Heat Dissapation

I recently purchased a 1980 SC Coupe w/ factory air. This is my first Porsche and I am having a blast with it. I live in Dallas where the temp gets up there. Is it advisable to open the deck lid over the engine after driving to let the engine cool down some? I know the A/C cooling fins are on the deck, is there any harm to the A/C by doing this? It seems to cool the motor down since I can get a cross breeze through my garage. John

John:

I have lived in Orlando and Los Angeles, and have travelled with my 911SC extensively through Texas, so I think I understand hot engines. Also, I do track my car at Mid-Ohio, Putnam Park, Nelson Ledges, etc. and have seen elevated temperatures.

When we were moving the Porsche from Orlando to Los Angeles in mid-August a few years ago, with the daughter in her car seat in the back (she was 1-1/2 years old then), we experienced very high temperatures between San Antonio and El Paso. Getting more and more concerned as the temperature kept rising, it occurreed to me that perhaps the engine wasn't getting enough cooling air. I had passsed a VW Vanagon with his engine cover opened, and the light bulb struck. Thus, I pulled over, opened the engine lid, and drove on with it opened. The speed of the airflow lowered the lid to about horizontal to the ground, and there is stayed, even at 75 MPH in 100 F. temperatures, and the engine cooled down 20 F. in no time (and yes, I do have the graduated guage in the dash).

Conclusion? Whenever I go to track events, I have fabricated an engine-lid bracket, which attaches to the body and the lid, and keeps the lid open to a horizontal position, and I get much more cooling air than before.

And yes, I do open the lid, after shutting down, until things cool off. But then, I do keep her in the garage, so I have no issues with public scrutiny.

Hope this helps.......Andras

Thanks Andras: I appreciate your input on this hot matter. I think that I will get a small fan and put it near the motor to keep the cooler air moving over the engine. John

Originally posted by Andras Nagy:
John:

I have lived in Orlando and Los Angeles, and have travelled with my 911SC extensively through Texas, so I think I understand hot engines. Also, I do track my car at Mid-Ohio, Putnam Park, Nelson Ledges, etc. and have seen elevated temperatures.

When we were moving the Porsche from Orlando to Los Angeles in mid-August a few years ago, with the daughter in her car seat in the back (she was 1-1/2 years old then), we experienced very high temperatures between San Antonio and El Paso. Getting more and more concerned as the temperature kept rising, it occurreed to me that perhaps the engine wasn't getting enough cooling air. I had passsed a VW Vanagon with his engine cover opened, and the light bulb struck. Thus, I pulled over, opened the engine lid, and drove on with it opened. The speed of the airflow lowered the lid to about horizontal to the ground, and there is stayed, even at 75 MPH in 100 F. temperatures, and the engine cooled down 20 F. in no time (and yes, I do have the graduated guage in the dash).

Conclusion? Whenever I go to track events, I have fabricated an engine-lid bracket, which attaches to the body and the lid, and keeps the lid open to a horizontal position, and I get much more cooling air than before.

And yes, I do open the lid, after shutting down, until things cool off. But then, I do keep her in the garage, so I have no issues with public scrutiny.

Hope this helps.......Andras