling air flow exits at the bottom and side louvers the C8 the bottom is completely covered front to rear with aero panels (cuts down air drag.) So yep, you guessed it the lovers and the harder to see gap from hatch glass to frame let all that air out!

In 4 years with my 2020 C8 Coupe and 10 months driving my E-Ray have washed many time just like I did my two C4's, C6 and Two C7s. Yep you get a few oz of water in the engine compartment (2 to 3 oz.) AND most important after washing the outside, open the hatch and pick-up those few oz up with a corner of a large towel. Than use that wet corner to removed the dirt and dust on engine cover and flat panels that enters every time you drive. Then take the 90% dry reminder of the towel and finish dusting and picking up any stray water drops. Takes <5 minutes at the end of washing.

RAIN
Prior to my 7th Vette, an E-Ray, didn't drive my Vettes often when raining. Would drive my wife's SUV which handled better in rain. However I brought my E-Ray home from the dealer after the PDI when it was raining Cats and Dogs. Wipers going max speed for most of the ~50 miles. Was concerned with those large 345 rear tires. Heck with my 2017 Grand Sport and it's 335 rear tires the rear end would slide out in turns and had to be careful taking off not to spin the tires. With the AWD E-Ray it was not an issue. When I came home made the mistake of telling my wife how good the AWD Vette did even hitting puddles that had water splashing up to the height of the front fenders. So when it's raining, even pretty hard when I would say I was going to use her AWD SUV (she is on her 5th, starting with the 1st a Porsche Cayenne the last 4 BMW X5s) she says, "Why not take the Vette and get it dirty! I do! What little water gets in is not and issue most goes out the large drains on each die! Good indicator, been retired since 2000 (well semi, have a part time internet business) so no need to drive every day. So typical , drove my 2020 C8 (as I did my two C7's and 2008 C6) ~3000 miles/year. In 10 months I have 4200 mils and by end year will exceed 4500. Yep I have to wash it more often!

IF OCD,:
Recall a fellow with an early 2020 C8 who covered the vents and hatch glass gap when washing. BUT found there was still some water getting past the hatch molding. So he used painters tape and also taped the seam! So covering the vents reminds me of my old Boss. A brilliant Physicist who invented plasma welding and cutting. He managed our large R&D welding/cutting Lab (~125 professionals.) If walking thru the Lab and saw an engineer doing something he thought irrational would say, "You're solving a problem not know to exist using a method known not to work." An old Navy officer that statement usually included some expletive's deleted!

 

Get a HTC.

 

Better than that is a leaf blower.

 

It's just a Chevy. Drive it.

 

Ok, Guys. You all win. I just washed the car and you're right, very little water seeped into the engine compartment. I also read where the positive pressure in the engine compartment forces the water out of the vents when the car is driven.

Thanks for all your input on this.

 

FYI, be careful if you have the small rubber cover on tge top of the shock. It easily comes off and falls into neverland.

 

I do the same, use the water that got in to wipe it all down with. I put 3 old microfiber towels over the vents when I wash. Whatever gets in is useful for cleaning.