Carbon Fiber hoods in the winter???
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 219
From: NJ
Carbon Fiber hoods in the winter???
well pretty soon were gonna start getting hit with some snow, and i was just wondering if people were leave the cfh on or taking them off in the winter.do u think the snow being on it will be safe?just let me know what u guys are doin.thanx
The few people I have known that left carbon fiber hoods on in the winter ended up with cloudy hoods after a winter to 2. The gel coat they use on to finish the hood and salt dont mix well. Your hood will turn out being a cloudy finish instead of nice and shiny like it is now. I would take it off. Also small fender bender accidents are more likely in the winter and it would suck to destroy your CF from accidently sliding into a semi trailer or something.
Originally Posted by slammed95
Just to be safe, I suggest taking them off. Most companies don't even use a gel coat on the CF hoods, they simply use the resin as a top layer.
Also, the resin should hold up fine to the elements, especially epoxy and vinyl-ester. Polyester may not fare too well though if not properly catalyzed. Not many companies cure the hoods under pressure either, which might cause improper interlaminate consolidation, and lead to voids of air that trap moisture and expand in freezing temperatures. That could possibly cause small cracks, especially near the edges.
Also, the resin should hold up fine to the elements, especially epoxy and vinyl-ester. Polyester may not fare too well though if not properly catalyzed. Not many companies cure the hoods under pressure either, which might cause improper interlaminate consolidation, and lead to voids of air that trap moisture and expand in freezing temperatures. That could possibly cause small cracks, especially near the edges.
Oh that reminds me. when I had my CF hood on just prior to taking it off last winter, when it was really cold out, i caused little tiny stress cracks in the hood where i put my palms on it to jam it shut. yet another reason to take it off in the winter.
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