Discussion
Tunnel mod enables you to drive with the window open without heating the gear stick and hand brake beyond comfortable.
Also stops the cabin filling with nasty fumes.
Some may suggest it helps keep the front turbo cooler aswell although I doubt it is of any real benefit to a water cooled unit.
Also stops the cabin filling with nasty fumes.
Some may suggest it helps keep the front turbo cooler aswell although I doubt it is of any real benefit to a water cooled unit.
The tunnel can get so hot that things can degrade faster, melt even, i had a 10 disc changer with the wire running throught the tunnel and the wire burnt out. Hoover reported signs of scorching inside the tunnel after long term racing in hot climate, all that hot air either stagnates or ends up in the engine bay, there is an issue with hot air stagnating/stalling in the engine bay as it is, when linking this tunnel cooling mod to some of Adrians aero mods you can improve air flow through the engine bay, and the cool air "forced" through the tunnel with a ram effect from the front of the car helps push stagnant hot air out from around the front turbo and all the wires around that area, wrapping exhaust etc.. when combined to all the above can seriously lower engine compartment temperatures, so that the coolant system is getting a helping hand.
Your water temp can be 98deg when on its way to the radiator, it has to travel through the tunnel before it can be cooled from the radiator, it is nice if that coolant is actually cooling down on the way to the radiator instead of heating up even further, similarly in the other direction.
Touch any coolant pipes in your engine bay, they are hot, there are more things in the engine compartment that need to be kept cool than just the cylinder head and turbo's, heat is lost through air cooling also, alot of things radiate heat into the air in the engine bay or like to be kept cool.
Thats why people also do side scoop mods to force more cold air into the engine compartment, the greater force will always win and push the stagnant/stalling hot air out.
Adrian will probably be able to explain more technically the affects of hot air stalling in the engine compartment allowing ambient temps to rise, but there if i understand correctly there is a greater force of air coming in through the rear wheel arches into the engine bay, this stalls the hot air from getting out of the engine bay.
More important for people racing in a hot climate or with heavily tuned cars i think.
It also makes the cabin the much more comfortable place to be, it works, i can have my window down and the gear shifter and hand brake lever stay cold to the touch, proving how much the tunnel is getting cooled.
Your water temp can be 98deg when on its way to the radiator, it has to travel through the tunnel before it can be cooled from the radiator, it is nice if that coolant is actually cooling down on the way to the radiator instead of heating up even further, similarly in the other direction.
Touch any coolant pipes in your engine bay, they are hot, there are more things in the engine compartment that need to be kept cool than just the cylinder head and turbo's, heat is lost through air cooling also, alot of things radiate heat into the air in the engine bay or like to be kept cool.
Thats why people also do side scoop mods to force more cold air into the engine compartment, the greater force will always win and push the stagnant/stalling hot air out.
Adrian will probably be able to explain more technically the affects of hot air stalling in the engine compartment allowing ambient temps to rise, but there if i understand correctly there is a greater force of air coming in through the rear wheel arches into the engine bay, this stalls the hot air from getting out of the engine bay.
More important for people racing in a hot climate or with heavily tuned cars i think.
It also makes the cabin the much more comfortable place to be, it works, i can have my window down and the gear shifter and hand brake lever stay cold to the touch, proving how much the tunnel is getting cooled.
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