Winter Front
Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: SE Michigan
I too am using the Fia Winter Front / Bug Screen. I bought it mainly for the bug screen for our trip to Alaska, It worked great!
I used the plastic adhesive snaps on the chrome, and the stainless snaps and screws on the black plastic and under the hood.
Last edited by NewportNic; Nov 1, 2019 at 01:00 PM. Reason: Added picture
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,210
Likes: 11
From: California Mountains
Yeah u ned in Canada
its need there in cold but not in the lower 48
Cross-Country
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
hello everyone.
this is my first post.
I just purchased my first Ford vehicle. A 2019 F250 Platinum crew sb. Coming from a decade of Rams
and before that 2 decades of GM's. I was wondering if there is a weather front available for the
diesel? I saw that fia makes a weather front/bug screen but it requires drilling or double sided taping
for installation. I am looking for an application that is behind the grill and temporary in nature.
Any ideas?
thanks.
this is my first post.
I just purchased my first Ford vehicle. A 2019 F250 Platinum crew sb. Coming from a decade of Rams
and before that 2 decades of GM's. I was wondering if there is a weather front available for the
diesel? I saw that fia makes a weather front/bug screen but it requires drilling or double sided taping
for installation. I am looking for an application that is behind the grill and temporary in nature.
Any ideas?
thanks.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 175
Likes: 7
From: NW Suburban Chicago
Ok, old thread but......1st winter with the new truck with a 6.7
I see the need for a winter front as it was 20 °F this morning and it took over 30 mins of drive time before the water temp hit 200° and opened up the t'sat. At least 10 mins was at 70+ mph speeds. This include starting the truck 10 mins before I hit the road.
I'm betting that the water temp never reaches operating temps during the winter at temps below 0° hardly ever, if at all, especially in normal suburban/city traffic.
Knowing wet stacking is an issue I have no problem installing a winter front to help get the temp up faster and to keep the temp up. Yes, monitoring the water temp will be critical when to open up the winter front for additional cooling.
I've already lost nearly a 1/2 MPG with the cooler weather due to the slow heating of the engine. The MPG is only going to get worse as the avg high starts to nose dive come December/January. The avg high temp in January in the Chicago area is in the high 20's
I know my 02 7.3 would bump up the idle 300-400 RPM at certain winter conditions.
Who's running a winter front and who's do you have? Pictures would be helpful too.
I see the need for a winter front as it was 20 °F this morning and it took over 30 mins of drive time before the water temp hit 200° and opened up the t'sat. At least 10 mins was at 70+ mph speeds. This include starting the truck 10 mins before I hit the road.
I'm betting that the water temp never reaches operating temps during the winter at temps below 0° hardly ever, if at all, especially in normal suburban/city traffic.
Knowing wet stacking is an issue I have no problem installing a winter front to help get the temp up faster and to keep the temp up. Yes, monitoring the water temp will be critical when to open up the winter front for additional cooling.
I've already lost nearly a 1/2 MPG with the cooler weather due to the slow heating of the engine. The MPG is only going to get worse as the avg high starts to nose dive come December/January. The avg high temp in January in the Chicago area is in the high 20's
I know my 02 7.3 would bump up the idle 300-400 RPM at certain winter conditions.
Who's running a winter front and who's do you have? Pictures would be helpful too.
I'll post more pictures and company information later.
Cross-Country
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 79
Likes: 8
From: FL/NY
Old too
im so old - we used to just drop a piece of cardboard behind the grill in front of the radiator.....if it wasn't horribly cold we'd cut the card board in 1/2 so it would only cover 1/2 the radiator.
Heres a link to the FIA cover - I never heard of it before (im not endorsing it, just provided a link that others didn't) - https://gofia.com/product-category/w...n-combination/
Heres a link to the FIA cover - I never heard of it before (im not endorsing it, just provided a link that others didn't) - https://gofia.com/product-category/w...n-combination/
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,885
Likes: 778
From: SoCal/Wyoming
I am also in the camp of “not needed”. We used cardboard on the old trucks. Many of the guys I knew back then would also pull the fan off in the winter and put it back on in spring. My Bronco II needed the cardboard treatment one time getting out of Wyoming on my way to Kansas back in 85 but that was the last time. Have been in some very cold temps parked on I80 for hours waiting for it to open and I have never had any problems.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,422
Likes: 20
I had my truck in -25 to -40C weather last winter for long stretches and was amazed at how well the Ford (18 F350 6.7) handled the colder temps without a winter front. I came from a Dodge that needed the winter front. I will be back into those temps soon and won’t be putting a winter front on again. The only thing I did to prepare for this winter was to wire in the high idle using the e-brake and upfitter switch to help even though the automatic high idle did a great job last year.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,101
Likes: 60
From: N. Illinois
Winter covers are a bad idea on a modern truck. Concentrated cold on a small area opening of a modern ultra thin heat exchanger can damage them. Hardly anyone needs them, unless you live in an area that may reach a high of -25 where you need a full cover. In the lower 48? Never a need.
