^^^ I totally agree....i remember the good old days when i used to cruise with the roof tilted and getting some nice cool air thro the vents....well that does not happen anymore LOL....

i am thinking of sealing mine too....no more air filter expense LOL

 

I used duct tape ( the metal tape used for actual duct work sealing ) and it has held strong for over a yr. Also super cheap at $7-$8 for a roll that would do 100's of TL's

 

^^^ i might do that when I have to change air filter

 

I'm going to think of something to preserve the fresh air mode

 

^^^ you can preserve it but you will be getting hot engine air in there....

you can "isolate" it but then again you loose the cooling factor....

 

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/105415528341088833107/albums/5773586611707559169/5773586610229990802

Just finished last week

 

pic is private....host it up on photobucket or flickr

 

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...do/photo15.jpg

 

here go go bud:

IMO it looks clean but you could make it look cleaner....i would rock the unbastardized version thow

 

DUDE!!! How do you do that??

 

i got ze magic

just include the image link (http://whatever whatever) in the [IMG] tags....

so it would be like:
[IMG]http: whatever whatever[/ IMG]

i put a space in the closing tags ^ (here) just remove that....

or you can just use the tool which is next to the quote tool in the text box

 

IMO it looks clean but you could make it look cleaner....i would rock the unbastardized version thow [/QUOTE]

I actually did for a while but no windshield washer fluid during the winter doesnt work around NY, let alone when I drive up to VT. I will have to suffice with the bastardized version. The exterior side is actually very clean, I wasnt too worried about the engine bay openings since no one can see it.

All in all I am pleased at the results. When I had the cowl removed I used to place my hand while the fans were running to feel the air flow from under the hood. After I checked with the cowl installed the flow didn't really diminish much.

 

^^^ i agree with you....I am trying to find a spot where I can put the windshield waster sprayer....

I am trying a location as of now....if the sprayer nozzle stays there and doesnt pop off, I will def share the location

I am trying to keep this (Inaccurate's) mod "free" and with very little modification hence just trying to stick the nozzle somewhere and not cut/mould/paint/etc

EDIT: Justnspace is reading this thread

 

You the man

 

merci

 

Yea definitely keep us posted!

 

I've been logging IAT with the torque app since my s/c install, the heat soak is so bad I thought about cutting my bumper and hood. found this thread and had to test out the mod.
It's like having a giant cowl hood. My coolant level is steady and the IAT dropped by 30 easily. intake temp is down as well.

I bought the cowl pieces from a junkyard for $20 and drilled holes into it. next up, CAI and thermo wrap? Inaccurate, wanna stop by and show me your setup?

 

On my cl the spray nozzle attaches to the hood. Maybe you could do that on the tl?

 

Any body kit companies seeing this thread and maybe offering an aftermarket hood with functional vents or a vent kit with trim to be cut into the stock hood?

 

Someone should do this as well to help the cooling.

 

^WTH. Props for the custom job. But an audi emblem on a TL?

 

Yes, wrap your CAI in some insulation tape that you get at home depot...this will further drop your IAT

Well in the TL the nozzle is angled differently so if i put it on the hood it will spray under the wiper LOL....



I have been trying to run without the spray and I havent used the spray in like forever, i spy a delete LOL

 

Hey man. Impressive undertaking there. Not sure my pride would allow for something like that. However, did you consider at any point just VENTING the plastic cowl? Do you think that would be a significant improvement over the stock vacuum chamber that exists on my car now? I live at the beach so the climate is very cool, but the morning performance is way different than it is after driving around for a while.

Your input would be really appreciated.

Steven
2006 TL

 

That red "Audi" looks like a circus sideshow. Worse of all its for sale.

Whatever.

 

Yesterday I snapped off all the plastic under the hood with the exception of the cowl plastic and the valve cover plastic. I didn't drive the car for a few hours as I mowed my lawn. After driving the car again the surging has dramitically decreased and throttle response is much sharper from a stand still and response everywhere in the power and is much better. It's not 100% however. I plan on modifying the cowl plastic to let more heat escape and getting the gasket kit that was highly recommended. Oh, I've also noticed my gas mileage improve by a measurable amount.

