vented hoods.... anyone have trouble with water getting in the engine bay?

[A6ndrew]

ideally everything under the hood should be weatherproof... but has anyone with a vented hood had problems with corrosion and/or electrical issues from rain/snow?

who has a vented hood? just looking for some feedback... i have a good deal set up on a used CF vented hood (and i am on a budget) thats cheaper than an OEM style hood and it doesnt look too bad IMO. spare me the RICE comments please ;)

TIA for any feedback

[JWatson]

Vented hoods usually include rain trays to stop too much water getting under the hood.

[J-b5]

no trouble at all, flows right in.

[awd2ks4]

Never had a problem with my fiber images vented hood

[A4Rob]

Never had a problem with my Vorsteiner.

[Sherif]

I had some water going on my MAF with the Seibon, I would not recommend it.

[TighTT]

While I dont think its a real problem......I do have alot of water buildup with my Vorsteiner hood. Enough so that I wouldnt buy another vented hood without some sort of rain tray or other solution.

[NOTORIOUS VR]

Shouldn't really be a problem anyway if everything is in good condition. It's designed to be waterproof.

I washed my motor/engine bay last season, not even a hiccup.

[Aggv]

a vented hood would be great for function, however im not really into the look or having my motor getting filthy.

Love seeing the heat pour out Evo hoods tho

[Sour]

Shouldn't really be a problem anyway if everything is in good condition. It's designed to be waterproof.

I washed my motor/engine bay last season, not even a hiccup.

[NOTORIOUS VR]

If you're going to roll your eyes at me, explain why.

Everything under there is waterproof is it not? So why the hell would it matter if you had a vented hood that let more water in then already gets in there even stock?

[034Motorsport]

granted im in CA but no problems with my fiber images hood even when washing the car.

[jesters22]

Shouldn't really be a problem anyway if everything is in good condition. It's designed to be waterproof.

I washed my motor/engine bay last season, not even a hiccup.

did this last year aswell, when i was at the pay and spray type place i opened the engine bay, and sprayed everything down. i didnt realize how dirty it rele was. looked great afterwords. i know ppl who spray their engine bays with a solution that breaks up the grease and grime. lets it sit. then sprays it all down and it looks mint.

if your engine is all properly sealed up, and nothing is loose or wires broke you wont have any problems

[Aggv]

I cleaned my motor once with simple green, lightly rinsed it, and have since only used rags to keep it looking right. You dont want to give you motor a bath that often, sure it's water tight, but that doesnt mean it's a good idea.

[Capt. Obvious]

I think the biggest contributing factor to any possible issues with a vented hood is where the vents are located. If they're located in the center of the hood where the water coming through them is constantly getting the valve covers/coil packs wet, you could possibly have some problems down the road. If the vents are just letting water drip on your air filter or something, it's most likely not going to be an issue. The main things you want to keep dry is probably the ICMs, coil packs, radiator fan motor and alternator. Everything else is pretty much waterproof.

I can't speak for my S4, but I had a vented hood on my old Eclipse that often left my engine bay soaked (I live in Seattle) and I never had a single issue related to water.

[awd2ks4]

Ive never had it happen but if it rains hard enough it can get your throttle body wet enough to make your epc light come on and limit power to 2k rpm or something. When its raining really hard and my car is outside i will go and lay a new plastic trash bag to keep things nice and dry. I usually keep one in the trunk for rainy days for that purpose.

[Bimmerchop]

I think the biggest contributing factor to any possible issues with a vented hood is where the vents are located. If they're located in the center of the hood where the water coming through them is constantly getting the valve covers/coil packs wet, you could possibly have some problems down the road. If the vents are just letting water drip on your air filter or something, it's most likely not going to be an issue. The main things you want to keep dry is probably the ICMs, coil packs, radiator fan motor and alternator. Everything else is pretty much waterproof.

I can't speak for my S4, but I had a vented hood on my old Eclipse that often left my engine bay soaked (I live in Seattle) and I never had a single issue related to water.

