OK so I just got off the phone with a friend of mine in Chicago. He's not a member of the forum so I told him I'd run this question by some of you to see what responses I might get.

He's buying his wife an RX8 for Christmas. Ever since she saw mine when I drove back in June she's been in love with them and has wanted one since. Well he's taking the plunge. I mentioned a few add-ons he might want to consider, namely the oil cooler/radiator screens from mazdaparts.com. Told him about the damage to the oil coolers not being covered under warranty. Well he's wondering if anyone who has an 8 with the screens,and drives in wintery weather ever had an issue with them collecting slush/ice and freezing up? And possibly constricting air flow? I don't recall seeing any posts that suggest it would be an issue. Being from the Midwest I know it can get bitterly cold there, but since the Renesis tends to run hotter in general than it's piston counterparts I didn't really see this as a problem. I just assumed that the added heat from the engine would help eliminate any freezing that may occur. Can anyone add anything that may help? Thanks in advance.

 

the coldest weather I've driven in is -22F (true temp windsheer temp much much lower)

I've had the front filled with snow and ice on the fins

the car has never hippcupped and in fact runs like a dream in the winter with the extreme cold keeping things running smooth

Now this is pure speculation but direct heat transfer through frozen water is much more efficient than air cooling...as in it takes a lot of heat (energy) to melt the ice/snow and so the fins are cooling the oil even cooler

hmmm interesting question and one you wont find with a search

 

I think he deserves the award of the month for the best question.

 

^Yeah really!! I've been all over this forum since he asked me and haven't seen it addressed once.

 

Thermodynamics at work my friends

 

When it's cold enough to ice up the screens they need to be blocked anyway, to "maintain" enough heat in the systems. If you lived up north you'd be looking for a "warm front" (like a car bra but padded and openable).

The ice will not be melted by hot fluid in the rads. because it will be at least 1" in front of the rads. Also, you can overheat an engine if you let snow plug the rad (been there, done that). The snow has to be cleared out by hand. That's another reason the screen is a good idea. It keeps the snow from jamming the fins (very hard to clear out), but even though the screen gets plugged, there is enough space behind it to allow good airflow through the rad. Good enough for cold weather, anyway.

 

Damn, if only they had a smilie that was holding an award...Best question I've seen in a while.


Ha, glad I never have to worry about that here in beautiful Southern California.