however the c/f ones sit a bit high (in regards to the radiator) in my opinon... and its less of a "guide" then the oem piece...

 

I actually prefer stock radiator air guide over aftermarket "cooling plates" as it slopes smoothly from the front bumper beam up to the radiator. Aftermarket cooling plates leaves a huge empty space between it and where the stock radiator air guide used to sit, which is a low pressure area and theoretically should cause air turbulence.

Only advantage for cooling plates in my opinion besides bling factor is that they are a million times easier to install with a snorkel in place without leaving huge gaps around the snorkel. The one I made definitely wasn't easy to put in.

 

thanks for the info. i have an aem v2 so no need to direct air to my stcok airbox. i guess ill just buy it cause i like how it looks.

 

it's purely a show... let's get over it. the word "throttle response" seems to be used way too much whenever there isn't any proof of hp gain. You feel increased throttle response after adding any shit, and so does the word comes too often in marketing phrases of useless parts.

 

one of those import car magazines did a "myth or truth" thing about radiator plates. They said they helped reduce temp a little. It was nearly no improvement, though.

 

do you know the difference between throttle response and hp gain? doesnt seem like it.

 

i dont see how cooler rad equals better throttle response. i think we determined its all looks.

 

do you have one? i mean the one that has a scoop that goes to the factory air box.

one thing i noticed was, if i drive around and then stop, jump out and touch the air box lid tis cool to the touch. before it was warm or hot. same outside temp same driving conditions everything (had a string of hot days here)

it made a difference i think when in motion more than anything. its all about velocity and getting that tiny "ram" air effect. or in my case just cooler air up that direction.

 

^ the OP is asking if cooling plates help cool the radiator, not if scoop type gets air into the airbox or not.

Cooling plates do not help cool the radiator from physical heat transfer, carbon fiber/fiber glass is not a very good heat conductor, they don't even touch the radiator.

They "cool" the radiator by directing airflow into it, but the OEM radiator air guide already does that, if not more effectively.

 

I got my car used, and the only reason I kept the CF cooling plate in the car instead of selling it is because it's a convenient place to put my tools when I'm working under the hood