Just a quick question. You see it on trucks and VW TDI's. does anyone do this before winter. any pros cons. and how do you mount yours etc

 

That is for Diesel engines mostly to help keep the engine warmer. Can be done on other vehicles but not needed so much.

 

yea i figured. i have just been wondering on how to keep the cabin warmer lately with the new baby and the regular -40 degres celsus come winter time lol

 

I am currently developing my "ion XFE" concept into a real car. part of this effectively cuts off any ram cooling air for the winter, and modifies it for the summer to make it more fuel and cooling efficient. I block the grills with corrugated plastic held on with zip ties, the under side of the car gets a belly pan (held in by existing and 2 additional plastic rivets) that keeps the air going into the radiator better while improving coefficient of drag. you cannot block both grills any time it is above about 40, though, only the top one. this will improve fuel efficiency, reduce packed snow, and should stop the car from not making any heat at long stop lights in really cold weather. it will also decrease warm up time significantly. if you want more details, I will be posting a dedicated thread on here.

 

FYI, if you go to the auto parts store, they have after market electric radiator fan holders. These look like one legged zip ties with rubber washers and round stub ends and fit perfectly between the radiator fins and thickness is about the size of a small zip tie that you have to feed through twice instead of once.

 

Bundle the Baby up good and maybe get an autostart feature installed to warm the car before you go out.

 

Did your car not come with a block heater? That would be the best method to pre-warm it. Heck, can you even buy a vehicle in Canada without a block heater?

Diesels need to do this because they don't generate as much waste heat as gas engines do. Some diesel VWs in Canada use an electric heater for the cabin because the frigid temperatures mean without it the cabin would never get heat.

It's worth a shot in your case. Don't cover it completely, watch the temperature readout closely, and be prepared to uncover it if it starts to overheat.

This won't make much difference in how quickly it heats up in the driveway; there's no airflow to cool it anyway, and it won't heat up enough to make the cooling fan kick on. But it will speed up how quickly it heats up driving down the road.

 

It'll also keep your coolant temp up a little more than driving without (hotter heat). with -40C it wouldn't hurt.

 

well seems like it cant hurt lol. what do you think the best way would be to block it? i was thinking plastic like a crazy carpet lol cut it down and put it down the middle of the rad from top to bottom. that was theres still so air flow on the sides. then strap it to the rad with those tie stap things for rad fans?

 

cardbord is best don't have to worry about it melting or anything also easiest to work with

 

This I had a Silverado with a 5.3 that took forever to warm up, very easy to cut to your desired shape I used duck tape on the edges and where you attach it to the radiator for added durability. No need to worry about it melting as I drove in to some warmer temps and my ECTs were 230-240 deg. Not good and it held up perfect

 

I have half of the grill in my DD blocked all year, even in 90 degree 80% humidity central japan weather. The other half will get blocked this weekend.

 

just start it up and go WOT, that'll warm it up quick. i swear

 

This thread got necromanced.

Fwiw though, cover it up. If the car doesn't overheat in 110F weather in traffic I'm sure it can survive -40 with the rad blocked.

Joel