Winter Front is done

[retirednak]

No,no all is good. Just passing along my 2 cents. Hope I didn't offend you either. Out of curiosity,why don't you recommend running closed up if your trucks not running hot? Take care-Casey

 

[bheiting]

after 30+ years in AK,I figured out what works on my vehicles as well as the big rigs and heavy equipment I use to run. I worked all over the State and spent a great deal of time on the North Slope oil fields. (Prudhoe Bay) We covered every bit of coolers as possible,pickups,big rigs and heavy equipment and it was rare to even shut vehicles/equipment down because it wouldn't start till spring. If we didn't cover every inch of the coolers you wouldn't make enough heat to defrost the windshield. If by chance it warmed up enough the corners of the tarp might get moved a tad. I've found on electric fans vehicles don't gain much by covering up the coolers because the fans run too often cooling the motor down.

If your covered and your fan clutch continually turns on and off,for sure uncover a corner. All I'm say in,we've been running fully covered for many moons without problems

If I was an ice road trucker, I'd close mine up too. Not many of us in the

lower 48 are running in -60 degree weather. Down here the intercooler

may be hot even if the engine isn't.

 

[retirednak]

I'm not an ice road trucker,never have been. All though I do like the show,it does get nasty on the hwy up there.

The point I was trying to make,there is nothing wrong with running with your coolers closed off. In my area we never see -60*below 0,perhaps -35 below 0



I would like to address your comment:: Down here the intercooler

may be hot even if the engine isn't.



If your monitoring your gauges and know your truck,there will never be a question as to when to run open or closed. I'm trying to think if I've ever had high EGT's without the coolant temp being higher then normal and I can't member. I will give it a try next time I hook on a trailer and pass the info on. :-laf

 

[DaveHess]

No,no all is good. Just passing along my 2 cents. Hope I didn't offend you either. Out of curiosity,why don't you recommend running closed up if your trucks not running hot? Take care-Casey

Hey Casey. No offense here. I like to throw out my "wisdom" but never at the expense of someone else. That's why I stay (or try to) off the Political thread. I have too much fun here and like to think I have a lot of unknown friends here at TDR! I wish I could tell you where I read about leaving so much of the cover open at any given time but I cannot quote my source. Since that information stuck in my mind, I have left one triangle open on my cover. I ran for 4 winters without one and then finally broke down and bought one. Best money I have spent on that truck yet. Well, maybe not the best but ranks up there pretty high... .

 

[bheiting]

I'm not an ice road trucker,never have been. All though I do like the show,it does get nasty on the hwy up there.

The point I was trying to make,there is nothing wrong with running with your coolers closed off. In my area we never see -60*below 0,perhaps -35 below 0



I would like to address your comment:: Down here the intercooler

may be hot even if the engine isn't.



If your monitoring your gauges and know your truck,there will never be a question as to when to run open or closed. I'm trying to think if I've ever had high EGT's without the coolant temp being higher then normal and I can't member. I will give it a try next time I hook on a trailer and pass the info on. :-laf

I know you're not an over the road trucker. Just making a point about

weather conditions.



I think you missed my point about the intercooler. EGT's are not the issue.

Your turbo compresses air which causes heat. The intercooler is there

to cool the air back down again before it reaches the intake. Hot intake

air equals less power. I would guess that the colder the intake air, the

better. Therefore, a stream of air through the intercooler is a good thing.

 

[retirednak]

I know you're not an over the road trucker. Just making a point about

weather conditions.



I think you missed my point about the intercooler. EGT's are not the issue.

Your turbo compresses air which causes heat. The intercooler is there

to cool the air back down again before it reaches the intake. Hot intake

air equals less power. I would guess that the colder the intake air, the

better. Therefore, a stream of air through the intercooler is a good thing.

Na, I didn't miss your point. Winter is when my truck seems to run its best and I might uncover my cooler if my teeth didn't chatter so damn bad.

 

[DDT]

So, if I customize my center flap with a 7x7 hole I would be prefect as I can get... . So do I had this to the dead center top or bottom? Or a 3x15=45 sq in slot?

 

[bheiting]

So, if I customize my center flap with a 7x7 hole I would be prefect as I can get... . So do I had this to the dead center top or bottom? Or a 3x15=45 sq in slot?

The Mopar opening is in the center. Hopefully they know what they're

dong. Years ago I read something about avoiding radiator hot spots.

To me that would be an opening in the center.

 

[NavyDood]

More than enough air gets to the intercooler, transmission cooler and radiator if the whole are is covered like the OP did. Above the license plate holder and below the painted part of the bumper there is a HUGE area for plenty of air to hit the coolers.