Cold Weather Grill Inserts

Ripster · **Posted:** Thu Nov 15, 2007 7:57 pm

Well the inserts I use would need the V-6 air box, as I close of the grill area, and there is some air coming in,
have not had any freezing of the EHM in this weather either. I run with 3 open in weather like we have
now 20-30s. Once we get down single digits and below, I put all 7 in. I will have to get a scanner to watch all
the numbers, but it does not heat up, air is coming around enough to cool things, but will soon know.

hatchetman · **Posted:** Thu Nov 15, 2007 8:39 pm

Didn't know Lund made the grill inserts for the 05 CRD, only 04 and earlier gassers. :evil:

Ripster · **Posted:** Fri Nov 16, 2007 12:18 am

Its an old post, but careful reading will show that I modified the inserts to fit the 05, with not much trouble
as a grinding wheel will slowly eat away the insert, you can round them and take them down to fit, by
hand and have it look very nice when attached. You are correct, they don't make them for the 05. You
really can't tell they weren't made for the grill when done.

coldkj · **Posted:** Fri Nov 16, 2007 2:38 am

I've been using the Fia winter fronts here in Anchorage for a year.....when temps fall below 30F or so. CRD warms up faster, doesnt overheat, heater works better, it seems like my mileage is about 1/2MPG better. The winter front is vinyl, has an option to fold open a segment in the middle, and fits well.[list=][/list]

KeswickDave · **Posted:** Fri Nov 16, 2007 12:51 pm

Anyone have a picture of the Fia winter front on a Liberty?

I'm thinking of springing for it but would like to see it first if possible...

Thanks

coldkj · **Posted:** Sat Nov 17, 2007 1:58 pm

I'll see if I can scare up the camera and cable, Dave. Might take me a day or two.

RFCRD · **Posted:** Sat Nov 17, 2007 11:38 pm

DarbyWalters wrote:

I have been thinking about these since it is a big deal over at GasSavers.org . . . but blocking the AC/Intercooler & Radiator has stopped me. If you have a scan guage and can monitor the IAT ect...no problem. I also don't want to have the electric fan working more than it should. I think at the temps you are talking about, there would be no problem. Let us know!

Darby,
You should watch carefully using these in the South Texas. I ran the blocker plates up to air temps of @ 50*F without noticable problems but was concerned enough to keep tools to remove them in the car. The critical air temps where mileage starts to drop is @ 40*F, below 20*F at highway speeds fuel economy drops like a stone. By 0*F, forget about fuel economy as was lucky to see high-teens and the CRD became stupid-expensive to drive. This is why I started blocking the center 3-slots with a perforated plate. This shortened warm-up time/distance substantially to where I could get 5th gear lock-up within a couple of miles instead of the usual 6 or 7 miles. Was never able to confirm it but believe the EGR may be open longer in the cold to recirculate exhaust heat back through the engine to aid warm-up. You all know what this does to fuel economy??? Wish I still had the blocker plates to show but pitched them when the Jeep went bye-bye.

artickid · **Posted:** Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:32 pm

Has anyone tried the grille inserts from Truck accessories world? They seem to be the only ones that have them for the 05 or 06.

http://www.truckaccessoriesworld.com/gr ... /index.htm

CATCRD · **Posted:** Fri Nov 30, 2007 12:14 pm

artickid wrote:

Has anyone tried the grille inserts from Truck accessories world? They seem to be the only ones that have them for the 05 or 06.

http://www.truckaccessoriesworld.com/gr ... /index.htm

I just installed the winter front from Fia. The Jeep warms up faster and the block heater works better with the grille blanket keeping the heat in. Two hours used to get the cylinder head up to 105ºF, and now it's 125ºF, as measured with an infrared thermometer. The dash gage shows the difference too.

hatchetman · **Posted:** Fri Nov 30, 2007 12:31 pm

Ordered a set of grill inserts form truck accessories world. Will report on them when I recieve them. :evil:

flash7210 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 30, 2007 3:08 pm

RFCRD wrote:

DarbyWalters wrote:

I have been thinking about these since it is a big deal over at GasSavers.org . . . but blocking the AC/Intercooler & Radiator has stopped me. If you have a scan guage and can monitor the IAT ect...no problem. I also don't want to have the electric fan working more than it should. I think at the temps you are talking about, there would be no problem. Let us know!

