Dealing with under hood heat

[holyford86]

How has everyone dealt with under hood heat? I don't have an engine overheating problem, I've got an all aluminum 2 core radiator and the coolant temp never gets above 210 or so, so that's a non issue. The engine is supercharged, has headers which are wrapped, and I run a large alternator, two batteries and an engine driven compressor, so airflow isnt the best either and to top it off I will run it at a 1200 to 1500 rpm high idle while operating the compressor or extended high electrical load situations (winching) which makes it worse. I have a home built cowl hood on there now which doesn't seem to do a ton for reducing temps and I just don't care for the look either. I'm running a heavy duty fan clutch and have a full fan shroud and when the clutch is engaged it moves lots of air.
I've considered getting rid of the cowl and installing louvers which I can remove and install relatively easily as the seasons change, and also have considered installing an auxiliary pusher fan to move some more air when necessary. (I will not be swapping to an e fan as primary) I effectively live in New England and can count on one hand the number of days in a normal year where it's above 90 degrees.

What's worked for you to solve these sorts of issues? I didn't really see a different subforum where this fits, so figured I'd try this one, my bad if it's the wrong one, haha.

 

[Roert42]

It doesn’t necessarily sound like there is much of an issue.

I’m sure the cowl helps a lot when moving, but it seems like your engine bay temps will be high when or at low speed.

you have fender liners? Dropping those will give you a lot better air flow.

Doubt louvers will make much a difference vs the cowl.

 

[holyford86]

It doesn’t necessarily sound like there is much of an issue.

I’m sure the cowl helps a lot when moving, but it seems like your engine bay temps will be high when or at low speed.

you have fender liners? Dropping those will give you a lot better air flow.

Doubt louvers will make much a difference vs the cowl.

It honestly doesn't seem that the cowl makes a ton of a difference, it has done absolutely nothing for coolant temps at all. My testing of actual temperature is rather subjective but I've been tempted to monitor it with some temp sensors because I'm curious.
If I lived somewhere where there weren't large amounts of mud and water for quite a bit of the year I may be tempted to ditch the liners but for now they need to stay.

 

[1990RangerinSK]

If you're running the compressor or the winch while you're stopped, it seems to me the solution is simple. Open the hood.

 

[bobbywalter]

No fenderwells. Sometimes no hood.


Or doors.

A large intercooler and remote radiator go a ways.

 

[Blmpkn]

Turn the under-hood into a cryogenic chamber.

 

[Curious Hound]

Move a couple thousand miles further north.

 

[ryan]

I had a louvred hood, helped a lot with that. Wrapping the headers made a bigger difference.

is your problem heat in the passenger compartment or just worried about underhood temps?

 

[RonD]

Wrapping the exhaust works well to lower temp in engine bay

E-fan will stay at high speed when idling(if engine is warmed up) for better air circulation than a mechanical fan

 

[holyford86]

If you're running the compressor or the winch while you're stopped, it seems to me the solution is simple. Open the hood.

That has been my solution thus far, it seems to work alright but was just looking for ideas for a more permanent solution.

No fenderwells. Sometimes no hood.


Or doors.

A large intercooler and remote radiator go a ways.

Truck is not a dedicated trail truck and is enough of a cop magnet as it sits, all body panels will stay attached for now. No room for an intercooler and there's no other practical space for the rad.

Turn the under-hood into a cryogenic chamber.

There's enough complexity with this thing, would like to keep any additional complexity to a minimum, but will keep it in mind.

Move a couple thousand miles further north.

That would put me in the arctic, I'm about 25 miles from the Quebec border.

I had a louvred hood, helped a lot with that. Wrapping the headers made a bigger difference.

is your problem heat in the passenger compartment or just worried about underhood temps?

I've been considering louvered panels i can swap out in the winter. Headers are already wrapped, it did make quite a difference. Passenger compartment gets warm but it's manageable, It's more under hood heat that I'm worried about.

Wrapping the exhaust works well to lower temp in engine bay

E-fan will stay at high speed when idling(if engine is warmed up) for better air circulation than a mechanical fan

Wrapped headers made a significant difference but I feel it could be better.

I've been considering adding an auxiliary pusher fan but would like to retain the clutch fan as a primary.

 

[gaz]

@holyford86 ,

• Engine oil remote filter and cooler
• take a look at valve train components for improvements in oil circulation
• electric fan(s), pusher and puller if necessary
• raise the rear of the hood ¼", let's heated air naturally escape as it rises
• all synthetic fluids
• lower temp thermostat, even 5° F makes a HuGE difference.
• cooling system in tip top condition
• optimized timing for setup
• proper valve train adjustment

 

[ryan]

The other thing you could do in addition to the louvre is either taking out the inner fender or redoing them so they've got some mesh to vent the heat

 

[bobbywalter]

That has been my solution thus far, it seems to work alright but was just looking for ideas for a more permanent solution.



Truck is not a dedicated trail truck and is enough of a cop magnet as it sits, all body panels will stay attached for now. No room for an intercooler and there's no other practical space for the rad.


There's enough complexity with this thing, would like to keep any additional complexity to a minimum, but will keep it in mind.



That would put me in the arctic, I'm about 25 miles from the Quebec border.



I've been considering louvered panels i can swap out in the winter. Headers are already wrapped, it did make quite a difference. Passenger compartment gets warm but it's manageable, It's more under hood heat that I'm worried about.



Wrapped headers made a significant difference but I feel it could be better.

I've been considering adding an auxiliary pusher fan but would like to retain the clutch fan as a primary.

My truck is a driver...I don't have ac....so I drop the doors in summer generally....





Lil bob......runs hoodless.

Hoods are overrated....

 

[bobbywalter]

Especially when your hood won't fit over your engine

 

[ekrampitzjr]

As a rule, for better body aerodynamics, modern vehicles are designed to channel airflow through the engine compartment (after the radiator) down under the body/frame instead of up over the windshield when in motion. This is why you now seldom see factory performance cars with big engine vents in the original hood. Just wanted to mention that, as you might have to go to extremes to get a lot of heat to vent up instead of down.

Notice that your coolant temperature is just fine despite your performance mods. That's a sign the airflow is still venting as the factory designed, under the cab and frame. That's why the cab interior stays warm.

Modifying the fender liners will do more than worrying about changing the hood.