Hey guys, recently I was driving my mother's TL, and after a while I noticed the hood seems a bit high, so I pulled over the road to check it out and to my surprise, the hood was not properly closed! Is that bad? I didn't exceed 50mph, and it should be fine. What do you guys think?

 

It's bad when it flies open and wraps itself over the top of the car. That is why there is a safety catch.

 

As long as the car didn't overheat, you're fine. An open hood will allow more air into the engine compartment, but will reduce the amount of air flowing through the radiator.

 

Hmm, I was going to pick up my CF hood about 120 miles north, obviously the S doesnt have room for 2 hoods, so I was going to drive up without one, and install it there. Would I risk overheating the engine if I did this?

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Randman
[B]Hmm, I was going to pick up my CF hood about 120 miles north, obviously the S doesnt have room for 2 hoods, so I was going to drive up without one, and install it there.

 

the electric fans, like most fans on cars, are only functional up to 35 miles an hour. after that, as long as you aren't travelling in a vaccuum, you'll be fine.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by xviper
[B]
As you live in San Diego, this is a distinct possibility.

 

Don't forget the engine is pumping a whole lot more air at 9000rpm than at 4000; that takes work. Engine braking is more than just friction.

I seem to recall the folks with oil pressure and temperatire gauges indicating that their oil did not reach an ideal operating temp until a few minutes after the third coolant temp bar came on. If my car were at 2 bars steady state I'd be worried my oil was not operating at its ideal temp. This increases wear and decreases gas mileage.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by jzr
[B]Don't forget the engine is pumping a whole lot more air at 9000rpm than at 4000; that takes work.

 

I am guessing I will be doing about 80 or so the whole way up, I am in a caravan, so traveling speeds go up a little bit usually. I am just hoping it will be safe to travel up there without the hood, temps in the morning out here usually wont exceed 65 I would think.