Darby,
You should watch carefully using these in the South Texas. I ran the blocker plates up to air temps of @ 50*F without noticable problems but was concerned enough to keep tools to remove them in the car. The critical air temps where mileage starts to drop is @ 40*F, below 20*F at highway speeds fuel economy drops like a stone. By 0*F, forget about fuel economy as was lucky to see high-teens and the CRD became stupid-expensive to drive. This is why I started blocking the center 3-slots with a perforated plate. This shortened warm-up time/distance substantially to where I could get 5th gear lock-up within a couple of miles instead of the usual 6 or 7 miles. Was never able to confirm it but believe the EGR may be open longer in the cold to recirculate exhaust heat back through the engine to aid warm-up. You all know what this does to fuel economy??? Wish I still had the blocker plates to show but pitched them when the Jeep went bye-bye.

I'm in N. Florida.
I decided to block my grill using aluminum flashing from Home Depot.
I only blocked off the sides leaving the center three slots open. No probs
yet. Thinking about blocking off a little more to see what happens.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Fri Nov 30, 2007 4:15 pm

Funny, I was thinking about blocking and leaving the three middle slots open too since they reside infront of the electric fan. The two on the passenger side are already serving as an "air scoop"...

Metal Man · **Posted:** Fri Nov 30, 2007 8:30 pm

I have almost the whole rad covered. Everything but about a 6"X6" section right in the middle. I used some of that plastic card board cut about 8" wide. I slid these down from the top on either side of the fan. They go down as far as the bumper reinforcement. I then slide a piece of card board up from the bottom up to about the middle of the fan. If I had more of the plastic stuff I would do it in one piece and slide it all up from the bottom and cover the whole rad. It works fine and the gauge reads the same. I have the scan gauge mounted in the Jetta right now so I can't check the temps with that now.

Ripster · **Posted:** Fri Nov 30, 2007 9:17 pm

Hatchetman, we want pictures when you have them mounted. Don't even come back here
without a picture of those, they should be really sharp looking if done right, and since there
is no picture on the site of a Jeep exactly you will have it.

hatchetman · **Posted:** Fri Nov 30, 2007 10:28 pm

Glad I ordered the grill inserts cause the Tdi died tonight on the way to work. Will have to bring the CRD out of mothballs or drive the Hyundia. Had to have it towed. Will try to do the pictures when I recieive them on the inserts. :evil:

chrispitude · **Posted:** Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:35 pm

Ripster wrote:

Hatchetman, we want pictures when you have them mounted. Don't even come back here
without a picture of those, they should be really sharp looking if done right, and since there
is no picture on the site of a Jeep exactly you will have it.

Ditto, I'm interested to see what they look like!

- Chris

canlib · **Posted:** Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:09 pm

There is a parallel thread about the Fia winter front with pics from Sir Sam "catcrd airdam/radiator blocker thingy... ". I got my FIA front last week and the CRD is way happier being warm in our cold weather. The heater of course works better too which makes me happier (':lol:') Cold is a relative thing...it was -25 C here last week.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Tue Dec 11, 2007 10:31 pm

Whole grill is basically blocked...two slots on the passenger side (grey material) direct clean cool air up to the 2002 Air Box. The five white pieces of "glassteel" are cut and attached with simple zip ties block the rest of the grill. There is enuff air from the bottom to keep things good (as long as you haven't cut up the chin of your KJ) with the coolant/ac/intercooler so far. The thing comes to temp very quickly which helps fuel mileage.

droptop · **Posted:** Thu Dec 13, 2007 7:59 pm

Darby,

This looks real good, was thinking about ordering a set of the Lund inserts but I think I'm going to follow your example and go for the KISS principle with the material on the inside using cable ties.

droptop · **Posted:** Sun Dec 16, 2007 3:05 pm

Made up some temporary grill inserts to see how I they worked. I got some plastic "cardboard" sign material and cut up some inserts yesterday so far I think its a winner.

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Cold Weather Grill Inserts

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