You seen them when the cowling is off, but perhaps pay little attention to the condition of the baffle seals on your engine. These are the strips of rubber that sit under the cowling lip, directing airflow through the engine cooling fins. They start out soft and flexible, conforming to the shape of the cowling, but as time goes on, they lose their flex, become brittle and can even break. This allows critical cooling air to escape the cowling, and up go the temps.
The good news is that baffle seals aren’t difficult to replace, and if you participate in owner-assisted annuals or do your own maintenance, you can restore your engine’s cooling efficiency in just a few hours. Here’s a guide for DIY replacement.