TrackSpec Hood vents for E9x M3

[roastbeef]

is it accurate to say that 10 lbs of reduced lift is equal to 10 lbs of increased downforce (without the drag)? are they equal in that way?

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

is it accurate to say that 10 lbs of reduced lift is equal to 10 lbs of increased downforce (without the drag)? are they equal in that way?

Only if there is in fact lift to begin with.
in this case the assumption is there is positive pressure on the underside of the hood with respect to the outside (top) of the hood.

The speculation is that , yes, the net result is the same as adding more downforce, but without adding drag.

[MSteve5036]

fun topic...that is all I have to add for now lol

Is anyone that is installing these monitoring any real time data from their car? My cousin is friends with the trackspec guys and he runs their vents on his s2000. I questioned how much heat it was actually letting out, so if anyone here had data to back that up it would be cool to see.

On a slightly similar, but almost comically unimportant topic...the passenger side "grill" on the stock hood...has anyone ever tried to open that up to improve airflow through the engine?

[dparm]

Just curious if anyone has done any sort of IR photography or used a pyrometer to check the temperature differences.

Obviously, this method of pulling air through the bumper and out the top of the hood is in use on a lot of cars, such as the Corvette:

[Richbot]

Originally Posted by MSteve5036

fun topic...that is all I have to add for now lol

Is anyone that is installing these monitoring any real time data from their car? My cousin is friends with the trackspec guys and he runs their vents on his s2000. I questioned how much heat it was actually letting out, so if anyone here had data to back that up it would be cool to see.

On a slightly similar, but almost comically unimportant topic...the passenger side "grill" on the stock hood...has anyone ever tried to open that up to improve airflow through the engine?

My testing with a thermocouple suggested it's probably not a low enough pressure zone to let air out of the engine bay once at speed, but at low speeds and in traffic it definitely lets hot air out of the engine bay

Kinda want to buy a pressure transducer now and see what's what, just because it looks like fun

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by MSteve5036

fun topic...that is all I have to add for now lol

Is anyone that is installing these monitoring any real time data from their car? My cousin is friends with the trackspec guys and he runs their vents on his s2000. I questioned how much heat it was actually letting out, so if anyone here had data to back that up it would be cool to see.

On a slightly similar, but almost comically unimportant topic...the passenger side "grill" on the stock hood...has anyone ever tried to open that up to improve airflow through the engine?

Yes. It's a simple squeeze and a pull to remove and it is reversible if you wanted to put it back in.
I can't say it makes a huge difference on the track, but when you come to a stop and the efan is running, you can see the heat blowing out of it like a chimney.

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by MSteve5036

Is anyone that is installing these monitoring any real time data from their car?

I have been running an AIM Solo DL for several years at all the tracks I visit in California. It's tied into the CAN bus, so it logs oil temps, water temps and ambient air temps.

The hood vents may be going in my car next week, but I don't know if I'm getting to Buttonwillow before the year ends. For me, Buttonwillow is the best place to compare stuff like this. I have AIM data for pretty much every conceivable ambient air temp from 45º-110º at Buttonwillow, and my lap times are pretty consistent there.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by MSteve5036

On a slightly similar, but almost comically unimportant topic...the passenger side "grill" on the stock hood...has anyone ever tried to open that up to improve airflow through the engine?

Oh yeah I pull that out in all the track days! I don't know if it does much but every bit helps, besides, I imagine it makes the engine sound louder and more glorious!

It just pops right out and right in again, pretty easy!

[MSteve5036]

Originally Posted by dogbone

I have been running an AIM Solo DL for several years at all the tracks I visit in California. It's tied into the CAN bus, so it logs oil temps, water temps and ambient air temps.

The hood vents may be going in my car next week, but I don't know if I'm getting to Buttonwillow before the year ends. For me, Buttonwillow is the best place to compare stuff like this. I have AIM data for pretty much every conceivable ambient air temp from 45º-110º at Buttonwillow, and my lap times are pretty consistent there.

Awesome...excited to hear the results

[macdude357]

Here are my N15Design hood vents. I went with an underside mount. They can also be epoxied for a "no rivet" look.

[intercool]

Curious if anyone had any new info on them? My car runs a bit high oil temp (250) wise on track and wondering if some had these installed and tested on track.

[macdude357]

I honestly have not really seen any significantly lower temps with the vents. I'm pretty sure air is flowing out of them though because the last time I was on the track, I had water leak out of my overflow tank and it got pulled out the vents and onto my windshield.

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by intercool

Curious if anyone had any new info on them? My car runs a bit high oil temp (250) wise on track and wondering if some had these installed and tested on track.

After driving the hood vents for awhile, I really like them and I believe they allow the engine to cool a bit quicker, but they are not a miracle solution to prevent heat build up. Don't expect to install hood vents and see a significant drop in your oil and water temps. From what we've seen, with hard track use, most pedestrian/commercially-available solutions like larger oil coolers and hood vents don't really prevent heat build up as much as they allow for quicker cooling during an off/cool down lap.

