Cardboard in front grille during winter

[Sohjonn]

why? what does it help? any drawbacks?

[cwb27]

A properly running radiator does NOT need this and can infact cause engine overheating issues. Some people use it as a cheap/temp solution to a failing/failed thermostat.

[michelb]

I had a Suzuki Samurai and needed to do this otherwise it would never reach proper operating temperature in the winter (and I had a friend with one as well who needed to do the same thing). I'm pretty sure when I did it, I actually had the thermostat tested and it was fine, I think it's just that with some vehicles (e.g. jeeps that have a very large grill area and a spacious hood compartment that doesn't really hold a lot of heat), you just get way too much cooling in the winter.

[deep]

Yep, only recommended for vehicles with large grills, like Jeeps, 18-wheelers, 300Ms and Bentleys.

[DragonZealot]

I used to shield the lower portion of the rad to protect the engine rad and the A/C rad from road salt and debris in the winter.

Advantages:
- car will warm up a littler quicker
- less stressful to the waterpump because now the thermostat opens more allowing more flow of coolant
- less thermal shock when the coolant from the rad enters the engine because the collant in the rad is warmer

However it is hard to say how much difference does this make. Just remember to take this off in spring.

[rc51]

A properly running radiator does NOT need this and can infact cause engine overheating issues. Some people use it as a cheap/temp solution to a failing/failed thermostat.

It's got nothing to do with a proper functioning RAD or THERMOSTAT. Those things are designed for 'average' driving conditions.

Spend a winter in Wpg and drive a big vehicle with either only 1 block heater or large grills..it'll never warm up - enough or it will take so long you're already at your destination.

I used to do this but only in extreme conditions, anything lower than -25C and higher than normal wind speed in Wpg..made a tremendous difference in how quickly the car came up to temp and that it actually reached the normal operating temperature, without the shield, the car always ran below where it normally would. One year we had -30C for the entire month.....it came in handy then. I guess you could swap out your thermostat like they used to do back in the old days, as they had summer and winter thermostats, but that's added cost and time. This solution is much simplier. Lots of folks do it in MB..and I'm sure other very cold winter spots.

Oh I didn't use cardboard, I used a piece of rubber matt mounted on the inside of the grill.

[Asad_A203]

Ive never had to do this (I live in Winnipeg too), but I see alot of larger SUVs with cardboard over the radiator in the winter. My car usually never has the engine warm in winter though.

[rc51]

Ive never had to do this (I live in Winnipeg too), but I see alot of larger SUVs with cardboard over the radiator in the winter. My car usually never has the engine warm in winter though.

You don't "HAVE" to do it..its just a 'hack' to get better/quicker heat out of your vehicle during winter months. Also vehicles vary, my Accord was great for winter heat, but my Toyota 4x4 was useless.

[Asad_A203]

^ haha, thnx for correction.

[TenzoR]

i'll stick with my butt warmer, that's all it matters (wish I had a steering wheel warmer)

[kbjy11]

i don't think this will make your car warm up faster... since when your car is under optimal temperatures, it doesn't circulate coolant to the rad...?

not sure exactly how the thermostat triggers, so i could be wrong.