Me too... Ive done it for 12 years!
I like to drive the car 'cool' for 10 minutes or so just before I park or when I'm back home, especially after a long drive. I let her cool of a bit more before I drop the cover.
Truth be told, I do it with my 308 just to make sure it's not on fire before I put the garage door down.
I find the 328 stays cooler when moving quickly than at low speeds. The oil cooler is ram air only, so the oil temps climb when not getting much air flow through the left scoop. Was an issue in the underground parking garage in Xtal City. Oil temps would soar, crawling down three levels. Same on the trip home, it'd be fine until I got into the local neighborhood with narrow streets. That's when I started leaving the engine cover open. (Couldn't, at the office. But there were more flammable things in the garage at home, so I wanted it to cool faster.)
yes that's true, I clearly note the oil guage dropping when easing on the highway, example 100kph in 5th or just coasting towards a stop, air pushes nicely towards engine via the side air intakes on 'faster' speeds, especially on cooler days I note this, on hot days I'll pop the engine lid and leave the garage door open for 20 minutes or so ! Wow, lot of guys here thinking the same !
Arranging burnt chicken bones to create a life-size image of Marie Leveau will provide exactly the same benefit to the engine.
Well it makes sense, there: The engine is the showpiece of the car. (That's why they started making transparent engine covers. )
Especially after a hot drive I open the hood. But additionally I wait two-three minutes and then restart for 15-20 seconds. Heating on full (heater fans on) to help cooling. Stop engine after 15 seconds. What happens? By stalling a hot engine all the heat rises up to the top of the engine, stressing the heads, because there is no water flow. A few seconds after the restart the hot accumulated water from the heads reaches the radiator, radiator fans start to work. Repeat this two times and watch the water temperature fall.
THANK HEAVENS!! I"ve been coin.. wait.. Marie? Well ****. Might as well sell the car now. I thought it was Donnie. Oh yeah, on the cars about which I am most knowledgeable, that have Turbo's and dissimilar metal bits, we *used* to run the engine a minute after a highway run to help cool the Turbo. But not any more. BTW, which other cars require this habit? I have never done it with the Suburban or the 2-stroke, nor the Jag E or Bugeye.. Just curious. Lester Another contrarian
Seems like a needless ritual. Why not just leave it running with the heat on high? Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk
Yes, I often open the engine lid after any length of drive. But only to take out stuff from the luggage compartment
And you've discovered the real reason to leave it unlatched in the garage: because you might be loading stuff before the next trip.
I leave the Engine open after a drive, regardless. There is too much "Heat Soak" after shutdown with the engine in a restricted space. Best way is to open the Engine Compartment and vent the heat away as soon as possible. That's my logic anyway. Many of the components are designed to withstand high temperatures, but if letting heat escape extends the durability / longevity, I am all for it.
In 18 years of ownership I have only ever driven into the garage, turned off the engine and walked away. If I am using a dust cover (some years I can't be bothered) the only precaution I take is to wedge the cover around the bumper, so it does not touch the hot exhaust tips.
Which other cars? I do this EVERY time I shut off my third generation RX-7. SO much heat generated by the turbos on that car. I have also gotten into the habit with the Ferraris for the same reason. Let some of the heat out to help preserve the rubber and plastic bits.
As has often been said; folks should do whatever makes them comfortable. Some people change oil every 1k miles, some people never let water get on the engine, some people will never put a car battery on a concrete floor...etc, etc, etc. OTOH, "feel good" stuff and "necessary stuff" are often two different things. Example - I'm one of those people who won't leave a car battery sitting on a concrete floor even though the issue with doing that disappeared before I was born! As the old Hippie saying went, "if it feels good, do it!"
