FIA Impressions

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Tue Dec 18, 2007 2:40 pm

I got my FIA Bug Screen/Blanket yesterday and installed it last night. A couple of impressions:

1) The snaps for the screen and the blanket are not in exactly the same place. I followed the directions for install and used the bug screen for the snap placement which resulted in not as quite a tight fit for the blanket. I don't expect it to be a problem but others might so double check yours if you choose this route.

2) Not too cold today (33>36) but a couple of interesting observations. First of all the temp did get up sooner but it also seemed to bounce around a lot. Typically in old weather is sticks pretty close to 163/164 degrees but with the blanket it bounces from a low of 163 (after warm up) to 170 and occassionally to 172.

3) There has been some suggestion that blocking the center of the grill could adversely impact the transmission cooler. Actually I think it helps get the transmission up to temperature sooner.

hatchetman · **Posted:** Tue Dec 18, 2007 3:03 pm

I ordered one also. More important to me for it to fit "properly" in the winter mode usage than summer. Thanks for the heads up. :evil:

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Tue Dec 18, 2007 3:09 pm

It definitely is "climate dependent".

Could you post a pic of how it looks when partially open? It looks like the middle three slots would be opened up.

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Tue Dec 18, 2007 3:29 pm

DarbyWalters wrote:

It definitely is "climate dependent".

Could you post a pic of how it looks when partially open? It looks like the middle three slots would be opened up.

I will tonight when I am around a camera but it only exposes a portion of the middle two openings, perhaps the top 1/3. If you look at web site pictires it doesn't seem to expose any more on a full size PU.

Quote:

I ordered one also. More important to me for it to fit "properly" in the winter mode usage than summer. Thanks for the heads up.

Temperature needs to be above 60 to install well and the grill needs to be clean. I took mine off and brought it in the house to warm up and clean in the kitchen sink. Install is preety easy and it seem well made.

canlib · **Posted:** Tue Dec 18, 2007 9:41 pm

I have also found the bug screen and winterfront fit slightly differently. Since I'll only use the bug screen when I'm plowing grasshoppers out on the prairies, a few sags are not a problem. :wink:

The winterfront makes a huge difference in the warmup time and also keeps the engine warm after shutdown so re-starts are easier. A 'MUST HAVE' for cold weather CRDs'

CATCRD · **Posted:** Tue Dec 18, 2007 9:48 pm

I love mine, but found that the outside temp on the EVIC read too high. Now I drive around with one of the "nostrils" open in front of the sensor.

jinstall · **Posted:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 10:48 am

FIA- I am thinking motorsports lol.

Scott Langohr · **Posted:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 1:50 pm

I also experienced the same problem after installing the bug screen first per instructions. Sould not have been so anxious to install it. It still looks OK but I have a little sag on the LH side. The screen looks great though.

chrispitude · **Posted:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 1:52 pm

I haven't received mine yet so I don't know if this would be a problem or not. If the snaps are installed far apart enough to keep the winter front taut, will the bug screen still be able to attach?

- Chris

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 1:59 pm

chrispitude wrote:

I haven't received mine yet so I don't know if this would be a problem or not. If the snaps are installed far apart enough to keep the winter front taut, will the bug screen still be able to attach?

- Chris

It is easier to install with the screen than the winter front beause it is lighter and you can see through it to better center it and make sure the tape on snaps are fitting on flat areas of the grill. One should not be surprised though if the fit would be slightly (and I do mean slightly) different between the two or any two FIA parts of the same model. The screen has more stretch to it so I don't think you would find a problem pulling it a little tighter than the weater cover.

ONE OTHER OBSERVATION the center of the snaps on the grill are plastic and rivited to the base with a pretty small plastic rivet. I pulled one apart pretty easy although it popped back together easily too. I would use a flat screwdriver blade between the halves of the snap when removing it the next time.

I got home late last night and forgot to take pictures Darby. I will try again tonight.

Scott Langohr · **Posted:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 1:59 pm

chrispitude wrote:

I haven't received mine yet so I don't know if this would be a problem or not. If the snaps are installed far apart enough to keep the winter front taut, will the bug screen still be able to attach?

- Chris

It is not off that far and the screen seems to have a lot more flexability than the quilted cover. I feel confident that the screen would stretch easily if warm.

hatchetman · **Posted:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 2:56 pm

Where are you buying the Fia Winter/Summer grill covers from? Thanks. :evil:

chrispitude · **Posted:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 3:38 pm

hatchetman wrote:

Where are you buying the Fia Winter/Summer grill covers from? Thanks. :evil:

Here! The price is great, plus the shipping is free. Be sure to choose the proper application in the drop-down selection box.

- Chris

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 8:13 pm

Go to Chris's. The place that I puchased from was $10 higher, shipped out of Canada and took forever. FIA's domestic address is in Tx.

Scott Langohr · **Posted:** Tue Jan 01, 2008 8:45 am

I've had mine on for about 3 weeks. We have had temps from 14 to 46 degrees during that time. The blanket was completely closed off the entire time. Temps came up to full about 1 mile quicker from home. Fuel milage jumped this last tank but I also added Power Service additive to the tank of winterized fuel at the 150 gal./96 oz. rate so that may have contributed to the increase. It has been through 3 washes and no problems encountered.

CATCRD · **Posted:** Tue Jan 01, 2008 8:08 pm

Has anyone monitored intake air temps with and without the FIA installed, with a Scangage or similar?

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Wed Jan 02, 2008 6:54 pm

I have but I have not specifically recorded the information. On a typical cold morning 25>30 F it will heat up about a mile sooner and stay at a closer to normal warm weather operating temperature. The other difference I have noticed though is that the temp seems to fluctuate a lot from a low of 163F to a 170F with occassional spikes to 172F and can do so within a minute. Without the FIA the temp got up to about 167F and would just stay there.

I have not noted a change in the EVIC ambient temp as at least one other has noted.

CATCRD · **Posted:** Wed Jan 02, 2008 9:47 pm

Cowcatcher wrote:

I have but I have not specifically recorded the information. On a typical cold morning 25>30 F it will heat up about a mile sooner and stay at a closer to normal warm weather operating temperature. The other difference I have noticed though is that the temp seems to fluctuate a lot from a low of 163F to a 170F with occassional spikes to 172F and can do so within a minute. Without the FIA the temp got up to about 167F and would just stay there.

I have not noted a change in the EVIC ambient temp as at least one other has noted.

Are you talking about coolant temp or intake air temp?

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Wed Jan 02, 2008 10:27 pm

Duh! Coolant. I haven't watched the air. Sorry.

BankNote4X4 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:30 am

E-mail today says they're on 10 day back-order

FIA Impressions

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