Winter Front

[rrl989]

I installed my Ram OEM Winter front today just to see how it's done. The instructions indicate that it should
not be use in temps >50F. It's typically 25F-35F for my area. Is running with the cover
on (with the 5 openings "open") for the Winter months a bad idea around 30F? I assume it will heat up faster,
but will cooling the CTD become an issue?

 

[MelvinPierce]

Last week I went on a 170 miles one way trip. It was -27F when I started the '14, and I went thru -30F at about daylight. I let it idle for 5 minutes, and within 5 miles of driving, it was over 180F, and held it between 180 and 190 all the time. NO winter front.

So, why use it? Especially at your temps. You are not even cold! LOL

 

[PC12Driver]

So the water in the radiator has a chance to come up to temp and the cooling system has a chance to stabilize. Otherwise the engine is getting slugs of very cold water each time the t-stat opens. Not great to have shots of subfreezing water blasting through 200* iron and its various components. Ever watch your coolant temps in the winter? They're constantly swinging back and forth. Metal things don't like that. Plus, your cabin heater will work better and according to Cummins, crankcase condensation will be minimized.

I don't get where the quicker warm up idea comes from. You're covering up the radiator, which doesn't have any coolant circulating through it anyway until the t-stat opens after the engine has warmed up. I ran a cover for 11 years (on in Nov, off in Mar) and never noticed a faster warm up, no matter how hard I tried.

Short story long, our radiators are huge, so you won't have any cooling issues with the covers on when the temps are anywhere around freezing or below. Take it off if you're going to work it, but for normal ops you'll be fine.

 

[slingshot383]

I leave mine one, but I have removed the lower section (cut the red thread like the instructions say). I open the flaps above 40*, but otherwise they are closed. It does help with warm-ups because the radiator/ engine compartment isn't getting the windblast of cold air. Still gets plenty of volume from the bumper and below bumper openings. Truck will not overheat from lack of air either. The factory designed these for a reason, why not take advantage of them.