The best is the Fia bug screen. My dealer thought I was goofy, until I returned a week later to show him the screen caked with bugs. Those bugs in the radiator fins will diminish cooling VERY quickly.
For those concerned, the snaps are either removable black adhesive type, or stainless with screws. The Fia has a soft back, and in many many miles, I’ve never seen a scratch from abrasion. For the bug screen alone, I will always have one on my trucks. If someone is interested in a 2017-2019 Winter front and Bug screen, PM me. I’ll look around for it and see what kind of deal I can swing. You provide your own snaps.
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 483
Likes: 55
Spent last winter with a 2019 6.7 in temps as low as 0 to -30 and no winter front was needed, not sure what you guys have going with reports of 20 degree outdoor temps and not warming up, mine was fine with no issues. Better than the ram 3500 6.7 I have too.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,866
Likes: 515
From: WNY
c’mon George. Be real. You’re not going to damage your heat exchanger. If that were true, we’d all be sitting in the side of the road in winter. I’ve run them for years. I sold my Fia to a guy on this board two years ago when I sold my 2017 F-250. I have one for my 2019 3.0L Stroke, and depending on your driving and distance and outdoor temp, they are a godsend on a cold-blooded diesel. I only use mine below zero, though, because above that, there is no need.
The best is the Fia bug screen. My dealer thought I was goofy, until I returned a week later to show him the screen caked with bugs. Those bugs in the radiator fins will diminish cooling VERY quickly.
For those concerned, the snaps are either removable black adhesive type, or stainless with screws. The Fia has a soft back, and in many many miles, I’ve never seen a scratch from abrasion. For the bug screen alone, I will always have one on my trucks. If someone is interested in a 2017-2019 Winter front and Bug screen, PM me. I’ll look around for it and see what kind of deal I can swing. You provide your own snaps.
The best is the Fia bug screen. My dealer thought I was goofy, until I returned a week later to show him the screen caked with bugs. Those bugs in the radiator fins will diminish cooling VERY quickly.
For those concerned, the snaps are either removable black adhesive type, or stainless with screws. The Fia has a soft back, and in many many miles, I’ve never seen a scratch from abrasion. For the bug screen alone, I will always have one on my trucks. If someone is interested in a 2017-2019 Winter front and Bug screen, PM me. I’ll look around for it and see what kind of deal I can swing. You provide your own snaps.
This is not my opinion, but rather a policy of a rather large trucking company a longtime friend owns. I shared their experience, and that’s all. They don’t use them, haven’t used them in years for said reason.
With extra heat producing EGR, there is zero need for them today. Just read the thread from opinions and experiences above. If a WF makes you feel better, please don’t let me interfere with your use.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 175
Likes: 7
From: NW Suburban Chicago
I don’t like how long it takes to get up to normal operating temps
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 175
Likes: 7
From: NW Suburban Chicago
This was made by Finest Auto Trim out of Fargo, ND. $110 bucks inc shipping. They wer great to work with!
https://finestautotrim.com/
Better pics when the sun comes out
https://finestautotrim.com/
Better pics when the sun comes out
.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 133
Likes: 6
I just got done a 7000 mile trip. I went the full length of route 66 out to la la back through el paso, baton Rouge and up through Louisville. I was pulling a 15k RV. 90% of the time I had the cruise set at 62 mph on my f450. The slower I drove the better the mpg.
I noticed when driving the long flat straight stretches in Texas that my mileage was dropping about 1/10 of mpg every 2-3 degrees colder it got. My mileage was averaging right at 9.0mpg after 2500 miles. At a fuel stop in Texas I decided to cut some pieces of cardboard and insert them in the grille. I was careful not cover any specific coolers and covered about 1/2 the main rad. My mileage instantly went up 0.5 mpg. I kept a close eye on elevation changes and temps the rest of the trip and everything was fine. My trip average ending up being 10.4 mpg according to the computer. I checked a few tanks along the way and it was always about 2-3% optimistic so close enough.
After this experiment I am convinced to find a winter front with flaps I can open. I live in Ontario so it can get cold here and the truck has too much cooling for our climate. The gauges read fine but I am guessing the rapid heat and thermostats are making engine work harder and the truck isn't getting as warm as it should. Also my def consumption went down as well.
I noticed when driving the long flat straight stretches in Texas that my mileage was dropping about 1/10 of mpg every 2-3 degrees colder it got. My mileage was averaging right at 9.0mpg after 2500 miles. At a fuel stop in Texas I decided to cut some pieces of cardboard and insert them in the grille. I was careful not cover any specific coolers and covered about 1/2 the main rad. My mileage instantly went up 0.5 mpg. I kept a close eye on elevation changes and temps the rest of the trip and everything was fine. My trip average ending up being 10.4 mpg according to the computer. I checked a few tanks along the way and it was always about 2-3% optimistic so close enough.
After this experiment I am convinced to find a winter front with flaps I can open. I live in Ontario so it can get cold here and the truck has too much cooling for our climate. The gauges read fine but I am guessing the rapid heat and thermostats are making engine work harder and the truck isn't getting as warm as it should. Also my def consumption went down as well.