 

Awesome, glad for the bump and continued interest in this mod. I haven't reverted back...still helps, I feel.

 

Its 92 here in Ky today and I have the A/C on. The car heaves better but it still had a bit of sluggishness but only when sitting in traffic for a few minutes. Not as nearly as bad as it was bit its certainly noticeable. I'm going to try to make a homemade cooling system using some dryer hose ad zip ties. I'm goin to route it from the lower intakes where the fogs are to the engine bay and make some cut outs in the cowl plastic to see if I can creat better fresh air flow.

 

I love this mod. I'll never go back.

 

^^ +1

2008WDTL: the TL technically has no room to run ducts....when facing the car, the lower grille on the right, feeds the intake and radiator.... the center grille feeds air to the radiator and the manifold....the left lower grille feeds the radiator and has a lot of room to run some ducting but you will have to make sure you dont run too close to the belts....

 

Anyone know what happened to Inaccurate?

 

^^^ he is into QUADS (flying quads) recently....he still has his TL and when I spoke to him recently, he was contemplating selling it....

man I wish he would come back with more innovative ideas to make the TL faster....

 

In addition, for ducting to work, you'd have to be moving. In this instance, we're not trying to get colder air in the bay because it won't really do anything unless it has an escape route...ducting WITH the cooling mod would be best.

 

Doing a bastardized version of the UCM is on my short list.

 

Cold air ducting for the engine bay is not a great idea. It doesn't resolve the biggest problem of heat soak when standing still as rockstar said.

In addition you don't want a bunch of outside air trying to pressurize the engine bay, you lose performance in other areas by doing that. Car makers go to a lot of trouble to seal the engine bay so air is forced through the radiator and/or auxiliary coolers like AC and transmission. You also end up with more wind noise that way. Just driving with my bottom plastic cover off resulted in a noticeable wind noise gain on the freeway.

You stand to reduce flow through the radiator by depressurization of the area in front of the radiator and pressurization of the engine bay. Instead of these ducts I would run a trigger to the fan relays so both fans come on, on high with ignition. You will be able to cool the engine bay with the engine off. The radiator will have more airflow at all times not just once the engine hits a certain temp and the AC is on. While the thermostat controls the coolant temp, the air coming through the radiator and into the engine bay can be cooler and engine temp can be more consistent. Obviously this will bring more air in under the hood but it has enough advantages that it should be worth it and the engineers that designed it had that amount of airflow in mind.

One thing I have noticed is a lot of air flows under the stock plastic engine cover when the fan is running. If anyone still has the engine cover on, stick your hand behind the cover, the firewall side and feel it. I would remove the other covers but not the engine cover. When the engine is shut off the cover probably worsens heat soak but when it's running I doubt it hurts cooling, it might even help.

Has anyone tried running both fans on high all the time?

 

Matt... Where you been, man?!?!
Always look forward to reading your informative posts.

 

[QUOTE=rockstar143;13791212]There's a whole other thread dedicated to the "baby" version of this mod...
Here's mine...recently resanded down the brown plastic and hit with plastidip...
I also opened up all the ports from the under side to route the air.

I cannot find said thread unless you are referring to your posts on earlier pages?

I really like your method, super clean. Do you have a more in depth DIY, I have zero dremel experience and would like to show a friend who could do it for me lol.

Thanks.

 

I think it was in my progress thread...I don't think I made another thread on it although I think I did post in here!

 

Yes, you did. Just thought there was a thread solely on your method. I reread everything you posted on it and just have one question really. Did you cut all the same pieces as everyone else posted in the engine bay? I do not want to sacrifice cabin filter functionality but its been 90+ degrees up here and good god do I feel that heat soak.

 

100 degree weather around the last few weeks and the cooling fan has yet to turn on in city driving.

UCM rocks!

 

Hey Lagunitas makes my favorite IPA! "A little sumpin sumpin"


I did do the baby version of this to keep all functionality. I put in 3 grills on the top and 2 on the engine bay side and I did use the dremel to cut out all the horizontal channels from the engine bay.