Grill guards aren’t entirely effective . . .

[Oldcarguy]

. . . in my case anyway. In 2018 I cleaned the radiators & ac condensers and fabricated grill guards for all three front openings for my 2004 Boxster. The grill guards were fabricated from power coated aluminum grill stock with a 77% open surface area. Mounted from behind the bumper cover, the cooling openings were 100% covered. There’s an old thread about my fabrication and installation here somewhere.

After installation of my 3.8L engine I decided to remove the bumper just to do a preventive maintenance of check the radiators & condensers. What I found surprised me. While not as bad as in 2018, I did find significant pulverized buildup between the radiators and condensers.

Because it’s obvious that I’ll still need to clean these areas every two or three years I removed the grills to restore 100% flow. Pics below of the grill material used and the pulverized material found between the radiators and condensers during my inspection in July 2021.






Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Starter986]

Originally Posted by Oldcarguy

. . . in my case anyway. In 2018 I cleaned the radiators & ac condensers and fabricated grill guards for all three front openings for my 2004 Boxster. The grill guards were fabricated from power coated aluminum grill stock with a 77% open surface area. Mounted from behind the bumper cover, the cooling openings were 100% covered. There’s an old thread about my fabrication and installation here somewhere.

After installation of my 3.8L engine I decided to remove the bumper just to do a preventive maintenance of check the radiators & condensers. What I found surprised me. While not as bad as in 2018, I did find significant pulverized buildup between the radiators and condensers.

Because it’s obvious that I’ll still need to clean these areas every two or three years I removed the grills to restore 100% flow. Pics below of the grill material used and the pulverized material found between the radiators and condensers during my inspection in July 2021.






Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Are you driving on 20th century highways... or dusty backroads and chicken ranches?

I used the metal mesh from HD... mounted from behind the cover... check the rads/conds every year (with cover off), and zero debris sans a few things that get caught up from underneath. Have you considered a smaller mesh?

[Oldcarguy]

Originally Posted by Starter986

Are you driving on 20th century highways... or dusty backroads and chicken ranches?

I used the metal mesh from HD... mounted from behind the cover... check the rads/conds every year (with cover off), and zero debris sans a few things that get caught up from underneath. Have you considered a smaller mesh?

All main and secondary paved roads, no dirt roads or chicken ranches . We do have a lot of leaves in the fall. This size mesh only has an open area of 77% and I’m not willing to use anything more restrictive. At least I didn’t find cigarette butts and bird feathers this time. Also, the mesh does protect against rock damage

[Starter986]

Originally Posted by Oldcarguy

All main and secondary paved roads, no dirt roads or chicken ranches . We do have a lot of leaves in the fall. This size mesh only has an open area of 77% and I’m not willing to use anything more restrictive. At least I didn’t find cigarette butts and bird feathers this time. Also, the mesh does protect against rock damage

It must be the leaves. We've none, per se, in the high desert. I suppose if I was running over leaves most of the time I'be be in the same boat.

Yes... the rocks. That's the primary reason I installed the mesh. Further, I believe it makes the front end look more uniform. Never have a been a fan of those two big holes on the front end.

By the way... from where did you source your mesh? Thanks!

[Oldcarguy]

Originally Posted by Starter986

It must be the leaves. We've none, per se, in the high desert. I suppose if I was running over leaves most of the time I'be be in the same boat.

Yes... the rocks. That's the primary reason I installed the mesh. Further, I believe it makes the front end look more uniform. Never have a been a fan of those two big holes on the front end.

By the way... from where did you source your mesh? Thanks!

You’re welcome, the grill material is from customcargrills dot com. Great selection and they show the open surface area for most of their grill material. Some types can be pretty restrictive. Never had anything damaged in shipping. Not affiliated in any way, just a happy customer.

[PaulE]

Thanks for sharing Fred, I've always wondered how effective screens would be, since stuff manages to pass through the a/c condensors and get trapped between them and the radiators.

[Burg Boxster]

Remember with rads & condensers it's air flow not static amount which matters.

As such, "restricted" flow amount will be much lower than 23% (with 77% "open" mesh).

After losing a condenser on each side of my 997 (one from a stone and other a prehistoric sized bee w perfect aim ) I fabbed some mesh grilles. Ran w them for 7+ years including plenty of extended track time w upper 90's temps. Cooling was never an issue. Note all modern GT series cars (at least since 991.1) have factory mesh.

The little junk - sand, etc. will always get thru - it's just part of the program and good reason to make cleaning your rads at least every other year part of regular maintenance.

YMMV - good luck

[jaykay]

I have been meshed up for years with no checks.....perhaps I need to drop the bumper cover this fall.

I think used custom car grills small diamond pattern and don't recall the percentage restriction. I also have this on the side vents. I don't have any temperature data but I have noticed that engine bay stays incredibly hot for hours after a run in warm weather. My fans are screaming rolling into the garage.

Up here leaves could be the problem. In any event it feels like The whole back end of the car needs to be vented..... it gets way to hot in there