I am looking to install the louver panel on my TJ and looking to see if those who are using one have any negative side effects from it. Also if you would recommend it again or just skip it all together. Thanks!
I went with the Hyline version. It was the same as PS, but at the time was the only one that had cut outs for 2 nozzles for the windshield sprayers. May give them a look. It is available at QTEch as well as other places. I have been very happy with it.
I've had mine for a couple of years now and have noticed no adverse affects. I would suggest painting it or putting some kind of coating (Sharkhide, perhaps?) on it, however. I left mine bare metal, and now it's got a lovely brown tint to it, from mud baking on it. One of these days, I'll remove the million screws and do something about it.
I left mine bare metal, no problems. When installing make sure, ABSOLUTELY SURE, that your windshield washer nozzle is lined up exactly the same on the hood as it is on the louver mine was off a little bit and when I tried to force it and it broke. I tried several aftermarket ones finally went back to Jeep and bought one for $27. Also the poison spyder bolts that come with it are relatively soft, when you tighten them up be gentle. The hardest part about installing the louver is the first cut you make in a perfectly good hood.
It's always fun to ask what people's expectations are with adding hood louvers. Fashion and lowering underhood temps are all I can identify. Your engine won't run any cooler.
I'll tell you my expectations for installing genright louvers. There is a very noticeable difference in oil pressure when the temp outside is only in, say the 80's vs when it's over 100. The coolant temperature may be the same but the oil temperature is not. Cooler oil equals higher viscosity equals increased oil pressure. That's my reasoning anyway. So far the temperature has only been in the mid 80's. My theory will be tested come mid July when it reaches 100+
I've been running my Hyline panel for 3 years with no issues. Cutting was easy, Hyline ships a full metal template that bolts in place to make cutting simple. Plus I liked the Hyline one because they don't cut a logo in the top center and they use studs so you have a smoother look.
I've been running my Hyline panel for 3 years with no issues. Plus I liked the Hyline one because they don't cut a logo in the top center and they use studs so you have a smoother look.
I had a shop paint mine silver.
I have to agree, the smooth look on the hyline is pretty damn nice.
X2 it'll help with both, so if you want it get it plus when you go through water after your engine is hot you get a nice tower of steam coming out of the louver that just looks awesome
Very timely thread as I was just starting to search for this subject. Last week I experienced a very strange and scary start up issue, and I wasn't sure what had actually happened. Some research and asking led me to heat soak/vapor lock, and ultimately a TSB that was published for the issue in 2003. After reading the symptoms, I realized that it had happened before but not to the extent as this last time.
Living in Florida the ambient temperatures are above 90 degrees most of the summer, and that got me wondering if hood louvers would help to dissipate enough heat to prevent the heat soak/vapor lock problem.
For those of you that have installed them, did that resolve your heat soak issues?
I've had the heat soak issue once last summer with my Jeep. It's one of the reasons I installed the hood louvers. I'll find out this summer if it helps. Basically, I got stuck in a traffic jam coming back from a Jeep Jamboree. I pulled over for a drink and bathroom break. 5 minutes later, I went to restart the Jeep and it had heat soaked. Not fun. I'm hoping this will help get rid of the heat when the old girl is sitting or crawling along a trail. The other thing I did is order a heat shield kit for my fuel rail and injectors. Not sure if it's snake oil or what, but for $54, I figure I will give it a try.
Years ago I installed a set of louvers on the hood of my old '96 F250 diesel workhorse to help release some of the heat produced by the turbocharger. She gets mighty hot towing a load in the summertime, and I can sometimes see waves of shimmering heat rising from the louvers when parked after a hot run. The louvers cost nothing to operate, so they will continue to provide a free service cooling my old Ford for as long as I run the vehicle.
When I bought my '03 TJ 16 years ago, I was surprised burning my fingers when trying to lift the hood after a hot run. I'd never owned a vehicle that did that. So, I decided to put a set of louvers on my Jeep too. I believe the TJ gets about as hot under the hood as the turbocharged Ford because of the TJ's exhaust configuration with those three red-hot cats down there. Also, the Jeep unfortunately has its exhaust manifold intermingled with its intake manifold, thus leading to some cases of vapor lock which in other vehicles disappeared with the advent of electric fuel pumps and high-pressure fuel injection systems.
I can say that with the louvers installed, my TJ's hood is measurably cooler as reported by my fingers when opening the hood after a run. Also, my hood doesn't shake like it did on the highway when being passed by 18 wheelers, probably because the vents naturally relieve the pressure differential in the engine bay.
It just makes sense that removing faster the excessive heat from the engine bay helps all the underhood components. Now, whether it's necessary to do so is a matter of one's viewpoint. It's certainly not needed to control the internal engine temperature, because modern pressurized water cooling systems take care of that very well indeed. But the louvers certaintly do help cool the engine bay and all the components negatively affected by the heat.
To be honest, I guess part of the reason I'm partial to louvers is because of the '60 Corvair I had in high school. It was powered by an air-cooled aircraft-type six-cylinder engine that absolutely had to have louvers since it depended solely on moving air to keep its finned aluminum cylinders from melting away. I loved that car and regret the day I let it get away from me. Ah, the foolishness of youth.
It's a nice heavy gauge panel though with good clean cuts for the mounting holes, louvers, footman loop, and hood bumpers..no logo cut out of it, but no washer nozzle cuts either. I guess they don't want to be bothered stocking two different panels to cover the different years of TJ.
I want to install it simply because I like the racy looks, but if any of my temps go down, that's just a bonus
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