Cooling and insects

[greenMachine]

So, spring is warming up, and after that comes summer. With the warmer weather, the insects start moving, and generally seem to end up in my radiator mouth. My usual fix is a layer of insect screen mesh from Bunnings, draped in front of the a/c condenser and radiator. Always been warned about restricting the airflow, never had an overheating problem with it though.

However now I have the SE, and will be undertaking the usual power-enhancing mods (ECU, intercooler, intake, exhaust), the question of cooling is at the forefront of my thinking. While a bigger radiator is also on the list, I am not looking forward to getting grasshoppers etc out of the IC and radiator cooling fins, so leaning toward the insect screen solution.

I am more interested in prevention than cures, but throw either or both at me! Tell me how you handle this annual bugbear

[Daffy]

On mine, when the car is dry, I use a tyre rim brush to brush off the “lumpy” carcasses and then hit it with a smaller hi pressure cleaner that I got from Aldi a while back (a bargin at $50.)
Brushing the big bits out 1st is a must cause sometimes the larger exoskeleton on stuff like the grasshoppers, even with a high pressure blast, can still get stuck and pushed further into the fins. I usually do this first (as well as the rims) when cleaning the car then repeat the high pressure hit after washing the rest of the car- so by the time you hit it the second time, what ever is left has softened up and pretty much gets rid of it all.

[hks_kansei]

I'd just go with the mesh again.

Yeah it will slow some airflow, but so will a ton of grashoppers.
and if it starts to warm up, it's a heap easier to grab a stanley knife and cut the mesh off than spend hours picking bugs out of radiator fins.

[greenMachine]

Thanks for the input. I think I will try the mesh again, and see what happens.

In any event after the front came off for the new radiator and intercooler, I need to repeat the exercise, and this time start plugging holes so the air goes through, not past, the radiator.