Grill Cover
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 465
Likes: 0
I am actually a going to school for heavy duty truck mechanic, and my teacher just talked about this subject yesterday. Every new semi out there that is running one of those is completely useless those are deisgned for the old school truck with crappy insluation and heaters. The only thing they are causing is for the fan to work harder to pull the extra heat out of the radiator that you are not letting through and can actually burn uite a bit more fuel. Yes it could help with letting less cold air coming through the grill and into the intake but probably not that must of a noticable difference.
Just my 2 cents.
Just my 2 cents.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 9,714
Likes: 2
From: White Mnt's,New Hampshire
Originally Posted by Tenn01PSD350
This would be the least of my worries when it is sub freezing out. My 6637 can suck all the air it wants from that gaping hole known as the bottom of the engine compartment.
Now this is an interesting post and food for thought. I think I want my truck to warm up as quickly as possible. Since the stat won't open until it reaches temp, I know the radiator has no affect. What does have an affect is that sub freezing air being sucked through the radiator making my intake air that much colder and cooling it even more through the IC. I'm kinda thinking along the AIH design theory. Oh well, even if it helped a little bit, it would be worth it to me. Besides, that cover will not close the bottom inlet where the front license bracket mounts anyway.
Wonder why the big rigs use them???? Truckers???
Now this is an interesting post and food for thought. I think I want my truck to warm up as quickly as possible. Since the stat won't open until it reaches temp, I know the radiator has no affect. What does have an affect is that sub freezing air being sucked through the radiator making my intake air that much colder and cooling it even more through the IC. I'm kinda thinking along the AIH design theory. Oh well, even if it helped a little bit, it would be worth it to me. Besides, that cover will not close the bottom inlet where the front license bracket mounts anyway.
Wonder why the big rigs use them???? Truckers???
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 3
From: Windsor, Colorado
I try to run my winter front when it is below 10 degrees (alot of times it gets left on for a while). I am worried about freezing the coolant in the radiator when driving down the road at 80 mph with temps that cold.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 14,582
Likes: 12
From: 21791
Its the time of the year here where it won't get above 55 and the lows are starting to drop into the thirties and twenties. Since i rarely drive my truck during the day (it's a evening/weekend toy) it is normally colder. Tonight i made a new "redneck cardboard cold front" for my grille. I have a billet style grille as of now, and it has tabs on the backside that look like casting tabs. Well i drilled holes through a few of them, traced out a piece of cardboard, cut it out, cut out a spot for the zoodad hole, and painted it black. Ill have to get pictures, you can't even tell its there, plus it doesnt cover up the air intake. I don't notice any power or EGT difference, and the temp gauge comes up at least twice as fast.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 355
Likes: 0
From: Wichita, KS
For anyone who cares, I didn't get around to ordering a cover but I made one out of cardboard. Since that time the weather has gotten colder and my mileage has gone back up to 14-14.5 mpg. I don't know why it helped but it did so I will probably order myself a cover real soon.
