Fia Front Cover or Remove Mechanical Fan

65Corvair · **Posted:** Tue Dec 10, 2013 10:27 pm

Now winter has set in I think that I should do something to keep the coolant a bit warmer. (Temp gauges goes down to 1/4 when going down a hill) Since I have installed a inline t-stat and the helped out a lot, I want to do something else to keep the coolant closer to the operating temperature when going down hill. Should I install a fia front cover, remove the mechanical fan, or possibly both? From what I have read about the Fia covers, other CRDers seem to like them.

This is about the only picture I can find of one on a Liberty.

Hexus · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2013 8:42 am

If your fan clutch is still working, your fan should only be coming on as needed.

You might check that thermostat to ensure it's still working properly or since it's an inline you might go ahead and replace it.

Mine always gets up to operating temperature, even in -30 when it was in Cleveland.

amslube · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2013 9:02 am

If you drilled the small hole in the rim of the thermostat like many have suggested to do to eliminate temperature overshoot, this will allow enough coolant to get through and drop the temperature. I had drilled a 1/8" hole in mine when originally installed last year. When colder weather set in I had the same issue. After completely plugging the hole, the temperature remained constant and I never had any temperature overshoot.

mass-hole · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2013 2:40 pm

I put the inline tstat in and it does work. I drilled a tiny hole, i wanna say like 1/16" and it still takes a little while to warm up. It will also cool down if i park the car and leave the heater running while it idles. I also am considering removing the fan, 1. to increase mileage, and 2. to help it warm up while parked

That picture looks exactly like this one spot on the logging roads i ride in Maine.

jeepdan · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2013 7:56 pm

mass-hole wrote:

That picture looks exactly like this one spot on the logging roads i ride in Maine.

That picture looks exactly like my liberty CRD :shock:

same Fia cover, same color Liberty
I'm still using a working OEM thermostat, so I can't comment to much.
Decending a long grade when the outside temps are 20deg. or lower, with the cabin heater running full blast, mine cools off a little also.
But not down to the 1/4 mark.
The Fia cover helps retain heat in the engine compartment, especially while parked over night with the block heater plugged in.
With the grill closed up, my air filter seems to stay cleaner and dryer, as I'm using the stock air box, not the V6 airbox.

CRD05il · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:53 pm

You can also take out the air inlet to the air box so it takes in warm air from the engine bay. It goes from the grill to airbox.

mass-hole · **Posted:** Thu Dec 12, 2013 9:41 pm

Are the any other grille covers or is this pretty much it?

Brianawd · **Joined:** Wed Apr 03, 2013 12:59 pm **Posts:** 130

I just took out my fan for the winter.

65Corvair · **Posted:** Tue Dec 17, 2013 9:27 pm

The Fia Cover is the only one I can find that is for a Liberty. There is always the option of using cardboard or a "for sale" sign with some zipties.

minisub · **Posted:** Wed Dec 18, 2013 8:55 pm

Same for me, I could only find the Fia. So I did this:
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=73077

Silverdiesel · **Posted:** Thu Dec 19, 2013 12:49 pm

Using the Fia cover now during the winter. Living in the desert Southwest does not mean things stay warm out here... Overnight lows can go to the 20's.

I have the in hose line thermostat and it keeps things at 190* but the cover just speeds it up a bit to get there. Gets heater warmer faster.

That Fia cover can sure make people ask why it is there and of course it's the old "I had no idea Jeep made diesels". Persons really are surprised when I mention not only the KJ but we own a 2014 Grand Cherokee V6 Ecodiesel too! Soon that truck will get a grille cover.

Roland

mass-hole · **Posted:** Fri Dec 20, 2013 10:16 am

FYI just picked up the FIA cover from autoanything for 15% off + free shipping. $59 to my door.

mass-hole · **Posted:** Fri Jan 10, 2014 12:35 pm

I just got mine in the mail today, besides the box being nearly 100% demolished, it looks good. hopefully i can put it on tonight just in time for it to be 50 degrees outside :banghead:

kjjet · **Posted:** Fri Jan 10, 2014 4:22 pm

amslube wrote:

If you drilled the small hole in the rim of the thermostat like many have suggested to do to eliminate temperature overshoot, this will allow enough coolant to get through and drop the temperature. I had drilled a 1/8" hole in mine when originally installed last year. When colder weather set in I had the same issue. After completely plugging the hole, the temperature remained constant and I never had any temperature overshoot.

X2 I just install a new inline, this time without a hole. So far no drop in temp. I will update after my mountain trip this weekend.

dkenny · **Posted:** Sun Jan 12, 2014 9:26 pm

it look like the fia cover covers everthing from the outside..
this might not be so good..as it means the inter cooler is also covered..
you really need something between the intercooler and the radiator..
ideally something adjustable..so if the temps rise you an open it more..allowing proper radiator cooling.

-dkenny

jeepdan · **Posted:** Sun Jan 12, 2014 9:48 pm

dkenny wrote:

it look like the fia cover covers everthing from the outside..
this might not be so good..as it means the inter cooler is also covered..
you really need something between the intercooler and the radiator..
ideally something adjustable..so if the temps rise you an open it more..allowing proper radiator cooling.

-dkenny

I have often wondered myself, at what ambient temperature you start loosing MPG and power by having the intercooler almost blocked off by the Fia cover.
If you look, you will see that even with the Fia cover closed up, you still get air coming into the intercooler/radiator from under the bumper.

kjjet · **Posted:** Sun Jan 12, 2014 10:35 pm

kjjet wrote:

amslube wrote:

If you drilled the small hole in the rim of the thermostat like many have suggested to do to eliminate temperature overshoot, this will allow enough coolant to get through and drop the temperature. I had drilled a 1/8" hole in mine when originally installed last year. When colder weather set in I had the same issue. After completely plugging the hole, the temperature remained constant and I never had any temperature overshoot.

X2 I just install a new inline, this time without a hole. So far no drop in temp. I will update after my mountain trip this weekend.

After a drive up the mountains today the temp gets up to just below 12:00 quicker and has no changes at stop and next to no change going down a steep long hill.

I highly suggest installing a 195 stat without any hole.

KJJET

mass-hole · **Posted:** Mon Jan 13, 2014 10:19 am

Just installed my FIA on Saturday and have to say that its a nice piece. A concern that I had going in was the stick on button snaps that are used to hold the cover in place. Turns out they do the job just fine, you just need to be careful installing them. I removed my grill from the jeep and took it inside to warm up/dry off. I wiped the whole thing down with simple green(my new favorite cleaner) followed by denatured alcohol, followed by the isopropyl alcohol supplied in the kit. Then i used a hair dryer to heat the grill and adhesive backing of the button snap before i stuck it on. While I was holding it down I flipped the hair dryer to cool to let the adhesive get cold again while i put pressure on it. This seemed to do the trick, I can pull the cover off and the button snaps stay stuck to the grill.

I can say whether it helped with warm up/staying warm because its been 45-55F here since I installed it.

Fia Front Cover or Remove Mechanical Fan

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