This

[IVRINGS]

Not that I have one, but I think just letting the engine bay get wet and hot aren't the best for keeping all the plastic and Vacume lines in good shape. It could cause them to weather faster then a cleaner dryer engine bay. If you take a water hose and leave one inside the garage and another outside what one would last longer? I'm just trying to show if you keep your engine bay drier it might keep those things that can brake/wear lasting longer. Up here in Ohio I wouldn't want this crapy salt getting into my bay, but to each his own.

[SeaBass]

Not that I have one, but I think just letting the engine bay get wet and hot aren't the best for keeping all the plastic and Vacume lines in good shape. It could cause them to weather faster then a cleaner dryer engine bay. If you take a water hose and leave one inside the garage and another outside what one would last longer? I'm just trying to show if you keep your engine bay drier it might keep those things that can brake/wear lasting longer. Up here in Ohio I wouldn't want this crapy salt getting into my bay, but to each his own.

X2 Im not sure what type of salts,chemicals to melt the ice in PA but here in ohio its some pretty mean stuff. Either way vented hoods are made for track use so expect the hood not to be user friendly. If your worried about anything getting wet, just build a rain guard.

[sweets4style]

Not that I have one, but I think just letting the engine bay get wet and hot aren't the best for keeping all the plastic and Vacume lines in good shape. It could cause them to weather faster then a cleaner dryer engine bay. If you take a water hose and leave one inside the garage and another outside what one would last longer? I'm just trying to show if you keep your engine bay drier it might keep those things that can brake/wear lasting longer. Up here in Ohio I wouldn't want this crapy salt getting into my bay, but to each his own.

That doesnt make much sense. Your engine bay is already exposed to outside air, water, salts in the air etc etc etc and is essentially pressurized with this stuff as you drive. The heat is what kills the hoses and wiring etc, not moisture, nor would salt find its way in any more then it already does with a sealed hood unless someone is literally pouring it through the vents. If you really want to extend the life of the hoses and wiring shield them from heat from wiring harness connectors over the turbos, wrap the downpipes and vent the under hood heat which is what the vented hood would do. Not to mention under movement air is being sucked out by pressure forces as you drive not in. Only while parked is it an issue. And the fact that all the wiring is weather tight (unless your ghetto rigging or something is broken) aids in the fact it should affect nothing. I have a vented hood with no issues. Water gets on the plastics that over the airbox and the coolant tank. Thats it.

[IVRINGS]

That doesnt make much sense. Your engine bay is already exposed to outside air, water, salts in the air etc etc etc and is essentially pressurized with this stuff as you drive. The heat is what kills the hoses and wiring etc, not moisture, nor would salt find its way in any more then it already does with a sealed hood unless someone is literally pouring it through the vents. If you really want to extend the life of the hoses and wiring shield them from heat from wiring harness connectors over the turbos, wrap the downpipes and vent the under hood heat which is what the vented hood would do. Not to mention under movement air is being sucked out by pressure forces as you drive not in. Only while parked is it an issue. And the fact that all the wiring is weather tight (unless your ghetto rigging or something is broken) aids in the fact it should affect nothing. I have a vented hood with no issues. Water gets on the plastics that over the airbox and the coolant tank. Thats it.

Have you ever been around anyone with a vented hood on any car? Any vent on the top of the hood is going to let water in period. Up here in Ohio the salts, chemicals, and other crap on the road I don't want under my hood. When you get something wet under the hood where it is hot over and over again will brake down the weather tight stock stuff. Even without adding water people still have issues with HEAT by it self causing them to replace coil pack harnesses on the cars. The belly pan was installed to help protect the engine and give us better MGP to not let the air get into the engine bay.

[Capt. Obvious]

Actually, the belly pan helps evacuate air from the engine bay, that's what the NACA ducts on it are for.

As for your hose comparison, a hose getting wet when it's left outside is not what would wear it out sooner, it's the UV damage from being in the sun all the time.

However, I do get what you're saying. I think having a vented hood *could* cause some things to wear out/deteriorate faster if they get wet too often, but at the end of the day you're probably going to wear out some things faster due to the vented hood, and you're going to make some things last longer because you're keeping heat out of the engine bay. It's a toss up, and I don't think there really is a "right" answer.

