If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to help your rig run a bit better, there’s an argument to be made for these Jeep TJ hood vents. Even the most casual of gearheads can recognize feeding an engine more air is a good idea; after all, the internal combustion is simply a huge air pump. The easier it can breathe – both in and out – atmosphere, the more efficiently it will run.
Hood vents require a bit of planning, given their installation process which usually requires more than a little bit of cutting. Still, if one takes their time, measures twice and cuts once, buys a quality product, and installs it properly, a decent set of hood vents can add a dose of sorely needed fresh air to the engine compartment of your TJ. Shop carefully, and you might even find a set that’s attractive and blends in with the Jeep’s styling.
Lead photo courtesy Cindy Creighton/Shutterstock
Table of contents
1. Editors Choice: GenRight Off-Road Long Hood Louver Vent
As soon as you see these, you know what they’re intended to do. These Jeep TJ hood vents are specifically targeted for Jeep owners but are universal and can be used on most any off-road rig. Real world customers say in the feedback section that so long as the surface to which they are installed is flat, they integrate into the bodywork with relative ease. Setting them up and marking their install points seems to take about an hour, with another two more trips around the clock needed to put these things in the hood of your Jeep. Their main function is to draw hot air out of the engine compartment, a key component to a happy Jeep. They would be of particular use to anyone using their TJ on slow-moving and technical off-road trails in which the machine is running at barely above idle for extended periods. Same goes for a highway commute or towing a heavy trailer.
2. Best Mesh Hood Vents: Rugged Ridge Hood Vent Kit
Rugged Ridge is a well-known brand in off-road circles for good reasons. They pack their online store with items that are priced within reason and built with attention to detail. These Jeep Wrangler TJ hood vents will require owners cut holes in the hood of their ride, so be absolutely certain of their placement before setting to work with the acetylene torch and hammer drill. Correctly installed, they are said to promote proper airflow of your Jeep’s engine bay. Their all-dark finish and mesh vents look good, by the way. Rugged Ridge says these vents are injection molded for a precision fit – but if you’re going to cut holes of your own, that’s less of an issue. Owners of a Wrangler with the Performance Vented Hood from the factory will have an easier time with installation thanks to the style of those hoods.
3. JeCar Hood Vent / Hood Scoop / Vent Cover
This is a simple modification to help with engine compartment cooling. Looking suspiciously like Jeep TJ hood louvers at first glance, it is a single piece of injection molded plastic that sits over the cowl heater air vent, scooping up fresh atmosphere and feeding it to the engine compartment. This, in theory, reduces the amount of heat in there, permitting the engine to run a bit better since just about every internal combustion engine runs a bit better when huffing cold air. This vent cover is held in place with adhesive tape, if you’re wondering, so drilling holes into your prized Jeep is not necessary. It’ll also make for an easier time when you want to remove the thing, since cleaning up a bit of adhesive residue is an awful lot easier than filling in holes that were drilled to mount accessories.
4. Jeep Wrangler Hood Vents by Daystar
These hoot vents are designed to let hot air escape instead of letting more cold air into the engine compartment. Their seller, Daystar, says they’re good not only for TJ-era Jeeps but also the square-eyed YJ which stretches all the way back to 1987. They are apparently easy to install using a few simple tools and a vent template The concept is sound, with vents of this type charged with evacuating a hot air while injecting some style into your ride. Made of poly, Daystar likes to boast that all their products are made in the USA and feature a “No Questions Asked” lifetime warranty.
kkone Black Cowl Vent Hood Scoop Fit for Wrangler TJ
Similar in concept to the cowl vent scoop listed above, this option looks a bit more sleek (if you care about sleekness in a vehicle shaped like a barn door) and has some actual styling cues. The raised shoulders and stepped body shape are arguably more attractive than a rectangular metal tent over the cowl vent. Styling aside, this ram induction hood scoop is designed to provide maximum air flow to your passenger compartment. It measures about 1.5 inches tall and about a foot wide, meaning those better at math than I am can figure out the total square area of new intake you just installed on your TJ. It’s obscenely easy to install, simply sticking to the Jeep’s surface with 3M double-sided tape. That the 3M brand is mentioned specifically is a very good thing, since not all adhesives are created equal.
Do Jeep TJ hood vents actually work?
Survey says: yes. While we’re reasonably sure the engineers at Jeep designed the most effective venting system at the time of TJ’s introduction, they’re often working within the confines of budget, fuel economy target, or both. Freed of those shackles, customers can go ahead and place a couple of hood vents where the Jeep crew wanted to place them all along.
How can I tell if the hood vents are working on my Jeep?
Keep an eye on the Jeep’s temperature gauge. If it drops compared to its reading prior to the installation of these new hood vents, then the project was a success. Be aware that some of the vents on this list are designed to draw in air for ventilation and others are supposed to draw hot air out of the Jeep’s engine compartment. Know which one you want before hitting the Buy Now button.
Additional Resources
- Best Jeep TJ Fenders To Give Your Ride Some Flare
- Best Jeep TJ Rock Sliders To Protect Your Wrangler
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