linoleum against radiator potential fire hazard?

[lunarhighway]

i've alway been a little disapointed with the effect a grillblock has on my car, in fact i think it seems to lower my fe... today i took apart the airbox and air intake system that seemed to get it's air from somewhere in the front bumper... turns out most air for the intake is coming from the left side of the topgrill... so today i inserted a sheet of linoleum behind the grill so that it directs most air towards the pickup.

now to get the the point. this sheet touches the radiator... is this a potential fire hazard?

[Frank Lee]

I wouldn't ever block with something right on or next to the rad. Even in severe cold when I button the front up, I leave room for air to circulate through the rad. However if it's only touching on a small portion of the rad it's probably OK. 200 degrees probably wouldn't cause lino to burst into flames... but I'd look it over periodically for signs of heat damage anyway.

[Ryland]

it will not get hot enough to burn, but it might soften and turn in to a mess that is hard to remove.

[TomO]

Linoleum is made up of mostly PVC and it's Melting point is 100–260 °C so you should be set. Just keep an eye on it though.

[wagonman76]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I wouldn't ever block with something right on or next to the rad. Even in severe cold when I button the front up, I leave room for air to circulate through the rad. However if it's only touching on a small portion of the rad it's probably OK. 200 degrees probably wouldn't cause lino to burst into flames... but I'd look it over periodically for signs of heat damage anyway.

I agree, I would leave some room for circulation. My cars run cool, but there is one thing that heats it right up to a danger point, and that is ice and snow packed into the lower part of the radiator.