Winter Front grill covers

[CMB]

Wow- Temps have been consistently low for much of the country. I heard snow fell around Northern Florida. Anyway,

Could someone please explain the benefits of the winter front grill cover? Is it primarily used to help the vehicle warm up or does it have other benefits such as fuel economy in cold weather. Of course we see the big rigs run them all the time, there must be a reason. Thanks for helping us understand.

Cheers,

CMB

 

[Jim W]

It does help the engine to warm up faster and keeps the air flow through the radiator to a minimum depending on the number of flaps that are closed. This will also help with heating the truck up for the operator and passengers when it is very cold out. Also, the diesel engine will operate more efficiently at the designed temperature limits. The cooling system on a diesel engine will lose heat very rapidly in extreme cold temperatures.

I plug my block heater in every night in during the winter for easier startups. The day time temps last Saturday (Dec 30,2017) were around 7F for a high. I drove my truck to a movie theater which is about 1/2 hour away, the water temps never got above 170F or so. I was also idling (high idle) the truck in the parking lot waiting for my son and grandson to show up. The cooling system was loosening heat even at high idle speed as I sat there waiting for them. I had the four flaps open on my winter front. I now have only to flaps open and the truck reaches operating temps right around 200F much faster and stays there when the engine is operating.

 

[CMB]

What temperature should they be used? Is this a below 40 degrees F they should be installed or below 10 degrees F?

Thanks,

 

[BIGNASTY]

What temperature should they be used? Is this a below 40 degrees F they should be installed or below 10 degrees F?

Thanks,

Check out these if you can they make them specifically for our trucks, I've had mine on for 4 or 5 years I recently took it to the ThermoKing dealer in Indy for an igniter plug and clean up for $80.00

A small tank of K1 runs for about a week and affords the satisfaction of an easy starting truck and fairly warm cab without waiting any longer that the grid heater takes to cycle on a warm summer day.

I still have a winter front and have found a big difference between the dry crisp air of the Montana Rockies & the Cold Dense moisture laden air of Indiana, Mostly for the use of the intercooler flap

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BIG

 

[Jim W]

What temperature should they be used? Is this a below 40 degrees F they should be installed or below 10 degrees F?

Thanks,

I usually install my winter front around Dec 1 when temps are still around 30F. I will remove the front around March 15 or April 1 when the daytime temps will be around 30F every day. Every area is different and I would use the 30F temps when to install and remove. I leave all four of my flaps open and start closing them off when the temps drop around 10F and stay there for a couple of days. I only had to close all four flaps once when the daytime high was -20F at noon.

 

[CMB]

Thanks for the insight. Sounds like something to consider.

 

[Hoefler]

I install and use mine when high temps are about 35 and below. No flaps open, but I dont have the lower flap covering the bumper, it is rolled up and secured at the bottom of the grill.

 

[CMB]

That's a great option for the lower flap. Seams like the collected road debris could be quite abrasive to the bumper. The grill cover appears to be covered completely so dust and dirt won't become sand paper behind it. Great Idea.

Wow- The Eberspaecher is quite impressive.