Hi, I have just bought a pre-owned 981 3.4S. Pleased to be back after selling my 993 some time ago. Knowing leaf build up spoils rads I welcome any experiences of these protective items. Thanks for any comments.
Air intake grills.
- Thread starter Strasbourg
- Start date
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Good call cap'n but Richard I think is asking how effective the grilles are.
In answer to that question I suppose you'll never know precisely but it's more likely that they'll prevent damage to the a/c condensers from stones and also prevent the accumulation of other debris such as leaves in the area.
Quite why Porsche chooses to install grilles on its GT cars and not on the other cars in its ranges is beyond me, other than that it provides a cash-cow for its Dealerships.
Jeff
In answer to that question I suppose you'll never know precisely but it's more likely that they'll prevent damage to the a/c condensers from stones and also prevent the accumulation of other debris such as leaves in the area.
Quite why Porsche chooses to install grilles on its GT cars and not on the other cars in its ranges is beyond me, other than that it provides a cash-cow for its Dealerships.
Jeff
My latest Cayman adventure has just involved replacing the radiator. One was leaking, the other I thought I'd replace as a preventative measure.
The amount of crud inbetween the condenser and the radiator was surprising. It appeared to be a mass collection of furry dead flies. You would never see them unless you lifted the condenser up.
Luckily the condenser moves forward enough to let the radiator slip out.
Total cost of repairs for both sides..£130 !
Anyway, my longwinded story leads me to my point. Fit air intake grills. Do it now.
[attachment=IMG_3112.JPG]
The amount of crud inbetween the condenser and the radiator was surprising. It appeared to be a mass collection of furry dead flies. You would never see them unless you lifted the condenser up.
Luckily the condenser moves forward enough to let the radiator slip out.
Total cost of repairs for both sides..£130 !
Anyway, my longwinded story leads me to my point. Fit air intake grills. Do it now.
[attachment=IMG_3112.JPG]
AndrewT
Member
There was/is a PCGB discount code for Zunsport grills, follow this link....
https://www.porscheclubgb...high=Zunsport+discount
https://www.porscheclubgb...high=Zunsport+discount
If you have a Porsche warranty the fitting of these grills will void that warranty in total. [:-]
Guest
New member
Opps! Apart from any marking of adjacent components I have wondered about airflow through the rads. Whilst at UK road speeds I cannot imagine any problem but at higher speeds perhaps there may be a tendency to overheat. In the light of 996 engine problems I can imagine Porsche policy is very conservative. For me debris, especially leaves is the greater issue.
My first track day in my previous 993 resulted in a surprising and initially worrying amount of rubbish being blown out of the side vents. It made me aware of the volume and speed of the air flow. The oil coolers and condensers were probably the better for it.
Thanks for the helpful comments.
My first track day in my previous 993 resulted in a surprising and initially worrying amount of rubbish being blown out of the side vents. It made me aware of the volume and speed of the air flow. The oil coolers and condensers were probably the better for it.
Thanks for the helpful comments.
oliver said:
That's not the experience I have known but its best to check with the PC.
It differs from dealership to dealership and so it's best to check with your local PC, I asked two of my three closest and they had no problem unless the grilles were a cause of a problem. Not difficult to remove them using the Philips screwdriver supplied in the "Tool Kit"if away from home or an overtemp indication comes up but any grilles are unlikely to cause such, I made a set which Contraband now has and uses at least on track, I used them when I commuted long distances from Autumn to Spring through a lot of back roads, leaves were abundant but I never had a problem and they were made of a quite small diamond pattern aluminium edged with rubber channel and secured using tie wraps.
Since moving onto the gen2 which being PDK has the centre rad which was already showing impact marks, I went for the bought items since the centre grille has securing features and the previous owner of my car had already tried to fit them at one time but one hole was out of position! The PC had changed nothing when they were removed and the two screw holes could only be seen very close up.
As others have said, GT models have grilles so why not the rest? When leaves clogging up behind the condensers will block airflow through the rads far more effectively also a slight restriction of flow and so pressure will drop the air temp behind the obstruction provided cooling air is flowing.
They do prevent stone damage to centre rad and condensers.
Having said all of the above, I remove mine when it goes for service and inspection, as for cleaning out the intakes when grilles were not fitted I have used a spare washing machine hose ( the convoluted type ) cut to an angle at one end and then the other end built up with insulating tape to fit into the hose of the Henry vacuum cleaner I use in the garage each time I washed the car without grilles, some small bits do get through even now but far less than before so if you don't have grilles I would say best to clean out using this method every time you are about to wash the car but do it while everything is dry so best after a run.
Since moving onto the gen2 which being PDK has the centre rad which was already showing impact marks, I went for the bought items since the centre grille has securing features and the previous owner of my car had already tried to fit them at one time but one hole was out of position! The PC had changed nothing when they were removed and the two screw holes could only be seen very close up.
As others have said, GT models have grilles so why not the rest? When leaves clogging up behind the condensers will block airflow through the rads far more effectively also a slight restriction of flow and so pressure will drop the air temp behind the obstruction provided cooling air is flowing.
They do prevent stone damage to centre rad and condensers.
Having said all of the above, I remove mine when it goes for service and inspection, as for cleaning out the intakes when grilles were not fitted I have used a spare washing machine hose ( the convoluted type ) cut to an angle at one end and then the other end built up with insulating tape to fit into the hose of the Henry vacuum cleaner I use in the garage each time I washed the car without grilles, some small bits do get through even now but far less than before so if you don't have grilles I would say best to clean out using this method every time you are about to wash the car but do it while everything is dry so best after a run.
[attachment=IMG_3167.JPG]
Kevans home made grills..
I use them year round on road and track and they have no effect on the temperature. The needle stays resolutely on 80.
They are just cable tied in place and look rather nice I think.
Archie.
Kevans home made grills..
I use them year round on road and track and they have no effect on the temperature. The needle stays resolutely on 80.
They are just cable tied in place and look rather nice I think.
Archie.
kasspa
Member
Peter, it such a contentious issue this..... OPC fitted my Zunsport Grilles whilst I still had a warranty in place......
I kept the originals just in case I were to sell the car & they were wanted......
Brilliant product & have just fitted them to my QQ as they have the same problem, a large open aperture for rads & condensers
[h1] [/h1]
I kept the originals just in case I were to sell the car & they were wanted......
Brilliant product & have just fitted them to my QQ as they have the same problem, a large open aperture for rads & condensers
[h1] [/h1]
All this welcome information makes me realise what I have missed since my membership lapsed after selling my 993. Time to join again, if you will have me that is! By the way, I have also learned how to spell grilles.
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