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So, you're just saying that it allows more space for heat to dissipate? I thought you meant it allowed more air to flow in from outside, that's why I was confused.
How many degrees did under-hood temps drop when you removed it?

 

i would think it would cause something with the paint. but think about it. none of the CF hoods have insulation. do they have any problems with their clearcoat?

how do you remove the tabs that hold the insulation without breaking them?

 

Not sure about the exact flow dynamics that are involved I believe that the space you create allows for the air to escape or move at least rather than stay static in the insulation sheet.

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Pull them out , you cannot break them. take out a few then use you hand behind the sheet to guide them out.

The bonnet does get a little warm with the sheet removed but not such you would worry at all. You have as I say created a big gap in the sections directly above the engine as the inserts under the bonnet are 20/25mm deep a lot of air can now move about that couldnt before so its natural for the bonnet itself to take some heat but its not a lot.

 

Actually, it allows more volume for air, but increased volume does not necessarily translate into more airflow. What is the primary restriction to air flowing into the underhood area? Certainly it's not the insulation pad. To increase airflow you need some place for the air to exit, and I'm not sure that removing the pad provides for a smoother exit. If you're sure, then you've logged temps and can post them. Otherwise, your airflow increase is just a theory, one that isn't supported by any hard data (yet).

Anyway, there is a big difference between volume and flow, and increasing one does not necessarily increase the other.

 

Erm nope , as I said this is not a techinal thing nor am I trying to make any claims or anything else that need to be justified in any way

Im simply passing on some findings that may / could / seem to be good for the car and when added to the cooling mods that this thread was started about Ive found does help.

If you have no interest in trying this then thats fine , however if you do then feel free.

 

The correct tool for the job is a door panel removal tool, but as Lickermat points out, you can pull them out using almost anything that will get under them. I used a pocket knife, because I was too lazy to walk over to the tool box and get the door panel removal tool. The fasteners just pull straight out.

I would advise against pulling on the pad itself to remove the fasteners, because it is possible to damage the pad. However, if you're sure you're never going to want to reinstall it that won't matter.

 

One of the great things about S2kI is that so many people share their experiences. I removed the pad from our Miata back in 1991, and there have been NO paint issues, so I'm not worried about paint issues with the S2000. If it turns out that I'm wrong I'll just have the hood repainted when the time comes (or replace it with a J's hood). I've done this with other cars and never had paint issues.

I think the primary purpose of underhood pads is to reduce noise, not heat insulation, but in the case of the S2000, the fiberglass pads underneath may well imply that there ARE some heat issues; Only time will tell for sure.

XViper and a few others here have installed digital thermometers to measure their diff temps, and some of the guys have data loggers in their cars, so one of our members may have logged temps with and without the pad. I have no doubt that the temps are lower, because the hood is warmer, but I'd be surprised if there is a huge difference. (This is not to say that small differences don't matter, because they do, but a few degrees drop in underhood temp isn't going to make much of a difference in performance or drivability unless the car is right on the ragged edge to begin with.)

I took my pad out for clearance above the Comptech airbox, but I also like being able to hear the engine better. It's easy to do, and easy to un-do, so those who are inclined to give it a try should do so. It's just my opinion, but I do not think there is enough heat to harm the paint.

 

Agreed , its all about the small differences on the S2k