Best/safest way to block air to radiator
Feral Engineer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 496
From: Detroit Area
Best/safest way to block air to radiator - UPDATE
From my earlier post titled Elegant Radiator Block?
"The radiator is roughly 16" high by 25" wide. I cut two pieces of cardboard each 8" by 25". On one piece I attached a foot long length of 1/8" nylon cord to two corners on one long side. I removed the two top attaching bolts from the grill and loosened the hood release lever enough to rotate the lever out of the way. With the grill loose, one can lower the cardboard pieces to the bottom of the radiator opening. I threaded the two ropes through an existing oval hole on each side at the top of the grille.
So the nominal operating position for cold weather is to have the bottom half covered by both 6" pieces (one behind the other). When it gets colder, I can just pull up the ropes and have the top half covered also. I think I'll get some of the those rope clinchers at REI like are used on ski jackets, etc. In the meantime, I'll just tie the ropes. When it warms up, just lower the ropes to uncover the top half. Next spring, I'll pull out both pieces.
I just used ordinary cardboard, I will have to see if it warps in the weather. If so, I'll go to some kind of plastic sheet."
By the way this has been working extremely well and the cardboard has held up, though as stated, I'll replace it with plastic next year. The beauty of it is that if it warms suddenly, you can uncover half the radiator in seconds.
"The radiator is roughly 16" high by 25" wide. I cut two pieces of cardboard each 8" by 25". On one piece I attached a foot long length of 1/8" nylon cord to two corners on one long side. I removed the two top attaching bolts from the grill and loosened the hood release lever enough to rotate the lever out of the way. With the grill loose, one can lower the cardboard pieces to the bottom of the radiator opening. I threaded the two ropes through an existing oval hole on each side at the top of the grille.
So the nominal operating position for cold weather is to have the bottom half covered by both 6" pieces (one behind the other). When it gets colder, I can just pull up the ropes and have the top half covered also. I think I'll get some of the those rope clinchers at REI like are used on ski jackets, etc. In the meantime, I'll just tie the ropes. When it warms up, just lower the ropes to uncover the top half. Next spring, I'll pull out both pieces.
I just used ordinary cardboard, I will have to see if it warps in the weather. If so, I'll go to some kind of plastic sheet."
By the way this has been working extremely well and the cardboard has held up, though as stated, I'll replace it with plastic next year. The beauty of it is that if it warms suddenly, you can uncover half the radiator in seconds.
As it is near 90 degrees here now, I decided to pull out the radiator cardboard. It took about 5 minutes to pull it out. I was pleased to see that the cardboard was intact. I think I'll just paint it flat black and stick it back in next fall. The rope clinchers on the little ropes work perfectly to allow for it to be raised and lowered in seconds.
Feral Engineer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 496
From: Detroit Area
Re: Best/safest way to block air to radiator
I've decided to continue to use the same radiator blocking set up as last year. The cardboard held up well, but I did paint it flat black to minimize the kidding I got last winter. I'm posting some pictures in case anyone wants to tag along on this concept.
Greenie
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 64
From: Detroit
Re: Best/safest way to block air to radiator
I decided to buy the stainless steel models by cloud rider, http://www.cloud-rider.com/search/vehicle They were more pricey than cardboard at $145, but they have a nice sporty look and seem very easy to install... I'll take a picture when I put them on... Not cold enough yet!
Feral Engineer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 496
From: Detroit Area
Re: Best/safest way to block air to radiator
I decided to buy the stainless steel models by cloud rider, http://www.cloud-rider.com/search/vehicle They were more pricey than cardboard at $145, but they have a nice sporty look and seem very easy to install... I'll take a picture when I put them on... Not cold enough yet!
Pretty Darn Active Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 488
From: ND
Re: Best/safest way to block air to radiator
My vote is for the Cloud-Rider "Classic - Winter Shield" as a bonus the "Mirror Stainless" adds more chrome to your front end :
https://www.greenhybrid.com/share/sh...php?i=2976&c=8
A little pricey but it fits great. I posted some other pictures in the Share zone showing the snow & temperatures in my area.
Hugo
https://www.greenhybrid.com/share/sh...php?i=2976&c=8
A little pricey but it fits great. I posted some other pictures in the Share zone showing the snow & temperatures in my area.
Hugo
Hybrid and Ethanol Expert
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,616
From: All over the Central U.S.
Re: Best/safest way to block air to radiator
In ND, you'd be best off with zero slits in the grille at all!
( really, I'm serious! )
This car makes very, very, little "waste" heat.
Theres NONE to spare in winter.
( really, I'm serious! )
This car makes very, very, little "waste" heat.
Theres NONE to spare in winter.
Ridiculously Active Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,401
Re: Best/safest way to block air to radiator
I decided to buy the stainless steel models by cloud rider, http://www.cloud-rider.com/search/vehicle They were more pricey than cardboard at $145, but they have a nice sporty look and seem very easy to install... I'll take a picture when I put them on... Not cold enough yet!
Active Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 59
From: Milton Massachusetts
Re: Best/safest way to block air to radiator
I recently purchased the FIA winter grille cover for my '08 MMH. Before installing it (I have sized it and it looks like it will fit fine - although it is advertised as the '08 FEH one), I decided to get a scangauge. I want to keep an eye on my water temperature. I just installed the scan gaugeII, and it provides WT readings as one of its defaults. I understand from this forum (somewhere) that CHT or Cylinder Head Temperature is a more accurate reading to follow. I have found the codes for programmable Xgauge codes, but I CANNOT figure out how to do it. 
Can anyone share the steps involved with entering your own xgauge codes on a scanguageII? Many Thanks in advance. 
Can anyone share the steps involved with entering your own xgauge codes on a scanguageII? Many Thanks in advance.
Last edited by 08MMHybridHappy; Nov 17, 2008 at 10:34 AM.
