Took some temp readings today w/ an IR thermometer after my car had parked for 3 hours in the AZ sun. When it's 104°F outside (after 5 minutes of driving), under the direct sun, the temp of the air coming out of the vents can be as high as 125°F due to the solar gain off the intake grill. Coolest point in the car was 116°F pointing at the floor near the driver's seat. OAT showed 109°F when first started. This was with a heat shield, around 1:30pm in Phoenix. I think this system would perform better if the ventilation system equipment outside was a close to white as possible w/o being unsightly or glare-inducing. I'd assert that w/o solar or heat shield that the interior would have been MUCH hotter! On cooler days, the difference between outside and inside is much closer. On a different note, in the morning, I took temps w/ an IR thermometer of both hoods, the BP hood was 93°F at 9:45am. the Tideland Pearl hood was 116°F in the same level of sunlight. Light colors do have a chance at being cooler!
That's still pretty impressive. Any idea how hot the inside of the car would be without the solar vent turned on just for comparison sake?
I keep meaning to test this, but I haven't been able to park in a consistent spot, nor have I been willing to sweat it out lately. The temps will cool off a tad tomorrow and the next day, maybe I'll try it then.
