Bugs in Radiator Fins

[CSMITH]

I notice my Radiator is plastered with bugs. Has anybody tried putting a mesh or sreen in front of the radiator to stop the bugs from plugging the radiator air flow? Not sure by doing this that the mesh or screen might interfere with the flow.

 

[TR7110]

Bug Screen

CSMITH,

I have had a piece of aluminum screen in the front of my truck for a year. I have not had a single problem with overheating. I use my truck daily and tow our 10. 5K Fifth Wheel on weekend excursions. I also Towed the 5er from SoCal to KS without any problems. The screen is aluminum window screen cut and folded to fit. Used some Wire Ties and Gromets to hold it where I wanted it. Very minimal bug build up and there are alot of bugs around here. I just rinse it off occassionally.

TR

 

[swamp rat]

Not only can you do so, but I have small packages of screen marketed explicitly for protecting the rad and AC cooler at K-Mart and other various retailers.

 

[illflem]

Read this thread

 

[almitchell]

I, too, use plain old aluminum screen wire in front of the radiator. Take it off and clean it when it needs it. Certainly no problem with overheating a Cummins engine. They hardly need a radiator fan at all to keep cool.

 

[Archive]

I have been using screens on every rig I have owned since 1971. I have Never had any type of overheating problems.



I currently have one in my Ram. I went to home depot, bought a little kit to make a window screen. Comes with four corners, and a length of aluminum. You cut it and make it the proper size for you. Then you usr the roller tool to attach the screen. It is easy to remove and rinse each time I wash the Ram.



Others have posted about the "25percent loss" from using a screen, but I don't believe it nor have I seen any posted data. Besides, which is easier to clean? To spray the bugs out of a radiator backwards would be a PITA!

 

[almitchell]

A little fancier install than mine. I just stuck twistees through the 4 corners and tied to whatever I could find.

 

[Evan A. Beck]

If you are going to use a screen, use one with the larger openings, no smaller than 1/8" square. The screens with the smaller 1/16" square openings are the ones that restrict flow. Overheating is not a concern at all... It is the efficiency of the intercooler that suffers from the restriced airflow caused by a screen.

 

[Silver Ratler]

I have installed window screen similar to those mentioned on the radiator, but I have also added a piece of 1/4 inch hardware cloth on the backside of the grill to help stop a LOT of the bugs prior to getting to the screen. The hardware cloth is very easy to hose off with the hood up. FWIW.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Another option is to replace the honeycomb in the grill with a stainless steel wire mesh from Stull. They also make inserts for the bumper openings which will stop bugs from getting into the intercooler and A/C condensor there as well. They also do a great job of stopping rocks and pebbles from getting to the radiators. I bought mine through Summit Racing - www.summitracing.com , part #STU-2001 for the grill and #STU-2004 for the bumper inserts. Here's a picture of what they look like:



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[SteveH]

For $2 at your local Lowe's or Home Depot you can buy either the aluminum or fiber screening material. I bought one that was about 6" too big for the radiator, folded it several times in about 1" pleats for rigidity and stuck it in front of the radiator. The top folds over the framework at the top of the radiator, one support bolt in the middle of the radiator will poke a hole all the way through the material, further holding it in place. Have never overheated in 5 years, no bugs or road debris gets through, and it simply "shakes" clean after the bugs are dead and dry. Pretty simple and inexpensive fix.

 

[CSMITH]

Thanks for all the responses to my question on screens. This has sure been a great site for questions to be answered.

 

[Archive]

Steve St. Laurent... nice look. Also liked the big TDR badge!

 

[Royal]

I have used both aluminum and fiber glass screens for years on all my vehicles. I prefer the fiber material. My wife sews a 1" seam

around the fabric which I use to anchor it on top under the two grill mount bolts on each side and two tie raps by the hood latch. Every fuel stop I grab both sides and shake the bugs off. They fall on the ground under the truck. Never have had any heat problem and my A/C condensor and rad. are clean as a pin.