Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesqf
Experiment trumps theory. Get a car with a ScanGauge (so you can see exact temperature, rather than the ballpark estimate of most OEM "gauges"), try driving with and without radiator block, see how long it takes the engine to warm to operating temperature.
As I said above, it works in my Insight, but YMMV.
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I did this with my Caravan - I blocked every hole available in the front of the van, and worked my way up the mountain near my house, locked in first gear at nearly redline, under load the whole time (very steep hill). At the top of the hill, I waited for 10 minutes, to allow heat soak because it's only 2 miles up there, parked facing a large enclosed trailer (to defeat wind). The van was previously driven, and only had about an hour cool down time before I took off up the mountain.
After 10 minutes, I checked the temps of my Caravan with my Actron 9190 scan tool... 210*F. I had a 190* T-stat installed. I later did the same run without the blocks installed, and the temps, under the same circumstances, were 206*F.
I don't think I had anything to worry about.