I have been puzzled by the black plastic "caps" on either side of the grill opening. I sprayed water to see if they directed it to the radiator, but no. So yesterday I was doing an oil change (had a box fan running to cool me) and just removed them (very easy). Immediately I felt more air flow!! This will, I'm sure, help with the power steering fluild boil over. So are these things just to clean up the looks and hide hoses, etc.?

 

Are you referring to the black piece of plastic in the lower left corner of this picture? If so, you don't really need them. They protect the PS cooler somewhat, but really hide hoses.

 

The parts manual calls them "sight blockers"

 

Yes, those are it. Wow, with them removed you get almost a lineal foot additional grill area

 

I had the impression that they were there to increase air velocity through the radiator..."sight blockers"?

 

They could very well do that, but the Nissan book calls them sight blockers.

 

That's also what I thought, but from my water experiment, they don't seem to direct anything. In fact, since they are sort of cup shaped they "splash back" at you

 

rip em out! they're worthless...

 

yup, mine are gone too