Quote:
Originally Posted by johngriff
I was always told that they melt down and off to prevent under hood fires, kind of like putting a lid on a burning pot.
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I never thought of that. I wonder if that is how they reall work, it makes some sense.
Quote:
Originally Posted by S14DB
It goes from the bumper lip to around the oil pan. The air that goes in through the bumper and grill can only go through the radiator not under the car.
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On the s-13's the bumper itself directs air towards the radiator, on 14's it may be different though. What that tray really does though is separates the airflow going under the car from the airflow going through the radiator. This reduces underhood pressure a bit which promotes better airflow across the radiator. Without that panel those two flows come crashing together which slows the flow across the radiator and creates more underhood pressure. I have never heard of anyone overheating because that panel is missing, but it reduces the aerodynamic efficiency of the car a bit.