Functional Hood Scoop (RKS Sport Hood Scoop) for Engine Cooling

I searched on the forum and found a few threads regarding the RKS Hood as well as a few others. Most of the threads however ended up locked or died off without much information. They also debated mostly about the functionality of the hood scoop as a ram air intake.

I don't need it for this function but what I am interested in is whether or not having an open hoop scoop and the air flow into the engine bay would help with engine temps. With a supercharger, big tires, lots of heavy armor, and the occasional towing of a trailer, managing engine temps is something I try to stay on top of.

Based on what I have seen the airflow patterns on the tacoma actually don't put a ton of air into the scoop but I figured I would throw out the question to anyone who has the hood and whether or not they have noticed a difference in temps.

 

Yeah, the whole inlet part is beaten to death..... we get that.

But i have been curious for a long while now about if it would help get some heat out. Was too scared to ask, as all skewp threads seem to clusterfuck themselves as you also noticed.

Then again, ya ever seen the decklid kicked out on an old beetle?
Would that idea work? Raise the back of the hood mounting point

 

One late night browsing xr underground I found a build thread where the guy opened up the factory trd sport hood. He said it made a difference on his supercharger temps but I don’t know how scientific that testing was. I’ve been contemplating doing that myself, I figure it couldn’t really hurt.

 

On my 3rd gen t4r I cut open the back of the sport hood scoop and installed a cut section of the K&N oiled airfilter that was in the truck when I bough it to help a little with mud and water.

I saw intake temps go down about 8deg and when stopped or in slow moving traffic I could see the mirage generated by all the heat pouring out of the newly opened engine vent.

So in short, heat rises and air flow will find the path of least resistance, yes it will help with temps quite a bit!

 

I like to hear this. My general thought was it probably wouldn’t make a huge difference but would maybe help a little and that is good enough for me.

 

Who was it?
Im pretty sure coupe has readings on his coolant before and after the heat exchanger, but i dont recall seeing a post charge temp gauge in the last few years from a tacoma owner.

Unless it was coupe and i have my info wrong?

 

Will probably help some with low speed stuff. Same reason they sell louvered hoods for jeeps.
But due to the design of the front and grille it won't actually scoop up much airflow when you're cruising

 

Right, its a negative pressure area yes?

Would this mean that air flowing across it may help "pull" some hot air out as its already rising in the engine bay? Am i thinking correctly? (Set a straw in a glass of water, hold straw, blow across the straw.... water rises up straw).

Or is it a null, and totally void of ANY effect of air across it?

Having the grille and lower bumper getting bombarded by fresh cool air at say 35+mph maybe aid in pushing this engine bay heat up and out?

 

Venturi effect? I don't know, that works better at 90 degrees

 

Edited my post a little above.

 

Sure it will help some! It will also let some more water and dirt in. Objectively I doubt it's worth it unless you already got a hood and live in a dry climate but even then probably not a dramatic effect

 

Maybe most important....

Does ANYONE have OBJECTIVE information on this being a negative pressure area or ANY objective proof of the airflow characteristics on a 2nd gen tacoma WITH and WITHOUT the scoop removed?

Would a blocked (stock,oem, tested as produced) scoop not CREATE a neg pressure area since its deflecting air with a small wall of sorts?


Its an old truck, i havent done much research, i dont really plan on doing a ton of legwork as i dont think i have a heatsoak issue on the regular.

I mean, wouldnt a person have to rent a tunnel and smoke their truck with an opened and closed scoop to prove the pressure areas? It wouldnt be stock anymore, so could the outcome change from any "testing" toyota did in a tunnel themselves?

I dont recall anyone ever posting results of said testing... id rlly enjoy seeing this done. So far its been said over and over its not gunna function, but i recall no proof as of yet.

Why would dirt get in?
Its a negative pressure area right?

Not arguing.... just thinking out loud and may regret it later when proof shows up that ive just slept through for the past 10yrs.... my shoe may not taste good, but for now i guessnill risk it

 

Supposedly a closed tailgate has wind hit it at speed, initially swirls back.... this creates a cushion where the majority of following air flows right over smoothly.

Air hits wall... swirls...creates cushion effect (is this slipstream?)... letting following air flow right over this "wall" smoothly.

Replace "wall" and "tailgate" with "blocked scoop" to get a picture of what my tired old brain is trying to finger out

 

Or 1 could go topless like @Torspd i suppose

 

There are tests on XRU.

 

My turbo makes the engine bay very hot. The scoop is open on my hood, as well as I cut two reliefs in the back of the hood, near the windshield cowl. Underside. Every little bit helps to evacuate the heat.

 

His license plate says xmplry and I know his name is Brian. I don’t think he tested it that scientificly I believe he said that the blower felt colder to the touch after using the truck. Could be wrong though, I can’t quite remember.
I do know shortly after he put some spacers where the hood mounts so that the hood is raised up in the back to aid in hot air coming out.

 

While I can't comment on engine temps...

I've seen this hood installed on a 13 Tacoma in person and the fit was spot on.

Looked really nice ​

 

The rks hood is pretty pricey for minimal gains but I see sport hoods unpainted on the local classifieds pretty frequently. I could pick one up and open it up to the engine bay for pretty cheap and since my truck is vinyl wrapped and i have extra vinyl it would be a fairly inexpensive mod overall. If I do end up doing it I imagine I could do a somewhat scientific test with a wind gauge in the scoop to see how much air goes through there

 

This is actually the guy I met, his picture is on the website



At the meet




He's a member on here but I don't know the screen name.


I'd say just go for it. Get the new hood and have a matte black vinyl job done on it from the start.

Would look sweet ​