Radiator cover needed?
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 352
Likes: 0
From: Kansas, USA
Radiator cover needed?
When it get's down to 0 degrees Farenheit and below, should one shield the radiator (grille) from that cold moving air. Over the past years I've used a feed sack or cardboard. With auxillary transmission cooler and extra big radiator and oil cooler, maybe it would be more advisable than ever (if advisable at all).
Come on now you "Northerners" enlighten me.:-X12
Come on now you "Northerners" enlighten me.:-X12
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 713
Likes: 0
From: C H I C A G O
Radiator cover needed?
Last year i took a piece of thin sheetmetal and "hacked" togther something. I placed it behind my grille , didnt look to bad , and it made a HUGE difference. The truck warmed up allot faster , and ran better while driving. Plus it kept the heat in , so if i ran to get food or something , when i came back out the truck was still somewhat warm.
This year i ordered these grille screen type of things from Lund. From the factory they have holes in them , so i just took some heat insulation and placed it on the back, serves the same purpose as a piece of cradboard , but looks allot better. The screens snap over the factory grille. I also removed the stock hoodliner , and put some insulation made for a waterheater(from good ol' Home Depot) and place it back on thr hood, that made a good difference as well...
This year i ordered these grille screen type of things from Lund. From the factory they have holes in them , so i just took some heat insulation and placed it on the back, serves the same purpose as a piece of cradboard , but looks allot better. The screens snap over the factory grille. I also removed the stock hoodliner , and put some insulation made for a waterheater(from good ol' Home Depot) and place it back on thr hood, that made a good difference as well...
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,496
Likes: 0
From: Calgary Canada
Radiator cover needed?
>When it get's down to 0 degrees Farenheit and below, should
>one shield the radiator (grille) from that cold moving air.
>Over the past years I've used a feed sack or cardboard.
>With auxillary transmission cooler and extra big radiator
>and oil cooler, maybe it would be more advisable than ever
>(if advisable at all).
> Come on now you "Northerners" enlighten me.:-X12
Bonafide northerner here.
If you're running a diesel some sort of winter front like you described is VITAL. A diesel engine will not reach proper operating temps, or at the least have trouble maintaining them, in temps that cold. This can lead to severly shortening the life of your PSD. It can also lead to freezing your axe off in the truck.
It's important in a gas engine as well. You'll notice faster warm ups (the engine and you
) and better heat retention as mentioned above. You'll also be keeping the engine operating at efficient temps. Just keep an eye on the temp gauge if you're towing or the temps start to rise.
There are lots of aftermarket fronts available that have adjustable openings so you can "fine tune" the amount of cold air that is allowed to pass through. When it gets cold up here the vehicle without some sort of winter front is the oddity, and you won't see an 18 wheeler without one.
Waxy
>one shield the radiator (grille) from that cold moving air.
>Over the past years I've used a feed sack or cardboard.
>With auxillary transmission cooler and extra big radiator
>and oil cooler, maybe it would be more advisable than ever
>(if advisable at all).
> Come on now you "Northerners" enlighten me.:-X12
Bonafide northerner here.
If you're running a diesel some sort of winter front like you described is VITAL. A diesel engine will not reach proper operating temps, or at the least have trouble maintaining them, in temps that cold. This can lead to severly shortening the life of your PSD. It can also lead to freezing your axe off in the truck.
It's important in a gas engine as well. You'll notice faster warm ups (the engine and you
) and better heat retention as mentioned above. You'll also be keeping the engine operating at efficient temps. Just keep an eye on the temp gauge if you're towing or the temps start to rise.There are lots of aftermarket fronts available that have adjustable openings so you can "fine tune" the amount of cold air that is allowed to pass through. When it gets cold up here the vehicle without some sort of winter front is the oddity, and you won't see an 18 wheeler without one.
Waxy
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,246
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From: Princeton, MN
Radiator cover needed?
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 09-Dec-02 AT 04:10 PM (EST)]It always seemed to me that when it got cold enough to make a difference, that a grill cover didn't make much of a difference. I always believed more in the block or oil pan heaters to help with warm-ups and better starting than plugging up the airflow characteristics of the grill. I'm not trying to say it's a horrible idea and you shouldn't do it, I've done it, just didn't feel like it helped any (of course the temp was 20-30 below zero then and I lived a little farther north). I just think that plugging the truck in works better and then you can keep good airflow through your system. But then the cold never bothered me much, that's why I still live up here and plan on moving back a little farther north.
I wouldn't know about the diesels, never owned one, I have a 5.4 in my '01 and a 351 in my '92
that's my penny's worth. two cents would probably be claiming too much credit.
I wouldn't know about the diesels, never owned one, I have a 5.4 in my '01 and a 351 in my '92
that's my penny's worth. two cents would probably be claiming too much credit.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,496
Likes: 0
From: Calgary Canada
Radiator cover needed?
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 09-Dec-02 AT 04:16 PM (EST)]I'll give you $.02 Buckarcher.
You made an excellent point, block heaters are the way to go, they prevent cold starting damage. Those 10 or more revs of the starter when the engine is cold and the length of time it takes for cold oil to start to circulate does the most damage to your engine. Anything you can do to minimize it is good.
The rad cover applies more to maintaining operating temps and allowing the truck to reach operating temps faster once it's running.
Waxy
You made an excellent point, block heaters are the way to go, they prevent cold starting damage. Those 10 or more revs of the starter when the engine is cold and the length of time it takes for cold oil to start to circulate does the most damage to your engine. Anything you can do to minimize it is good.
The rad cover applies more to maintaining operating temps and allowing the truck to reach operating temps faster once it's running.
Waxy
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 352
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From: Kansas, USA
Radiator cover needed?
Thanks, Joe, Buck and Waxy.....Now I hope it isn't necessary this winter. When I went to school in St Paul, MN everybody thought that I spoke with a Southern accent which didn't offend me but why did they think that Kansa City was on the Gulf of Mexico? :-X12 Trending Topics
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,986
Likes: 43
From: maryland
Radiator cover needed?
i dont have anything infront of the rad and mine maintains proper eng temps. maybe its not that cold here in MD yet.
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