[sweets4style]

Have you ever been around anyone with a vented hood on any car? Any vent on the top of the hood is going to let water in period. Up here in Ohio the salts, chemicals, and other crap on the road I don't want under my hood. When you get something wet under the hood where it is hot over and over again will brake down the weather tight stock stuff. Even without adding water people still have issues with HEAT by it self causing them to replace coil pack harnesses on the cars. The belly pan was installed to help protect the engine and give us better MGP to not let the air get into the engine bay.

I indeed agree there is a trade off for sure. However you are sadly mistaken irvings about the physics of the car's aero. The belly pan is to help evacuate the high pressure area under the hood and flatten airflow from tumbling. high pressure means tons of air in there (mixed in air with moisture, salts, etc etc). And to keep a low pressure under the car. Low pressure under with high pressure over sucks the car down at speeds. Think airplane wing. There will no water getting in at speed only during parking and even then it is such a small and minimal amount considering that almost the entire engine bay is covered in plastic covers and everything is waterproof. I have a vented hood on my own car in fact all of my cars minus my truck and bike. The problem i have is you complaining about the salts and stuff (like we dont use that in PA) which get under their anyway and in no way will get under there more with a vented hood. Again unless someone is pouring that crap directly into the vents. As the vents are getting air and crap sucked out under speed. Not sucked in. As for the heat hence why a vented hood is good. Under stop and go and under motion it will evacuate heat. Not arguing or making fun of you at all. your logic is just purely wrong and misleading.

[IVRINGS]

Actually, the belly pan helps evacuate air from the engine bay, that's what the NACA ducts on it are for.

As for your hose comparison, a hose getting wet when it's left outside is not what would wear it out sooner, it's the UV damage from being in the sun all the time.

However, I do get what you're saying. I think having a vented hood *could* cause some things to wear out/deteriorate faster if they get wet too often, but at the end of the day you're probably going to wear out some things faster due to the vented hood, and you're going to make some things last longer because you're keeping heat out of the engine bay. It's a toss up, and I don't think there really is a "right" answer.

I wasn't trying to say in the sun. Use this instead. Wet your hands in the sink, then let them air dry, and then repeat 10-15 times. Let me know how your hands dry out. As the water is drying from your hands it pulls the water out causing them to dry out and later start to crack. I know it is going to be after 10-15 times, but over time your hands will dry out to the point they will. You wonder why they make dishwashing gloves huh... I'm not trying to bring the Sun or UV damage into this. Just simply if something gets wet(a hose) and drys out over and over it will wear out. If you just keep something nice and dry in the same area without getting it wet it will last longer is all I'm saying, but I agree with it is a toss up cause keeping it dry will help, but also keeping it cool helps also. ;)

I indeed agree there is a trade off for sure. However you are sadly mistaken irvings about the physics of the car's aero. The belly pan is to help evacuate the high pressure area under the hood and flatten airflow from tumbling. high pressure means tons of air in there (mixed in air with moisture, salts, etc etc). And to keep a low pressure under the car. Low pressure under with high pressure over sucks the car down at speeds. Think airplane wing. There will no water getting in at speed only during parking and even then it is such a small and minimal amount considering that almost the entire engine bay is covered in plastic covers and everything is waterproof. I have a vented hood on my own car in fact all of my cars minus my truck and bike. The problem i have is you complaining about the salts and stuff (like we dont use that in PA) which get under their anyway and in no way will get under there more with a vented hood. Again unless someone is pouring that crap directly into the vents. As the vents are getting air and crap sucked out under speed. Not sucked in. As for the heat hence why a vented hood is good. Under stop and go and under motion it will evacuate heat. Not arguing or making fun of you at all. your logic is just purely wrong and misleading.

Please read above... Also what I was saying about the belly pan is what you went into more detail about. Since the belly pan flattens out the airflow it allows the car to use less force cutting into the air in front of the car allowing the car to use less gas that = more MPG. So by the airflow being flattened doesn't that then allow less airflow into the bay? How is that missleading. I just didn't go into great detail to prove anything since I thought you might understand.