Weather Stripping Removal Side Effects.....

M

Maestrokneer

Member
:
2003 Mazdaspeed Protege
OK...so I removed the weather stripping at the top of the engine compartment about a week ago, and have definitely noticed that my engine compartment is A LOT cooler after a recent drive.

So here's what I'm wondering:

I live in California, so rain isn't much of an issue, but what about washing my car? Do I have to put my weather stripping back on every time I wash my car to avoid water getting down my firewall and in the engine bay?

What are the consequences of this? Please help enlighten me, as I plan on washing my car tomorrow. Thanks.
 
I asked kwiktsi(joe) about this and he pointed out that it is not there only to prevent water from entering the engine compartment, but to keep engine noise in as well. If you look at the plastic at the bottom of the windsheild, it is shaped/angled to help keep water away from the engine compartment anyways. If any water happend to get inside anyways, the wires should be protected just fine anyways. stick your head down there and lok at how small of an opening it is with the hood closed. Not too bad...:)
EDIT: WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH ME AND SAYING "ANYWAYS" IN THAT POST??? (LOL) didn't feel like editing it all though.
 
Last edited:
i took mine off last night, just cuz i was changing my oil at the same time, and figured, hey i have the hood open, might as well. i havent checked if the temps seem lower, but ill just trust you guys :p
 
2K3 Mazdaspeed said:
I asked kwiktsi(joe) about this and he pointed out that it is not there only to prevent water from entering the engine compartment, but to keep engine noise in as well. If you look at the plastic at the bottom of the windsheild, it is shaped/angled to help keep water away from the engine compartment anyways. If any water happend to get inside anyways, the wires should be protected just fine anyways. stick your head down there and lok at how small of an opening it is with the hood closed. Not too bad...:)
EDIT: WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH ME AND SAYING "ANYWAYS" IN THAT POST??? (LOL) didn't feel like editing it all though.
Click to expand...

Yeah...that was a hell of a lot of "anyways" 2K3. :wtf: :D

So has anyone washed their car with the stripping off and looked under their hood to see if any got in there?
 
i washed my car, no water went in. but its not like i was pointing the hose at the went, just put the water on the windshield only to be cautious, everything should drain through the vent.
 
Well, I washed my car since taking it off, but didn't look for water. It's still running though!!
 
I've washed my car a few times since taking the weather stripping off..and I haven't noticed any ill side affects. It seems to drain ok..as long as you dont wash your car with a fire hose, you should be fine.
 
Took mine off weeks ago, drove up to Austin in a thunderstorm, drove around there in a heavy downpour, have washed my car at a car wash place, and have checked under the hood. No water.

What does happen though, is the air conditioner will be less cold when you have it on outside air, because some of the hot air from under the hood is now being mixed with the A/C air. It's only noticeable on very hot days, and I just set the control to recirculate and all is well.

The thing I'm still checking out is whether the hood loses some support on the back side. Sometimes I think I can see it flexing in the middle of the trailing edge as I go over rough roads, and other times it seems as though it's just my imagination. If I become too worried about it, I'll just cut a one foot section off the weatherstripping and install it in the middle of the weatherstripping plate to support the center of the hood's back edge.
 
hmm, who has AC on with venting open???
kinda beats the purpose........

but yeah......... washed my car a few time and checked right after the wash - no water in engine compartment at all, even after a "carwash" wash.
just remember to clean up the leaves that might clog up the drains and u should be fine.
 
they washed it when i got my car, it's still very clean.
eventually i will wash it, i usually just wipe it down when i wash my car
 
Damn guys, I can't imagine the paranoia you'd face with a vented hood. :p Worrying about weather stripping?... Imagine having an Evo hood.
 
seriously, wrx and evo people and even mustang people have holes in their hood and we are complaining about a finger sized hole.
 
tddelsol said:
um don't any of yall wash your engine??????????
Click to expand...

nah i dont need any water in my engine bay. i just wipe off the crap with an old rag. im not gonna soak and soap the damn thing.
 
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