Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Hazards to winter fronts

[jeepit]

In a previous thread it has been said that using a winter front can lead to fan blade failure? What is everyones thoughts on this. I have a set of lunds that I use when it gets really cold like it will the next few days in Wisconsin. Am I setting myself up for a problem using them? There is no center hole over the fan clutch either.

 

[rowilson]

I believe the problem is not with the winter fronts but with using a piece of cardboard or what not slid in between the AC condensor and radiator without a hole for the fan clutch to cool off enough to not engage all the time. There is no air coming through the radiator. With the winter fronts there's enough air being pulled in around the grille area to not overstress the fan blades. That's my opinion for what it's worth

 

[Graphic man]

you also have to watch, if you cover to much of the rad then your EGT's will go up!

if you haul a trailer in the winter this could be a bad idea!

 

[CEpp]

i believe this is the prob..... with the winter fronts that mount on the grille, the diff in air flow from side to side, can cause the fan blades to crack. if u install the winter fronts that mount between the IC and the rad, with a hole centered in the middle of the fan, to regulate the air centered with the fan clutch.



i run it up to 50 deg and have no egt or trans temp probs... (thats empty)

 

[Billy Diesel]

If you are worried about the fan blades, and don't tow heavy loads in the winter, remove the fan! I haul a couple of snowmobiles in 20F weather with no fan, and didn't have an overheating problem. I have also run empty up to 40F with no fan and the winter front installed, but then I started having high engine temps. I removed the winter front, and kept on trucking. No problems in traffic or on the interstate.

 

[CEpp]

u should have to go through the trouble of removing the fan...



its 61 deg here right now and tommorrow its going to be 25 deg, and all i have to do is open the hood, and slide the winter front down in. thats it. . its nice and simple. and i dont have to worry about fan off or on.

 

[turbo torque]

Ditto that Billy Diesel, My fan is off till about 50 degrees with nothing blocking air flow and not towing hard, I never over heat at all. Try it, it comes off easy, just unscrew fan clutch (left hand thread) and remove through top. I carry it with, just in case.

 

[Billy Diesel]

u should have to go through the trouble of removing the fan...



its 61 deg here right now and tommorrow its going to be 25 deg, and all i have to do is open the hood, and slide the winter front down in. thats it. . its nice and simple. and i dont have to worry about fan off or on.

I agree that you shouldn't have to go through the trouble of removing the fan, or adding a homemade high idle, or adding a pusher pump, or resealing the 3rd break light, or adding a hose to the AC drain, or etc.....



But when it is going to be -30F this weekend, or when it was -45F last year, I was damn glad I had the winter front installed, the high idle, and no fan. The truck warmed up pretty quick considering, and I don't think it would've warmed up without actually driving it and putting a load on it if it was stock.



And turbo torque is correct, the 36mm thread is left handed . Forget that, and it takes ten times longer for disassembly... . :-laf

 

[GKinney]

cold front

I installed my lund cold front inserts about two weeks ago. Put all four of them in the grille thinking I might have to drill some holes to keep the air flow at 10% like the manual says. Well after looking closer, there is plenty of air space around the inserts themselves plus with mine being a ST model truck. . the bumper slots are wide open letting the bottom 4" or so of the intercooler and radiator receive plenty of air. It was 55*F. here today... . never even started to over heat let alone the fan ever engaging. I wouldn't get too worried about running the Lund's!!! my $. 02

 

[IC Smoke]

Any problems with the fabric "bra's"? I just picked up one from cabelas.com went on pretty easy but since its 40* out and raining ive taken it off.



Ian

 

[Cooker]

There are no negative side effects of covering your grill. The issues are with people who use cardboard directly in front of the intercooler or radiator and do not cut a hole in it for the fan clutch.



Depending on your air temps I would cover the grill and remove the fan.



Also interesting to note is the intercooler is too efficient in the winter months so blocking the IC with a winter front is not a bad idea.

 

[JJW_ND]

Fanless year round......

I went this past entire summer with no fan including a trip to AK in August. I doubt towing heavy would matter in the winter time (temps below 30) as far as fanless. Winter front is another story. I have a winter front that fits between the radiator and the intercooler. It has a 9" square hole cut in the center. It has to be around zero if I was towning pretty hard (needed over 15lbs steady boost) to keep it in. I never noticed any difference with EGTs at this temp with the radiator covered but had coolant steadily rise until I pulled over to pull winter front out.



Anyone running fanless needs to pay close attention to the AC system. It will over pressure on a -30 day as easy as a 100+ day if no air is moving over the condensor. Also, it gets so darn dry up here when cold like it is now that AC running with defrost just sucks out what little moisture is left in your eyes.



This might not apply to all year trucks but the older 12V run pretty cool.



Regarding the breaking fan..... there was a recall to older 12V (included my 96) for a revise fan to fix a problem with fan blades breaking!!! Nothing to do with winter fronts.



jjw

ND