CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.
Do I need a "Winter Cover" for my grill?
- Thread starter OffRoad
- Start date
For got to list that---Yes!!!
mdm365
1/2 ton status
I can't remember were the sensor is if it's before the t-stat or in front of it,so I will look into that.I did put a new stat in February had a leak in the housing.I will be changing the stat anyway Tonight or in the morning.I'll let every one know what's up then----Thanks Mike
chulisohombre
1/2 ton status
i lived in alaska for my first 18 years.just about everyone i knew either ran cardboard or some type of cover over the radiator to help the engine stay warmer and have heat.along with block,oilpan,and battery heaters.lol.i used to run it and it helped quite a bit.if the engine never gets up to temp to open the t-stat,you will never get heat in the cab.or it will be very minimal
I think the issue is we're "thinking" in absolutes. Nothing is absolute in the engine compartment 
I don't believe the t-stat completely shuts off the radiator flow. Covering the radiator grill doesn't really complete seal off all air from passing through it. Plus the intake air is alot colder at low temps, the engine does radiate some more heat (but not enough for air cooling), and the heater is much less efficient at really cold temps.
Diesel operate differently than gas engines. A diesel at low power output (like idling) puts out much lower btu. Years ago I drove my dad's diesel Rabbit at sub zero temps. The damn thing never got above "C" on the temp gauge on a 30 mile trip, nearly froze my ass off
Blankets work. Does your truck NEED one? Depends on your truck and where you drive. It's almost 10F out side right now and I just put cover on when a came home (gotta get to work in the morning
)
I don't believe the t-stat completely shuts off the radiator flow. Covering the radiator grill doesn't really complete seal off all air from passing through it. Plus the intake air is alot colder at low temps, the engine does radiate some more heat (but not enough for air cooling), and the heater is much less efficient at really cold temps.
Diesel operate differently than gas engines. A diesel at low power output (like idling) puts out much lower btu. Years ago I drove my dad's diesel Rabbit at sub zero temps. The damn thing never got above "C" on the temp gauge on a 30 mile trip, nearly froze my ass off
Blankets work. Does your truck NEED one? Depends on your truck and where you drive. It's almost 10F out side right now and I just put cover on when a came home (gotta get to work in the morning
)
BILTIT
1/2 ton status
Ditto.
When its minus 40C you NEED it or else the motor runs stupid cold and your cab is frozen. If you like wearing snowsuit, thick gloves, touques, etc. while driving then by all means run nothing. If you like to be warm inside and have a proper running engine get one. This applies for -15C and colder.
A couple of my opinions on the last couple of posts, so take them however you want:
- the diesel engine in my Blazer has always gotten up to operating temp. (t-stat temp.) and stayed there. I've started it up when it's below 0 out and it will sit there and warm up while at idle the same time.
- I think people can get confused between the difference of the heater actually blowing out warm air versus the cab getting warm. If it's -40C out you can quite possibly have an engine running 200 F and blowing out warm air, but the cab may never get warm simply because the heater does not have enough capacity to overcome A) how cold the cab was to start with, and B) the amount of heat loss inside the cab of the truck. Most trucks, especially olders ones, have relatively poor insulation and the cold on the outside can quickly overcome any heat on the inside. It's just like all the guys I know that insist on running a 160 t-stat in the summer, then switch to a 195 t-stat in the winter. They complain of it being too cold in the cabs during the winter with the lower temp t-stat...it's not that the engine is running any cooler (160 in the summer, and 160 in the winter), it's just that the heater can't put out enough heat with the lower t-stat.
- the diesel engine in my Blazer has always gotten up to operating temp. (t-stat temp.) and stayed there. I've started it up when it's below 0 out and it will sit there and warm up while at idle the same time.
- I think people can get confused between the difference of the heater actually blowing out warm air versus the cab getting warm. If it's -40C out you can quite possibly have an engine running 200 F and blowing out warm air, but the cab may never get warm simply because the heater does not have enough capacity to overcome A) how cold the cab was to start with, and B) the amount of heat loss inside the cab of the truck. Most trucks, especially olders ones, have relatively poor insulation and the cold on the outside can quickly overcome any heat on the inside. It's just like all the guys I know that insist on running a 160 t-stat in the summer, then switch to a 195 t-stat in the winter. They complain of it being too cold in the cabs during the winter with the lower temp t-stat...it's not that the engine is running any cooler (160 in the summer, and 160 in the winter), it's just that the heater can't put out enough heat with the lower t-stat.
