Can I block my radiator with cardboard

[TPerrault]

will i overheat my trans, (i do have trans temp gauge) or someting else if i put cardboard between intercooler and radiator. It takes to long to heatup.

 

[jungledave]

Do you plug it in? Surely you have a block heater in Conn. If it is that cold I wouldn't worry about the transmission cooler; there will still be a little air still going through it Your engine fan still turns a little even with the clutch unengaged and that may sound a little funny. When your engine gets warm enough to engage the fan clutch your gonna have a pretty good roar trying to suck air through cardboard and also a noticable power loss with the fan not being able to get the proper air flow. I would be concerned with not having any air flowing through your intercooler.

 

[RKohn]

I found a medium pizza box works nice on those really cold days.

 

[SRadke]

I have no exprience with the trans coolers but I'll tell you what I know about blocking radiators. First, plan on cutting a hole in the middle to cool the fan clutch. If you don';t it will run al the time once the truck warms up and it makes a lot of noises as well as robbing power. Second, if you're going to block it, block it all. Uneven air flow across the fan blades causes stresses that may break your fan or lead to serious damage. A hole in the middle is fine but don't try to just block half.



-Scott

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

If you are loading the enigne, you need air flow through the intercooler to keep egt's down.

 

[KWentling]

I've used 1/4" peg board with 1/4" holes slid in between the radiator and intercooler. It allows some air to flow but really helps warm it up quicker and run warmer when it's really cold. Worked well for 9 years on the same piece of pegboard! Easy to put in and take out too.



Kim

 

[Prairie Dog]

Your going to have a drop in performance and fuel mileage if you block the inter cooler.

 

[nickleinonen]

Your going to have a drop in performance and fuel mileage if you block the inter cooler.

you also get that performance/fuel economy drop when they switch to d1/d2 blend for winter

 

[DPelletier]

If you are loading the enigne, you need air flow through the intercooler to keep egt's down.

Joe,

That makes sense to me. I use a winter front (plastic grill inserts) and I wonder if it blocks off a significant amount of flow to the intercooler. I also wonder about the airflow disruption to the fan (picking up on the cracking fan blade issue mentioned above). The opening in the bumper remains open with my set-up and I've always suspected that the 6" or so between the grill and the rad/intercooler would help the above issue(s). Any thoughts?



Dave

 

[BRayls]

I tow the toys north when the snow falls. I put a piece between the intercooler and radiator. I have to remove when I tow as it does heat up pretty quick like that. but driving around empty I have no problem. I have a rule I follow to only block 60 percent of radiator. I have a nice piece of aluminum that has holes in it for the stock car that would make a nice set-up for this application. the car has to tracks to let it fall into during hot laps ,or cooler spring/fall races. again I only block less than 60 percent , it has the holes all over it to allow air through. on the truck I block the top and leave the bottom open.

 

[ttreibel]

Second, if you're going to block it, block it all. Uneven air flow across the fan blades causes stresses that may break your fan or lead to serious damage. A hole in the middle is fine but don't try to just block half.



-Scott

I didn't do that on my old 1990 Ford 7. 3 IDI needless to say I had put out for a clutch fan 400 bucks!! I did get a little better milage but not enough to offset the repair.



With my new Ram I would only block the radiator if the temp. was below zero for the day time high. At night plug it in and again block the front I use reflextic (looks like mylar bubble wrap), I also use it when I ski all day but then remove it for driving.

 

[Cattletrkr]

Does anybody make a big-rig style cover for a pickup?? A piece of vinyl or whatever covering the entire grill but with flaps that can be opened once the engine is warmed up. That way you can have everything covered to warm up and just open the flaps before pulling out of the driveway.

 

[Blakers]

When your engine gets warm enough to engage the fan clutch your gonna have a pretty good roar trying to suck air through cardboard and also a noticable power loss with the fan not being able to get the proper air flow.

Not true. If the fan is running in a vacuum, with no air feeding it, it will run with almost no load and should be quiet. On the big rigs with shutters, when the shutters are closed, the fans run freely with no load. They don't try sucking the shutters in like a vacuum cleaner.