We all now about the active aerodynamic rear spoiler on non-SRT Crossfires but does any body have a clue or theory about (what could be called) the active active aerodynamics devices on the front of Crossfires?

They are those triangular shaped tunnels about a foot outside of the horns, just below the oval shaped air-cleaner snorkel intakes.
They are about 4 inches deep and each have a door on the back that opens when a slight amount of air passes into the tunnel, if you blow air into the tunnel they open easily. That air simply dumps onto the side tanks of the radiator.
More vexing is that they almost completely covered when the fascia is in place, they barely see any air from they grille.

 

They are air intakes for the engine. Do you have the original air filter housing in place?

James

 

No they are not, those are mentioned in my post though. Did you actually read the post,or just reply?

 

Many cars have these flaps. They let cooler air into the engine bay at speed, but are pushed closed (from behind) when the car is not moving and the radiator fan is on.

 

I know what you mean but these are not those, they are not part of the radiator fan shroud.

 

So what is the differance? Did you think it out or just reply?

 

LOL.

These have been discussed a few times around here-many moons ago. I don't think anyone ever convinced anyone.

Another "Crossfire Mystery".

 

Yeah good one. I did think about it. I saw them. I looked at them. I took a picture of them.
They are in front of and located laterally outside of the radiator. Air pulled by the fan (through the fan shroud) cannot affect these vents. The only air that could influence them would come through the grille though they are almost completely hidden by the fascia.

 

Believe it or not these are the entrances to the rarely seen rodent trap option, screwed on the inside, they were meant to lure meeses and such with the smell of synthetic Swiss cheese. Once passed the flap the little creature, unable to escape, was slowly cooked at 180+ deg.F on the next road trip.

 

Sounds delicious !!!!!!

 

Unless, of course, they fall into the fan. Which runs rarely.

Kinda' like Ration Roulette?

They cook, get diced and fall out. Deliciouso! George knows.

Ouch....

 

Fall out ????
NOOOOOOOOO
That's why I keep my belly pan on ........

 

If they are dry enough (well done?)-they'll vibrate their way to the back and...gone! A tasty menl for any lucky passerby!

 

The pressure increases inside engine bay when the fan runs closing the flaps. without the flaps hot air would be pushed forward through these vents back to the front of the radiator.

 

HA ha, this is the best answer!

 

Nooooooooooo! They are there to prevent air from being compressed in front of the vehicle to the point of sudden collapse behind the vehicle thus creating a Shockwave and what's commonly known as, you guessed it! A sonic boom! 😁 but of course only the alabaster Roadster is capable of that.

 

That's certainly an interesting theory. Fantastical in fact. Unfortunately the scenario you imagine simply can't happen. The engine bay would have to be sealed much, much, much tighter for this theory to work. It is not sealed that well.

 

Without those inlets the only cooling inside the engine compartment would be hot air coming from the radiator. To aid in cooling the engine compartment area these inlets would allow some, but not much cooler air into the engine area. Better than hot air and better than nothing. The flaps would prevent air escaping too much and going up and into the intake manifold inlets when stationary.
Well that's my theory anyway.

 

Dave, I think this is the only possible use for those things.

Unless Mercedes had a barn full of them from some earlier project and dumped them into the mechanical design to bump up the cost of the Crossfire. "Look at how High-Tech this design is. We even have these little flaps at the front to reduce...blah...blah...blah."

Nah-that couldn't happen.

 

It's not a theory, I'm telling you what they are and how they work. Active aerodynamics LOL.