5 replies to this topic

[bikewiz]

So my left drive '90s mini has dash eyeball vents, the left side vent, because it runs above the radiator, usually blows warm air. Has anyone had any success wrapping the hose with insulation so it keeps the air cooler? This time of year it's kind of nice but in the summer I end up shutting it off or aiming it out the window. I know most of you guys have cool air from the right side vent blowing on you while you drive but on this side of the Atlantic not so much.

[Ethel]

Not a problem I ever noticed in good ol' Blighty.

 

The air coming through the radiator shouldn't be that hot, as soon as it's picked up any heat it works better if cooler air replaces it. That said, if the ducting is at the top of the wing and you're going slow enough for the air to stagnate around it. Another thought, since it's a later model, it's not sitting on the expansion tank?

 

Later heater intake ducting is lined with foam as sound insulation.

[MrIan]

Maybe take the ducting out and check for splits, i've seen loads of this ducting split and that will drag in air from under the wing as well as fresh air from the front.

[bikewiz]

I had the duct out it looks ok as Ethel said it's usually when I'm stuck in traffic, but I think it heats the duct up enough that it takes forever to start cooling down again. I may try some insulated duct over it and see what happens. I was curious if anyone else had tried it. Not sitting on that side you guys wouldn't feel it as much but your passengers will. My wife likes the nice breeze she gets from the right hand vent

[Dan]

There is supposed to be 1" foam around the inside of the duct. Also it is supposed to be clipped high up in the wing out of the way of the air flow. If the foam is missing and the duct has fallen down then it might heat up, but given it only works by ram air I fail to see how hot air comes from it when sat still in traffic! The radiator fan should be keeping the air moving through the wing very efficiently, there is usually quite a blast coming from the wheel arch so it shouldn't collect really. I've never found it to be hot from that vent however hot it is outside personally.

[bikewiz]

There is supposed to be 1" foam around the inside of the duct. Also it is supposed to be clipped high up in the wing out of the way of the air flow. If the foam is missing and the duct has fallen down then it might heat up, but given it only works by ram air I fail to see how hot air comes from it when sat still in traffic! The radiator fan should be keeping the air moving through the wing very efficiently, there is usually quite a blast coming from the wheel arch so it shouldn't collect really. I've never found it to be hot from that vent however hot it is outside personally.

To clarify I think the duct work heats up while stuck in traffic and takes forever to cool back down once moving again. Even still the air is warm at around town speed, at highway speed I would say it comes through at outside temp. I'm pretty sure the foam is gone from the inside of the duct I remember vacuuming bits out after chipmunks decided it was a great place to make a nest and when I had it out I don't remember seeing any. 

As it sits now the duct runs above the rad fan and along the top of the wing so it's out of the flow of the rad/fan.