Lifting Hood After Driving Due To Heat

[piper1112]

Can anyone tell me if they lift their hood up after driving to keep the engine heat from adversely effecting the paint finish and/or the underside insulation of the hood? If so, is this just after hard driving or is it done religiously after each ride, and is it necessary?

Thanks Piper

 

[RevHeat]

I only put my hood up when tracking my viper. You do not need to put it up everytime you finish driving. What year is your RT10/GTS?

Rev

 

[SquadX]

never heard that. I know some do if they plan on long storage or whenever you put the car on a lift or jack it up. But I would assume at the track it would help some with cooling.

 

[piper1112]

I only put my hood up when tracking my viper. You do not need to put it up everytime you finish driving. What year is your RT10/GTS?

Rev

1996 GTS- 9000 miles....only 2 weeks old (to me)
Piper

 

[RevHeat]

1996 GTS- 9000 miles....only 2 weeks old (to me)
Piper

My favorite year. Check out: http://forums.viperclub.org/rt-10-gts-discussions/625870-attention-1996-viper-gts-owners.html

Shoot me your MDH per this thread and I will send you a 96 GTS document that will answer 90% of any questions you might encounter.

Rev

 

[GR8_ASP]

I lift the hood after drives when the temps are warm when I return to the garage. On the RT/10 I also used a fan to help cool it down (to decrease the heat aging effects on the hood).

 

[piper1112]

My favorite year. Check out: http://forums.viperclub.org/rt-10-gts-discussions/625870-attention-1996-viper-gts-owners.html

Shoot me your MDH per this thread and I will send you a 96 GTS document that will answer 90% of any questions you might encounter.

Rev

Rev,
My MDH is - 121110

Piper

 

[Art 138]

I lift the hood and also leave the doors cracked open....I found that the door rubber and sealant used in these cars tends to weep alittle. I also have two floor fans directed at the sills....I have clear bra on them...the installers told me heat is their worse enemy.....

 

[plumcrazy]

i only do it when the temps outside are up or when driving it really hard, but only to help keep the engine cooler not for the paint

 

[ViperTony]

I do it between track sessions to help the engine from getting too much heat soak.

 

[Steve-Indy]

I also open the hoods on all Generations of Vipers after any outing on a hot day. If indeed there is a positive effect on the paint of the hood (certainly makes me happier!!), I might hypothesize a greater benefit for the Gen I hoods as they are reported to have "filler" and paint problems as noted in threads posted here in the late 90's and early 2000's time frame.

Here's an old thread worth reading in support of above:

http://forums.viperclub.org/rt-10-gts-discussions/576754-small-crack-paint.html

 

[DWR46]

Leaving the hood open for awhile after a drive can only be a benefit for any performance car, old or new.

 

[RobZilla]

For what it's worth, I lift the hood every chance I get to let it cool. Especially when I put it back in the garage after a drive.

 

[Ulysses]

I lift the hood after every drive except when I drive it to work or to the store.

 

[RobZ]

I always leave the hood open when I get home, let's the engine cool much faster and can only help extend service life on rubber/plastic parts.



Rob

 

[EllowViper]

What Rob and Rob said...

 

[First Strike]

I follow this procedure of opening hood after driving my 1966 corvette Big Block, not so for the 2006 viper.

 

[ACR VYPR]

I put a house fan in front of the radiator w/the hood closed every time I pull into the garage. I don't leave the the hood open because it stresses the hood hinge points.

 

[Chipster]

I will put mine up if it is very hot. Even if you dont fully raise the hood, just popping the front up will help

 

[BOTTLEFED]

i only do it when the temps outside are up or when driving it really hard, but only to help keep the engine cooler not for the paint

same here
otherwise I usually just pop the front up to let the heat out

 

[dave6666]

I put a house fan in front of the radiator w/the hood closed every time I pull into the garage. I don't leave the the hood open because it stresses the hood hinge points.

I do the exact same thing here in . Which we stay kinda warm. Got the $39.99 blow your dress up floor fan from Home Depot and when I get home I turn it on as it sets in front of the car. I plan on putting a timer on that wall outlet eventually so it will turn itself off on it's own.

