Ben, do you have Smokin's grill or the hondas2000accessories.com grill? I have Smokin's grill and simply can't IMAGINE that it would cause anything close to what you are saying it did to your car. In fact, I really can't imagine that either of these grills is going to impact performance. The only thing that the grill could impact is the flow of air to the radiator, not air that would flow into the intake. Yes, obviously, the flow of air to the radiator is important, however, I can't imagine that a grill would make any PERCIPTIBLE difference to you...especially on the street. Period...

I would consider environmental factors first...then take into account the fact that perhaps it is a psychological thing, as I just can't imagine that a grill would cause the things that you are saying. And this would be on top of the 100+ grills that I know of that have been sold to S2000 folks and you are the only one that have voiced concern? It doesn't sit right with me...it has to be something else, IMO...

My 13 cents...

 

Restriction of air flow seems to make sense. I wonder how much turbulence does that grill cause? You would think the airflow would hit the grill and some of that would bounce off the surface area and some will go through. Also, if air is bouncing off of the grill then it's bound to hinder the air trying to get through the little holes. I wonder if that effect is measurable?

 

Is there a problem with me answering a post started by someone else? Why did YOU make it a personal issue?

That being said Honda designed the grill to flow air through it not around it or over it. Any thing put in that airflow will restrict the air flowing in and change the aerodynamics.

In NASCAR big differences in speed and downforce are achieved by "taping off the grill" with 200 MPH tape (like duct tape). As little as one strip of tape can make a big difference.

So the questions are;

How much air is restricted?
Does it effect the cooling to a noticible degree?
Does it effect the aerodynamics to a noticible degree?

If the effect this gentleman felt is true and it is a bit presumptuous of some of you to doubt him after he did a back to back A-B test (although non scientific) why it would be caused is interesting.

More information is needed.



[Edited by Bieg on 05-19-2001 at 04:24 AM]

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by SpaceNeedle
[B]I don't think it's just "a little" airflow.

 

Airflow can make a REALLY BIG DIFFERENCE. I am finding this out as a result of having purchased the Honda Insight ( 70 MPG's + - ) . One of the people on the Honda Insight list gets an average of 4 MPG's more by just moving his side view mirrors to the rear position (pivoting the swivel backwards)- he then puts a convex mirror on the original mirror so he can see things !!!

I may be an instance of KISS ...

Eliot

 

no doubt air flow would make a difference... but I think for the average driver on the street... doing 60mph, or 70 or even 80... I don't think this grill will have that much effect. Perhaps taking it off during track day would be a good thing to do.

-Shing

 

I think if it was held at 60 mph you'd definitly think there was resistance.

 

I think it's all the the above.

Reduce the airflow either through restriction or turbulence, would restrict or divert airflow that would otherwise go into the engine intake.

Reducing airflow to the radiator could also cause the ECU to retard the timing due to higher engine temps.

At higher speeds, drag would definitely reduce straightaway performance/reduce MPG or affect handling characteristics.

LOL... KISS principle...

 

Also, less air in the engine compartment would mean hotter temperatures. Then the air intake would be sucking hotter air, not to mention less air. How much hotter, and how much less of an airflow is the qestion. Maybe somebody can run an experiment with the grill on and off, and see if temperature changes significantly.

 

If less airflow is allowed to the engine compartment, and the engine compartment gets hotter, that may defeat the whole purpose of getting an aftermarket high flow air filter. Unless, someone has a CAI and the grill is not affecting it. I'm also thinking speed would be a factor as well. If you're driving slower, maybe the air doesn't have as much trouble trying get through the holes. The effect may be more pronounced at high speeds, since a larger volume of air is trying to squeeze into a surface with more resistance. I was thinking it's easier to blow air out of a big ass straw, then to stick a bunch of little straws into that one big ass straw and to blow air through that. All of the above is just speculation though.