993TT - Undertray on or off?
993TT - Undertray on or off?
Author
Discussion

aceparts_com

Original Poster:

3,724 posts

270 months

Saturday 25th February 2006
quotequote all
It's been discussed to death on Rennlist, but what do you guys think? Engine under tray on or off?

paulburrell

648 posts

262 months

Sunday 26th February 2006
quotequote all
Off! Aids cooling and reduces weight.

nel

4,830 posts

270 months

Sunday 26th February 2006
quotequote all
On - smooth airflow under the car, additional cooling hardly an issue in Europe. Keep the road crap thrown up by the car off the engine.

I have heard of one 993tt that had been obviously been run without the tray by someone that lived up a dirt track. The mud caked onto the turbos rusted through the casings - not the normal reason to have to replace your turbos.

phelix

4,680 posts

278 months

Sunday 26th February 2006
quotequote all
Off and on!

Off in the summer to keep temps down.

On in the winter to keep salt spray and grit away from the delicate bits like turbo actuators.

I think general consensus is that it's mostly to reduce noise and smoother airflow is secondary. Pre-964 911's didn't have them.

aceparts_com

Original Poster:

3,724 posts

270 months

Sunday 26th February 2006
quotequote all
Having recently seen a new merc in the garage next door having it's engine changed because a flint flicked up and cracked the sump I'm inclined to leave it where it is.

sundiver

780 posts

266 months

Sunday 26th February 2006
quotequote all
Well I guess you'd spot oil leaks earlier?!

How much of a "cooling" effect is there when removed?

I ask because when I had a Turbo MX-5 (not that I'm comparing them of course!), the undertray was an often discussed issue - most folks with forced induction left it off because trimming it to accomodate the intercooler pipes was a chore. However, one usually found that the cars ran *hotter* with the undertray removed and yes, this was counter-intuitive. Seems the tray directed air coming inbound through the mouth of the car all around the engine rather than back out the bottom. This was fairly easy to see via the aftermarket ECU datalogging used to control the turbo setups. I altered mine to accomodate the IC piping and refitted it. I noted a measurable (albeit small) drop in both coolant and intake air temperatures with it in place. Keeping all the crap off the underside of the block was an added bonus as well as having reduced bonnet-lift at high speeds. Obviously the 911's engine being where it is is an entirely different setup against an MX-5 but things aren't always what they seem.

Mine's staying on my 993 if only to help keep the crud out...;-)

bergmeister

1,084 posts

273 months

Sunday 26th February 2006
quotequote all
Interesting point,the factory did not fit one on my gt2,and i dont run one on my rs,it runs much cooler.
Also 964 and 993 wear more on the exaust valves,guides etc than other earlier type 911. Mainly down to heat.
Also a 964 rs caught fire one day at pembrey circuit,oil on the engine tray ignited!

sundiver

780 posts

266 months

Sunday 26th February 2006
quotequote all
"Also a 964 rs caught fire one day at pembrey circuit,oil on the engine tray ignited!"

Seem to remember reading something similar on Rennlist a year or so ago too...

porsche4life

1,164 posts

254 months

Sunday 26th February 2006
quotequote all
996 don't have one - don't know why not..

Sundeep

540 posts

267 months

Monday 27th February 2006
quotequote all
ON, off if you have a 964 !

nel

4,830 posts

270 months

Monday 27th February 2006
quotequote all
phelix said:
I think general consensus is that it's mostly to reduce noise and smoother airflow is secondary.


You might be right, but note that the workshop manual recommends a test drive without the undertray in place after a major service, so any leaks or problems can be seen more easily. Underenath this recommendation they write in big bold letters not to exceed 95 mph without the undertray in place.

This implies to me that all their aerodynamic work was done with the undertray attached, though this does not mean that the car is necessarily less stable without it - they were probably just covering their asses!

lanesra10

314 posts

260 months

Tuesday 28th February 2006
quotequote all
ON, for aerodynamics if you like to use the acceleration! and if its not a garage queen you dont want the salt eating your turbo's and tinware.
Remember its easy to take off if your clips are in good order, if you want to test for yourself

lanesra10

314 posts

260 months

Tuesday 28th February 2006
quotequote all
ON, for aerodynamics if you like to use the acceleration! and if its not a garage queen you dont want the salt eating your turbo's and tinware.
Remember its easy to take off if your clips are in good order, if you want to test for yourself

silver993tt

9,064 posts

268 months

Tuesday 28th February 2006
quotequote all
Most of the cooling is done by the oil (that's why there is so much of it) and the oil cooler is in the front of the car.