Opening up hood vents to vent heat

[Milkbone K9]

Has anybody opened the hood vents to exhaust heat? I went to check oil on my 2025 Raptor and gotta a nasty surprise. I thought hood struts were a waste until I grabbed the prop rod. I have seen replacement hoods but $$$$$$. In my early days I would grabbed a Dremel. Suggestions??

Sponsored

 

[stuartmunto]

They actually are open and functional from factory:

 

[danmoochie]

I'd love to put these on my XLT.... but I think the hood is actually different from the Raptor

 

[Blue_Raptor]

I have not but I've put some thought into doing it as well. I think maybe first step to helping them work as they currently are would be to cut the underhood liner in positions under the vents. This would hopefully allow much more heat flow through the vents as is. And I know many people just remove the whole liner (at least on other vehicles, maybe not necessarily on the rangers yet) but I would suggest against that. As you found from the temp of the hood prop rod, I don't think you want all that heat directly up against the underside of the painted hood. After that, maybe look at the structure of the vent and see if they can be strategically opened up to flow even more than they currently do. Just my $.02

 

[DJRR5325]

I would assume the underside of the vents is constructed in such a way that water can't drain down into the engine compartment? (I haven't looked...)

 

[pablo94sc]

I would assume the underside of the vents is constructed in such a way that water can't drain down into the engine compartment? (I haven't looked...)

The extractors are down and rearward facing, and they open up to a low section in the hood meant to channel water to the passenger side where the tray, bolted to the cowl, is located. You'll see that the rubber plug on the driver's side (above the brake reservoir) is missing on the passenger side above the tray. That's where the water drains from the hood to the ground.

I didn't cut any plastic yet, but I plan to do a little strategic cutting on the extractors like @DirtDerrick did, as well as some trimming of the hood liner. I've already found one hole clogged with debris, and then another two covered completely with the foam liner instead of open to the channel below.

I believe the heat mainly escapes via the water drain hole and through the body clips on the corners that hold the extractor in place. Not a ton of improvements to be made without additional cutting, but every little bit can help.

Below is my DS extractor right after removal. I think everyone should pull theirs to at least make sure the slots are all uncovered. Mine weren't, as you can see by the little holes where my blade pushed though.

 

[DirtDerrick]

That same foam piece on mine covered the entire piece. And it was like they pushed down over the screws and it tore around them. The hood liner and then that piece, i guess some heat gets out enough to call it an extractor. Kinda like grass growing through concrete, it finds a way.

The extractors are down and rearward facing, and they open up to a low section in the hood meant to channel water to the passenger side where the tray, bolted to the cowl, is located. You'll see that the rubber plug on the driver's side (above the brake reservoir) is missing on the passenger side above the tray. That's where the water drains from the hood to the ground.

I didn't cut any plastic yet, but I plan to do a little strategic cutting on the extractors like @DirtDerrick did, as well as some trimming of the hood liner. I've already found one hole clogged with debris, and then another two covered completely with the foam liner instead of open to the channel below.

I believe the heat mainly escapes via the water drain hole and through the body clips on the corners that hold the extractor in place. Not a ton of improvements to be made without additional cutting, but every little bit can help.

Below is my DS extractor right after removal. I think everyone should pull theirs to at least make sure the slots are all uncovered. Mine weren't, as you can see by the little holes where my blade pushed though.

 

[pablo94sc]

Here is the rest of the job. I cut a small section, roughly 2x6", from the hood liner for better draw out of the engine bay. You can sort of see where I hacked off the lower lip of the extractor housing and the additional light that now comes through the openings.

 

[yelnoc2]

They actually are open and functional from factory:

good catch, not sure one would notice without the snow. Glad it wasn't something where there was drilling or removing material

 

[Lion77]

It's designed for convection cooling at lower speeds. Allows the hottest air to seep out of the extractors in conjunction with the radiator fans pulling in fresh air. Most of the hot air is actually exhausted out under the truck as it flows back against the firewall and "down under" the vehicle, same with highway speeds. I think they work as intended and the big thing is to make sure it's not blocked!

I would be willing to widen the openings just a bit not so much for flow, but to prevent blockages, maybe I'll take a look at mine to see if any of them are blocked after all my off-roading.

 

[pablo94sc]

If you've ever parked under trees for any amount of time, you'll likely have some schmutz in there.

 

[RRaptorscallion0331]

After I installed my DSR downpipes, I took a quick test drive with my inner fender liners off, hard to quantify how much cooler the engine and the transmission operated but it was noticeable. I share @Lion77 ’s perspective that the hood vents were not designed as the primary cooling mechanism for the engine bay.

 

[pablo94sc]

Any little bit helps when you're wheeling at low speeds in the desert. I'm now contemplating an intercooler fan(s).

 

[RRaptorscallion0331]

Any little bit helps when you're wheeling at low speeds

Depending on how much airborne sand there is (or isn’t), you might find removing the inner liners a tempting option?

 

[pablo94sc]

Depending on how much airborne sand there is (or isn’t), you might find removing the inner liners a tempting option?

I cut the insulation back to uncover the openings in the hood for the vents. Removed roughly 2"x6" under each vent.

I'm actually surpised by how little dust was inside the hood, and I wheel my Raptor whenever I can, even if it's just a dirt road. Seems whatever water that trickles through the vents does a good job keeping things clean, and enough air current to keep most dust out in the first place.

Sponsored