2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Do you put cardboard on front in cold weather??

[hammersley]

Hey here in Portland getting cold - I know Cold is not cold here - I lived in Minn for years so I know that this isn't cold - BUT my rig with a 180 T Stat - well how can I help her on these little snaps. The big rigs have winter fronts, and good old IH use to sell them for their pickups - what do you guys do where it gets really cold? Do you put Card Board in or what?

 

[Chipstien]

Alot of guys runs fanless. Seems like too much work to me.

 

[Fireman Dave]

The first winter I had my truck we took it to South Dakota for Christmas. It was during a cold snap - below zero on the way out. I took some cardboad along just in case and never used it. The cab stayed nice and warm the whole way (would have thought it was a gasser!). I pitched the cardboard after that and never considered it since. It's been no problem for me.

 

[LHartman]

I use cardboard. Was 20 below here this morning and I may have to jerk the fan now too. Takes a long time to warm up.



Loren

 

[dremelts]

If you do put cardboard in front of the radiator you should cut a hole in it so that some air gets thru. However, the hole should be directly in front of the fan hub otherwise with air hitting the blades only on part of the revolution it will cause the blades to flex and fatique and eventually break (hopefully not while you are leaning over the running engine).

 

[csevers]

Several ideas

Lund makes plastic panels that snap in to the grill openings or I got this great idea from another TDR member, get a 1/4 thick piece of plexaglass cut length and width to fit between the Rad and the intercooler then using a hole saw cut holes in it as needed, the one I saw had one big hole like 20" dia I used a 5" hole saw and made several holes and it works very well. Cardboard if it gets wet can fall apart and plug things up.



All this will still NOT fix a bad thermostat just help keep the engine a little warmer.



Craig

 

[lmills]

I have never used any type of air blocker. However we seldom see temps lower than single digits around here.

 

[Woodenhead]

If you do put cardboard in front of the radiator you should cut a hole in it so that some air gets thru. However, the hole should be directly in front of the fan hub otherwise with air hitting the blades only on part of the revolution it will cause the blades to flex and fatique and eventually break (hopefully not while you are leaning over the running engine).

Excellent advice. I never used cardboard in front of my fan (maybe the previous owner did) but look what happened to me. Busted Fan



I'm certain that using cardboard in front of the radiator would have accelerated the cracking in my fan.



BTW, just for kicks I'd go and inspect your fan now. Chances are slim but that piece of cardboard or lack of fan inspection could cost ya $700+.



Mike

 

[SRadke]

I ran a piece of cardboard with an 8" hole in front of the fan clutch for 2 years on my 96. It worked good and was never a problem until the temps got up above 70°. I tried it without the hole and it worked equally was well for temps but I had to listen to the fan running all the time. Never had any problems with water on the cardboard either.



-Scott

 

[metal tech]

I used to use cardboard, and then switched to that 1/4" pink foam

insulation. Water doesn't degrade this stuff, so it should last several years without needing replacement. One thing not mentioned above is that the shorter the trip during cold weather, the less likely the engine is going to warm up enough to burn off any condensation inside.



Al

 

[ntillm01]

I am no expert, but I'll throw in my ideas. For my truck, I let the fan clutch keep the fan from turning and let the thermostat keep the cold coolant in the radiator until it's needed. This is my first vehicle with an intercooler, so I don't know if colder charge air is better or worse in single-digit temps.



If memory serves me correctly, the purpose of "winter fronts" was to help keep snow from packing into the radiator, not to keep heat in the engine. This was what I learned from over-the-road drivers in Colorado blizzards where I grew up.

 

[mcoleman]

It was 4 here this morning and my truck was blowing warm air by the time I was 7 miles down the road from the house without anything blocking the airflow. I never have used anything.

 

[Billy Diesel]

I have one of those insulated blankets that snaps on the front, and I am running fanless. I think yesterday was a high of -10. I run the winter front all winter long unless I am going on a long trip.



A couple weekends ago it was 40+ degrees out. (nice temp swing, eh?) Anyway, I forgot to take the winter front off as I headed up north. With the fan gone, it started to get warm quick, but I noticed it before it got to 210. Took the front off, and ran fanless no problem. I was not towing anything, just hauling some couches in the bed.



With the winter front and no fan, I can let it idle and it won't loose heat. In fact, it will actually go from 150 to 185\190, or whatever the t-stat is. When you are working outside and it is 0 degrees, the ability to maintain cab heat makes all the difference.

 

[hammersley]

I find it amazing that there isn't an

aftermarket Winterfront foe these rigs... ... Sounds like a good business proposition... ... Also referencing the purpose of a winterfront I found this:



SHUTTERS AND WINTERFRONTS



As a rule, engine coolant temperatures will not reach the point of thermostat regulation (normal operating temperature) under light loads or in extreme cold conditions. This occurs when a thermostatically controlled radiator shutter should be installed. An additional controller must be used if a charge air cooler is part of the system. This unit will open the shutters in the event the temperature of the intake air out of the charge air cooler is too high.



Winterfronts are designed to block off enough airflow to cause an increase in coolant temperature, allowing the system to reach normal operating temperature. These devices should never cover the entire grille opening - 25% of the center grille area must remain open, otherwise coolant, charge air and engine oil temperatures become extreme. The recommended opening size will vary according to these additional factors: ambient air temperature fluctuation, increase or decrease in load, vehicle ground speed, altitude, ice and snow build-up, wind chill factor and the overall condition of the cooling system.

 

[BigPapa]

I run one of these:



http://www.realtruck.com/products/fiafronts.php#fiawinterfront



Easy on and easy off. It has the openings in the center that can be velcroed shut. I run with both openings open and it makes a BIG difference in warm up time when running empty.

 

[bighammer]

I use 2 widths of duct tape on the grille inserts. Looks pretty good if trimmed neatly.

 

[BigMike]

It was 10 below here yesterday morning. My truck started right up and warmed up fairly quickly. I don't use anything in front of the radiator.

 

[Big P]

ntillm01 wrote, "my lug nuts require more torque than your Honda makes"

 

[ntillm01]

I saw that somewhere along the way and it kinda stuck with me.