I'm wondering if removing the weather stripping/seal where my hood meets the cowl area would do anything to reduce engine compartment heat.

 

I know that there is an area of high pressure there which is what makes cowl induction hood scoops work. So it SHOULD push air into the engine compartment, right? It is always nice to find ways to keep the intake manifold (among other parts) cooler. If my Forester was a turbo, I'd be even more concerned with under-hood temps.

 

Am I considering something that would have minimal effect? Are there any cons I'm not thinking of? And don't even mention water or dirt getting in there. Cars get wet under the hood already. That is NOT a concern.

I need that on my turbo wagon years ago. Lots of underhood heat will exit but on the negative side, if the engine smokes some, the cabin air will always smell of oil. So much heat escaped I never had to run the defrost. 

I need that on my turbo wagon years ago. Lots of underhood heat will exit but on the negative side, if the engine smokes some, the cabin air will always smell of oil. So much heat escaped I never had to run the defrost. 

 

I hadn't considered how it might affect cabin air. Maybe I'll just have to remove it and see what happens. I can always put it back on, after all.

I think it will cause more heat build up instead of less.  You have a fan at the front, and at speed, airflow through the front grill into the engine compartment.  If you have air pushing it at speed from the rear of the engine bay, then you basically have two fans aimed at each other and total air flow is reduced, not increased.

I think it will cause more heat build up instead of less.  You have a fan at the front, and at speed, airflow through the front grill into the engine compartment.  If you have air pushing it at speed from the rear of the engine bay, then you basically have two fans aimed at each other and total air flow is reduced, not increased.

That is something to consider. I how the airflow will be affected into/out of the bottom of the engine compartment. After all, that is wide open.