Engine cooling airflow, don't be a spoiler!

Over the last few years, due to trends in styling, many newer cars do not have conventional grills up front. Very often, a closed panel resides, or the hood extends down to where a grill would have been. But all vehicles still depend on air passing through the radiator to provide engine cooling, and also for A/C system operation.
So where and how does the air enter on cars like this?
In most cases, from underneath the front of car. There will be openings close to the road surface that allow cooling air to reach the radiator. And on many cars, there is a component that plays a very big part in making sure the air is routed properly into the engine compartment. This component is usually called an air dam or front spoiler. Air dams/spoilers are often integrated parts of the car’s bodywork, and are mounted way down low beneath the front bumper. They act like scoops to “grab” and direct the cooling air to the radiator and A/C condenser as the car moves down the road.
Due to their very low mounting location, air dams and spoilers are often damaged or even torn off completely if the car hits a parking bumper or curb. If this should occur, proper airflow can become disrupted, and the engine and/or A/C system may not cool properly. Or even worse, the engine may overheat. This is one more thing to keep in mind if you experience an engine cooling or A/C performance problem.

When having your mobile A/C system professionally serviced, insist on proper repair procedures and quality replacement parts. Insist on recovery and recycling so that refrigerant can be reused and not released into the atmosphere.

You can E-mail us at macsworldwide@macsw.org or visit http://bit.ly/cf7az8 to find a Mobile Air Conditioning Society repair shop in your area. Visit http://bit.ly/9FxwTh  to find out more about your car’s mobile A/C and engine cooling system.