As far as the discussions about grip/downforce and hood vents, again, I cannot say there's any big change there with hood vents either. But I will say that if I consider all the small mods I've done recently, my car is running very well and feels great----Track Spec hood vents, Slon-Workshop DCT pan, Viper ACR-style fender cutouts (that offend everyone ), do88 DCT cooler, canards.

Each mod nets a fairly small change. But I believe that together, all them combine into a sum greater than the parts.

hehe people like to say to me---"well, I see E92 M3's out there in pro races. Clearly SOMEONE has figured it out". uh huh...well they have $200k+ into that car, and they're not in a mood to share! To truly prevent heat build up, you have to explore MUCH more expensive solutions like dry sump systems with remote oil reservoirs. But you're talking $8000+, and this kind of nonsense only goes in a race car.

I'll leave you with this thought-----last summer, we were at Sonoma Raceway. There were (2) M235 full-on factory-built race cars there for testing with pro drivers. We were talking to one of the drivers. They were working with BMW to overcome some issues and were waiting on BMW for parts. Can you guess what the issues were with the cars?...........Yup, they were overheating.......It's a tough problem---especially when you put on fast tires and aero.

[Richbot]

And use a torque converter automatic

[roastbeef]

i'm in the same boat with macdude and dogbone, although i haven't tracked with my vents yet. my mindset- everything helps.
i have been daily driving my car for the last few months and one thing i perceived was the air conditioning gets cooler faster.

when i park the car after a drive, and i feel the hood with my hand in different areas, it is cool/luke warm to the touch. when i touch the vent blades, they are very warm. this indicates to me that they are helping and contributing to air evacuation. the hot air warms them as it passes through on exit. no doubt about it.
i think for daily driving, the car keeps the temperature where it likes it via thermostats. on the track, it does all it can, and i feel like these would contribute, but they are not an end solution.

[XCUSE_M3]

Originally Posted by dogbone

After driving the hood vents for awhile, I really like them and I believe they allow the engine to cool a bit quicker, but they are not a miracle solution to prevent heat build up. Don't expect to install hood vents and see a significant drop in your oil and water temps. From what we've seen, with hard track use, most pedestrian/commercially-available solutions like larger oil coolers and hood vents don't really prevent heat build up as much as they allow for quicker cooling during an off/cool down lap.

As far as the discussions about grip/downforce and hood vents, again, I cannot say there's any big change there with hood vents either. But I will say that if I consider all the small mods I've done recently, my car is running very well and feels great----Track Spec hood vents, Slon-Workshop DCT pan, Viper ACR-style fender cutouts (that offend everyone ), do88 DCT cooler, canards.

Each mod nets a fairly small change. But I believe that together, all them combine into a sum greater than the parts.

hehe people like to say to me---"well, I see E92 M3's out there in pro races. Clearly SOMEONE has figured it out". uh huh...well they have $200k+ into that car, and they're not in a mood to share! To truly prevent heat build up, you have to explore MUCH more expensive solutions like dry sump systems with remote oil reservoirs. But you're talking $8000+, and this kind of nonsense only goes in a race car.

I'll leave you with this thought-----last summer, we were at Sonoma Raceway. There were (2) M235 full-on factory-built race cars there for testing with pro drivers. We were talking to one of the drivers. They were working with BMW to overcome some issues and were waiting on BMW for parts. Can you guess what the issues were with the cars?...........Yup, they were overheating.......It's a tough problem---especially when you put on fast tires and aero.

Shoot even the new M4 GT4 are having issues with heat for the trans. They just cant handle it, mid race they are taking cool downs just for that issue. Heat is a hard thing to fix, like you said dont think the vent really do that much but something is always better then nothing.

[M3 Number 86]

Just did some fluid dynamic testing (power steering fluid lol) at auto club speedway.

It works.

[M3 Number 86]

You'll also notice that in the perceived airpath, there will be no track dust.

Two pieces of observation that sort of prove they work.

[Visceral]

I need to order a set and have them powdercoated something really close to alpine white.

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by M3 Number 86

Just did some fluid dynamic testing (power steering fluid lol) at auto club speedway.

It works.

(This happens to me too at most tracks. Luckily it stays over on the passenger side. Driver side stays clear. When that stuff dries and sits there for awhile, it's hard to get off.....ask me how I know....)

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by Visceral

I need to order a set and have them powdercoated something really close to alpine white.

Ask to buy a raw set and have them painted.

[bigjae1976]

I have the N15 designs vents on my E46. I think they make a difference. I've also deleted my heater core which I think makes a massive difference. My cooling system holds 1.75 gal which I think keeps temps down. Unlike bigger radiators which allow faster cool down.

I've been considering water to oil cooling using dry ice and 100% coolant in a laminova core heat exchanger to solve my oil temp issues.