[Cj1]

So I came from BMW M cars to the Camaro ZL1. With BMW they have alot of plastic under the hood where chevy has it in the interior. With the BMW's, you're not supposed to open the hood to help engine bay cool. It is better to keep the heat in there, so much so that BMW created a system to retain the heat so the plastic components don't go through as many hot to cold cycles and wear faster.
The ZL1, well I don't see as much plastics, more so Aluminum. What are your thoughts on opening the hood or leaving it closed. I like to think venting the heat saves paint and carbin fiber hood while helping the engine bay dispell heat, your garage won't turn into as much as an oven either or sauna if cars wet.

[kropscamaro16]

i usually open up my hood after a track session and let it air out for a good 20-30 mins not sure if it helps or hurts but im sure my car appreciates the break and fresh air

[Mark R]

You are overthinking this. Nothing bad will ever happen to the car if you park it in the garage with the hood closed after driving. However, the total amount of heat released will be the same, regardless of whether the hood is open or closed.

[SSDan]

I doubt it makes any difference unless maybe at the track or drag strip between runs.

[LT4Greg]

Agreed Mark R!

[ctrlz]

Agree with comments above.
I think with the BMW they are concerned about the speed and possible unevenness of cooling, which could cause warpage/distortion. Say something facing hot exhaust manifold on one side and cool air on the other.

[Z OH 6]

Originally Posted by Mark R

You are overthinking this. Nothing bad will ever happen to the car if you park it in the garage with the hood closed after driving. However, the total amount of heat released will be the same, regardless of whether the hood is open or closed.

This and its too much trouble to open and close the hood everytime I drive the car. No manufacturer builds a car with this requirement. Besides, this is not a BMW so reliability isn't an issue.

[SOCAL.M6.ZLE]

When I get home... I ALWAYS pop the hood, to help heat dissipate faster, now that the car is no longer moving... I also programmed by fans to run for 5 minutes at 20%, so when I park the car away from home, the engine bay can prevent excess heat soak. I have no metrics for benefits... all theoretical.

[02blackss]

I remember when I was in the vette club years ago, especially the guys driving C3's, they ALWAYS opened the hood to avoid heat soak.
Whenever I park the ZL1, I usually just pop the hood, but do not open it, leaving that crack open for the heat to disperse faster.

Jason

[WhiteMale]

I agree, not putting a blazing hot temps summer and hot engine in my garage to heat soak the house above my garage but popping the hood is

[Vigilante375]

Only time I ever do this is if I'm at the road course. When I get home from driving, the hood stays closed.

I never understand why some manufacturers want to put so much plastic in the engine bay and some go so far to where you can't even see the engine.

[Plasar]

Some folks here are buying into The Internet Fables - plastic longevity, heat soak (with the engine off?)… just park her and grab an ice cold beer…

[JTS]

If I was still living up in Washington, I wouldn't be so concerned about the heat under the hood, but here in Arizona with an ambient temperatures in the summer of 105 to 110 degrees, I open the hood and leave the windows down when I get home in the garage and turn the garage AC on .

[Vigilante375]

Originally Posted by Plasar

Some folks here are buying into The Internet Fables - plastic longevity, heat soak (with the engine off?)… just park her and grab an ice cold beer…

Well heat soak is real and not a myth. Why do you think people who drag race or road course their cars own the hood in between runs or sessions? To help the engine cool off and not heat soak.

Have you ever seen some cars take a little time to cool down in between motility multiple dyno runs? That's because of heat soak.