And I also do not raise the hood any more than is needed. Like checking the oil, or showing babes at the gas station my V10

 

[RTED]

You guys are killing yourselves. Roe Racing sells a fan kit that solves under the hood temperature problems after shutting down. The recent improvements to the kit allows you to set the temp that the fan comes when the car is running. I have this kit installed - worth it's weight in gold. No more engine heat soak, no more heat under the hood, no more waiting for the fans to kick on at a higher temp when driving than you are comfortable with.

FAN CONTROL KIT - ROE RACING
NEW! Activates the fan at a user adjustable temperature and runs the fan after engine shutdown to help eliminate overheating and cool the engine faster.
NEW! Now features full adjustability to activate your radiator fan at any temperature you desire while the engine is running! When you shut your Viper's engine off, the radiator fan stops running, no matter how hot the engine may be. Our kit automatically combats heat soak by cycling the radiator fan on as needed. A natural flow is created when the cooler water in the radiator sinks and is replaced by hot water through the upper radiator hose. All components needed for installation are included. Installation is easy! Done with simple hand tools in less than 30minutes! No cutting, drilling or soldering required. All high quality components including fused relay and stainless steel sealed temperature sensor. Helps protect your investment! 12 month warranty, 30 day money back satisfaction guarantee.

 

[dave6666]

You guys are killing yourselves. Roe Racing sells a fan kit that solves under the hood temperature problems after shutting down. The recent improvements to the kit allows you to set the temp that the fan comes when the car is running. I have this kit installed - worth it's weight in gold. No more engine heat soak, no more heat under the hood, no more waiting for the fans to kick on at a higher temp when driving than you are comfortable with.

FAN CONTROL KIT - ROE RACING
NEW! Activates the fan at a user adjustable temperature and runs the fan after engine shutdown to help eliminate overheating and cool the engine faster.
NEW! Now features full adjustability to activate your radiator fan at any temperature you desire while the engine is running! When you shut your Viper's engine off, the radiator fan stops running, no matter how hot the engine may be. Our kit automatically combats heat soak by cycling the radiator fan on as needed. A natural flow is created when the cooler water in the radiator sinks and is replaced by hot water through the upper radiator hose. All components needed for installation are included. Installation is easy! Done with simple hand tools in less than 30minutes! No cutting, drilling or soldering required. All high quality components including fused relay and stainless steel sealed temperature sensor. Helps protect your investment! 12 month warranty, 30 day money back satisfaction guarantee.

I have the Roe fan mods. But why put wear on my expensive fan module when for $39.99 I can wear out a Home Depot fan that moves so much air it sounds like a hurricane?

 

[ryan94rt10]

i lift the hood too...as much as possible to keep the heat off! or at least pop the front of the hood to let it out at certain times!

wouldn't it be more beneficial to lift it on the really cold days too...that way the temp swing between hot then cold wont cause stress cracks too!

 

[GR8_ASP]

My main concern is the heat aging of elastomers and, for the Gen I, the hood composite material and filler. High time at high temp is the concern and not the delta temp.

 

[plumcrazy]

the roe fan kit is also a great way to burn a battery up

 

[ViperTony]

I have the Roe fan mods. But why put wear on my expensive fan module when for $39.99 I can wear out a Home Depot fan that moves so much air it sounds like a hurricane?

I sometimes use the blower that inflates my kids' bouncy house. I just place it in front of the fascia and it moves a lot of cooler air through the engine.

 

[daytonprowler]

I have a '93 Gen 1 and I always lift the hood after driving. A member of our club had a '92 and while on vacation he got caught in a 3 hr traffic jam....he watched the paint on the hood bubble up right before his eyes! Chrysler took care of it for him. The first couple years the hoods only had a little bit of insulation. Mine has a 2' x 2' square in the center of the hood.

 

[RobZilla]

the roe fan kit is also a great way to burn a battery up

Give and take sir. One way its the battery over time, the other, it's rubber and soft plastics and all that other crap that bakes in the heat under the hood.

I have the fan kit. I have a Dave style fan hook up. And I lift the hood. I am too cool

 

[plumcrazy]

Rob, only thing with that is, i wont get stuck on the side of the road or somewhere with a bad rubber window gasket... lol