Cold weather grill cover

[Pizzamaker991]

Does anyone have experience with the mopar factory winter front grill covers?

I am concerned about road grit and salt getting between the cover and the chrome causing scratches, and am considering having ppf film put on the chrome to protect it from scuffing and scratching but I’m not sure if it’s necessary or not.

Lastly, do the covers fit well or is it something that’s going to need to keep being played with and adjusted to keep in place?

 

[Jay P]

Never had an issue with grit/salt causing any problems on current or past diesels. Best advice I can give is learn how to install when it's warm out (not the easiest to install) so you know what to do when it's cold. It fits fine if installed correctly.

 

[Diesel85]

I actually run one of these on my F150 with the 4.2l v6 to help it produce nice hot heat when it's -20F out. I leave it on till it gets in the 40-50F out.

It's funny this thread came along, as there is a cold weather front on another forum on sale for my EcoD. May cave in and buy it, because it's a good price.

 

[Ozymandias]

Chrome is harder then anything else, I wouldn't worry.
Never heard a complaint here about the cover sctraching the grille.

 

[slowmover]

Third Gen genuine MOPAR was the right choice over aftermarket. That may still be true for later generations.

DIY or some cardboard ain’t the same.
This wraps all heat exchangers.

Off by 41F — 31F towing — monitor coolant temp as thermostat coming open means “remove” as daytime high gets above freezing.

Otherwise, adjust flaps for air to engine fan. (Grade pulls).

VVT engines don’t need much help except at highway speeds.


Have an exterior “front” for latest Freightliner. (Grille cover). No damage to plastic chrome.

Grille covers aren’t in the same league as a true winter front. See what Ma MOPAR recommended.


.

 

[06 Dodge]

Third Gen genuine MOPAR was the right choice over aftermarket. That may still be true for later generations.

View attachment 138854

View attachment 138853

DIY or some cardboard ain’t the same.
This wraps all heat exchangers.

Off by 41F — 31F towing — monitor coolant temp as thermostat coming open means “remove” as daytime high gets above freezing.

Otherwise, adjust flaps for air to engine fan. (Grade pulls).

VVT engines don’t need much help except at highway speeds.


Have an exterior “front” for latest Freightliner. (Grille cover). No damage to plastic chrome.

Grille covers aren’t in the same league as a true winter front. See what Ma MOPAR recommended.


.

That is just like the one I had for my 06, loved it and it was so easy to put on

 

[SSchang]

Why do you need a grill cover? I thought the '19 and newer had an active grill shutter?

 

[Turbo Terry]

Good point

 

[kthaxton]

I've used the factory cover since new on my 2015, no scratches or any other issues.

 

[Jay P]

Why do you need a grill cover? I thought the '19 and newer had an active grill shutter?

They do but they only cover part of the radiator so the grill cover helps the engine warm up faster. Manufacturers put the shutters in to help with CAFE (Aerodynamics) not for cooling.

 

[Pizzamaker991]

Thanks for the input. I was just wondering about the likelihood of damage because the last cover I looked at from Mopar had a pretty specific set of instructions:

Only install cover on clean dry surface (obviously)
If cover gets wet, remove and allow to dry then reinstall ??? (so every rain or snow?)
If dirty remove, wash, allow to dry and reinstall

Probably just CYOA type instructions but it kind of made me worry about causing scratches so I never picked one up.

 

[Turbo Terry]

So on my 2022 the warm front just really just clips on to the front grill it’s not really behind anything.
It just kind of tucks in the corners etc of the grill . Looks like it wouldnt stay on but it does. Easy to put on and take off warm cover warm garage. Not so good out in the cold. Really warms the truck up fast but I think I would take it off going thru the laser wash . The blow dryer might take it off. The hot Cummins and fan just suck it right into place and it stays. Alaska now is on winter fuel 50 per cent #1 50 percent #2 diesel. With warm front and Amsoil All in One in the fuel my fuel mileage has increased about 2 miles per gallon.Real hot engine burns less fuel. I guess ?

 

[slowmover]

So on my 2022 the warm front just really just clips on to the front grill it’s not really behind anything.
It just kind of tucks in the corners etc of the grill . Looks like it wouldnt stay on but it does. Easy to put on and take off warm cover warm garage. Not so good out in the cold. Really warms the truck up fast but I think I would take it off going thru the laser wash . The blow dryer might take it off. The hot Cummins and fan just suck it right into place and it stays. Alaska now is on winter fuel 50 per cent #1 50 percent #2 diesel. With warm front and Amsoil All in One in the fuel my fuel mileage has increased about 2 miles per gallon.Real hot engine burns less fuel. I guess ?

The latest FTL is the same. Perforated sheet of vinyl (cutouts). Warning from Minnesota headquartered fleet is DO NOT USE above freezing. Loaded, deadhead, bobtail. Period.

Latest engines do the work needed quite well. So it’s not much needed to cure cold blast.

 

[Diesel85]

So I bought the grill cover for my EcoD, and I'll post my results over in the EcoD area.

I did think about the Active Grill Shutters effect too, but I do agree it has to do with CAFE requirements. There's still a lot of radiator area uncovered on both the 6.7l and the 3.0l diesels.

On our work 6.7l's we don't cover them, but we keep them plugged in and they are normally parked outside, unless we bring them into the warehouse building to load up or what not. Our older trucks we used to use the covers, but that was before in duct PTC heating.

 

[Turbo Terry]

Plugging in only helps with start up Not running down the road

 

[Diesel85]

Plugging in only helps with start up Not running down the road

It kind of does to a point. It gets that coolant temperature up there higher than what it would've been from not being plugged in. I have experimented with this quite a bit over time.

I experimented a lot on a '18 when I was driving that one a lot. At 15F, if I had it plugged in overnight, it would be around 80F coolant temp when starting it, which if I immediately started driving it, I could get it up to 150F in about 8 miles of moderate highway driving. If I started the truck cold without bring plugged in, it would take close to 13 miles before it would get to 150F. Pretty good margin.

The '20 6.7l I've been assigned, I've accidentally done it, but not really tracked it, and it's slightly better dealing with it when unplugged, but not noticeable enough to say that a newer truck will for sure heat up faster.

 

[Turbo Terry]

Yes I understand. When I went to work I drove 8 miles each way. Without plugging it in it just got up to real operating temps when I got there and shut it off