Hood Upgrade

[DrummerDudeNJ]

Happy Friday-eve Jeepers! I'm contemplating a new hood and curious about the group's thoughts on water or snow getting into the engine bay if the scoops and/or vents are open. Could this pose a major problem? This is the one I'm considering.... made from steel and only weighs 60lbs. Thanks in advance!!

NEW*****Jeep Wrangler JL MPR Hood (rockmonsterusa.com)

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[yokramer]

Ive rarely seen aftermarket hoods that change air-flow patters actually help on a stock vehicle. If you think it looks cool and can properly keep the water flowing away from important stuff like the stock one does go for it.

 

[Reinen]

Hood vents have zero benefit to cooling the engine while driving. Another user here tested that extensively.

However I found there is a benefit to having a hood vent, preventing heat soak. In short, during a long road trip a 15-20 min stop on blacktop in 105+F temps w/ full sun caused my entire engine compartment to overheat. Everything was too hot to touch, even the washer fluid tank. The JL went into limp mode. Had to sit with the hood open for 30 min for everything to cool down. Then all was well again. I opened the rubi vents to allow heat to chimney out of the engine compartment when the Jeep is parked and have not had a problem since.
But this was in the Utah desert. I doubt you'll have that problem in NJ.

As for water/snow, the engine compartment isn't water tight. Water will splash up from the tires. Rain will go right through the radiator and will be thrown everywhere by the fan. Water/Snow getting in the engine compartment is generally not a problem but you will want it directed away from electrical connections as a precaution. You don't want to ask for trouble.

Bottom line, be aware that this is a nearly 100% aesthetic thing unless you're in severe desert heat and in that case it only serves a function when parking with a hot engine.

 

[DrummerDudeNJ]

Thanks for the replies. Yeah I'm aware it's mostly a cosmetic thing. Just contemplating the idea and planning. Just like the look lol

 

[TOTL Innovations]

Every electronic inside an OEM engine bay is designed to be water tight so everything should be safe. That said, I know water can result in belt squeak for several reasons. I also know of a case where a JK owner had vents that perfectly lined up with his spark plug boots which resulted in some electrical issues.

Just going to throw another option out there. Have you seen our JL H.E.R.O. Hood?

https://totlinnovations.com/jl-h-e-r-o-hood/

Our vents are designed to prevent water from entering the engine bay.

Our ram air opening actually funnels air to your factory intake pre chamber.

Our hood is made of fiberglass so you wont need any insulation. Since that hood is made of metal, you will need some sort of insulation to prevent the hood from being extremely hot to touch.

Our hood weighs about half.

 

[swampflyer]

Every electronic inside an OEM engine bay is designed to be water tight so everything should be safe. That said, I know water can result in belt squeak for several reasons. I also know of a case where a JK owner had vents that perfectly lined up with his spark plug boots which resulted in some electrical issues.

Just going to throw another option out there. Have you seen our JL H.E.R.O. Hood?

https://totlinnovations.com/jl-h-e-r-o-hood/

Our vents are designed to prevent water from entering the engine bay.

Our ram air opening actually funnels air to your factory intake pre chamber.

Our hood is made of fiberglass so you wont need any insulation. Since that hood is made of metal, you will need some sort of insulation to prevent the hood from being extremely hot to touch.

Our hood weighs about half.
[/ I
Like your hood, but every fiberglass part never seems to show the exact color are shade as the original.

 

[TOTL Innovations]

I Like your hood, but every fiberglass part never seems to show the exact color are shade as the original.

That is on the painter unfortunately. A reputable painter should have no issue paint matching. I can see issues arise from painters who said through the gel coat or dont prime before painting but that shouldnt happen at a professional shop.

 

[DrummerDudeNJ]

@TOTL Innovations thanks for that input and suggestion!! I considered a fiberglass hood, just not sure how my Rival hood struts would attach and if they would be too strong, perhaps cracking the fiberglass when opening/closing.

 

[Old Jeeper]

Hood vents have zero benefit to cooling the engine while driving. Another user here tested that extensively.

However I found there is a benefit to having a hood vent, preventing heat soak. In short, during a long road trip a 15-20 min stop on blacktop in 105+F temps w/ full sun caused my entire engine compartment to overheat. Everything was too hot to touch, even the washer fluid tank. The JL went into limp mode. Had to sit with the hood open for 30 min for everything to cool down. Then all was well again. I opened the rubi vents to allow heat to chimney out of the engine compartment when the Jeep is parked and have not had a problem since.
But this was in the Utah desert. I doubt you'll have that problem in NJ.

As for water/snow, the engine compartment isn't water tight. Water will splash up from the tires. Rain will go right through the radiator and will be thrown everywhere by the fan. Water/Snow getting in the engine compartment is generally not a problem but you will want it directed away from electrical connections as a precaution. You don't want to ask for trouble.

Bottom line, be aware that this is a nearly 100% aesthetic thing unless you're in severe desert heat and in that case it only serves a function when parking with a hot engine.

I had REAL issues when I lived in Scottsdale, AZ with overheating and I installed these, which come off of a Turbocharged Chryslers car of some kind. They are located just above the radiator at the front and extend back to the front of the engine. Solved my problems...

 

[TOTL Innovations]

@TOTL Innovations thanks for that input and suggestion!! I considered a fiberglass hood, just not sure how my Rival hood struts would attach and if they would be too strong, perhaps cracking the fiberglass when opening/closing.

On the JKs, our hood was significantly lighter than the factory one so the struts were way too stiff to use so we always advised against it.

The difference between our and the factory JL hood is a lot closer but we havent done any really long term testing to see if it would be an issue so the company stance is still to advise against using struts with our hoods unfortunately. I know that is a deal breaker for some but we hope that the benefits of our hood over others will out weigh that.

 

[Redline Tuning]

We have a system designed specifically for aftermarket hoods: https://www.redlinetuning.com/product-p/21-20008-02.htm

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