As the hot summer driving season approaches I wanted to post this suggestion. I had noticed the front air dam, which deflects air up to the radiator had become pushed back and was probably not deflecting as much air as it use to. I estimated it had lost about 20% to 30% of it’s deflecting capability. I had tried to bend it back to it’s proper position put the plastic would not retake it’s original shape. I was considering buying a new air dam but another experience came to mind that I thought I would try first.

So yesterday I took the air dam off and boiled some water in a kettle. I poured the boiling hot water into a jug and took it outside. I placed the air dam front side down on a concrete patio and noticed how the plastic was bent back. The backside of the air dam has a lip, which forms a natural tray to hold the boiling water. I poured the boiling water into this ‘tray’ and let it sit for a few seconds to warm up the plastic. Then wearing thick leather gardening gloves I picked up the air dam and drained off the boiling water and found I could reshape the air dam. Placing the air dam front side down on the concrete indicated how much more of the bend I had to take out. It took several hot water treatments but eventually I could restore the air dam to it’s original position. I washed the air dam and gave all the bolts a shot of oil and everything went back together smoothly.

One word of caution you have to be very, very careful when working with boiling hot water. I few months ago I was using some boiling hot water to soften a garden hose to splice a connector in and I spilled the water on my foot. I ended up going to the hospital with third degree burns. Lucky it has since healed. But if you attempt this procedure please be very careful when working with boiling hot water.

 

I thought the same thing you were thinking, but I found out later the air dam isn't really supposed to scoop air into the radiator. It's purpose is to create a low press area under the eng so air will be sucked thru the rad and pull air across the exhaust to help cool eng compartment. The lower it is to the road, the more effective it will be (and the more likely you will rip it off). I've played with the angle and found it has very little if any effect.

 

How very interesting I would be most interested to know where you found out that the air dam’s purpose is to create a low pressure zone. I am not saying you are wrong but I would just like to know your source. I had always thought the air dam was meant to direct air up into the radiator.

The following article published in High Performance Pontiac tends to suggest the air dam is used to duct the air under the nose up to the radiator. See page two of the article under the heading Fever Cure.

http://www.highperformancepontiac.co...ems/index.html

Either way I imagine taking the bend out of the air dam and restoring it to it’s original shape should help cooling some what.

 

It's a very common misconception. I was guilty as well. Do a search for "air dam low pressure area". The subject has been covered at length.
The air dam does help deflect some air into the radiator area but it's main function is to create a low press area and draw air thru the radiator (and eng compartment).
I got a chuckle from the article where it mentions having the air dam deflected using safety wire cause mine has safety wire holding it as I type this. It's been there for over 10 years. Thats how I was able to experiment with different angles; by loosening or tightening the safety wire.

 

I have to do the same to mine. Im going to try a heat gun.

 

What a revelation! I suppose the side air dams or the ones on either side of the air dam under the radiator should equally be adjusted properly and that there should be no gaps between the radiator air dam and the side air dams. In other words the side air dams should butt up against the radiator air dam and be no gaps between the air dams. There are also some skirts (at least that’s what I think you call them) running down the length of either side of the car have some effect; however, it must really be the radiator and side air dams that create the low pressure zone. Well you learn something new every day!

 

Its true...but it actually creates a low pressure zone BEHIND the airdam and positive in front (all those little molecules hit the airdam and sit there, basically, to make it easier for the fans to pull them through instead of them all rushing under the chassis). More molecules in front versus behind equals greater pressure in front.

You did good i think by correcting the angle of the airdam to its original shape. All those low spots in the roads and driveways pull the dam back over time, making less surface area and thus less positive pressure.

Someone chime in to make sure I am explaining this correctly. Its been a long time since I took college physics.

 

I have the same problem with my 1991 - v6 when I changed the front bumper with the TA one ... in the reality with the new bumper I lost 4 centimeters fo ground effect and now the air dam is not enough and the engine warms up soon and goes down in a long time.
If I add 3 centimeters to the air dam (more is not possible because it would scratch) putting a piece of plastic (poly carbonate which melts at 180C°) at its bottom do you think it will work ?