Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - How does a Grill Block help with engine warmup?

olds455 · 02-27-2013, 12:51 PM

I'll try extreme differences for an explanation. Try to suplement what Old Mech has written.

1-If your radiator is completely blocked of airflow, the engine will heat up more quickly because the coolant will not lose temperature while flowing throught radiator (I know it will lose a bit heating the objects close by) and the engine would NOT have to re-warm it up, therefore the engine would continue to warm and would stabilze to a temperature more quickly.
2-if your radiator had air flow and reduced the temperature of the coolant as it passed through, then the engine would have to warm it back up. which sucks heat out of the engine and moves it through the coolant back to the radiator.

In situation 1 the engine WILL heat up more quickly to a stabilized temperture.

Another analogy is filling a bucket with water. Water is heat and the bucket is the engine and radiator system. Your goal is to fill the bucket with water (engine with heat). If you pour water into the bucket it will fill up. NO problem.
Now put a hole in the bottom of the bucket. The hole is the air flow through the radiator.
1-If you plug the hole (stop air flow through the radiator), the bucket will fill more quickly.
2-If you open the hole, (allow air flow) the bucket takes longer to fill because some of the water (heat) runs out of the bucket (system).

If you watch engine coolant temps through the UG or Sg, you can see the temp rise to just above the thermostat set temperature. shortly after, the temp drops a good bit (10 to 20 degrees in my car). After the drop the thermostat will close again until coolant temp rises back enough to fully reopen the thermostat. This cycle will happen a few times with the temperature drop being less and the time between high points being less and less until the temperature stabilizes.

I also use the grill block to increase the stabilized temperature. My car seems to like 215 or so, not 195 or much higher than 220. The higher and lower temps make it difficult to get high instantaneous mileage and therefore a higher trip average. I adjust the total front end opening to accomodate ambient temps. The electric radiator fans supplement if I get the opening too small and allow a damage free commute until I adjust the opening.

---that was longer than I though it woudl be. Hope it helps.

Scott

02-27-2013, 12:51 PM	#14 (permalink)
olds455 EcoModding Lurker Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 13 Century - '03 Buick Century 90 day: 35.41 mpg (US) Thanks: 6 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	I'll try extreme differences for an explanation. Try to suplement what Old Mech has written. 1-If your radiator is completely blocked of airflow, the engine will heat up more quickly because the coolant will not lose temperature while flowing throught radiator (I know it will lose a bit heating the objects close by) and the engine would NOT have to re-warm it up, therefore the engine would continue to warm and would stabilze to a temperature more quickly. 2-if your radiator had air flow and reduced the temperature of the coolant as it passed through, then the engine would have to warm it back up. which sucks heat out of the engine and moves it through the coolant back to the radiator. In situation 1 the engine WILL heat up more quickly to a stabilized temperture. Another analogy is filling a bucket with water. Water is heat and the bucket is the engine and radiator system. Your goal is to fill the bucket with water (engine with heat). If you pour water into the bucket it will fill up. NO problem. Now put a hole in the bottom of the bucket. The hole is the air flow through the radiator. 1-If you plug the hole (stop air flow through the radiator), the bucket will fill more quickly. 2-If you open the hole, (allow air flow) the bucket takes longer to fill because some of the water (heat) runs out of the bucket (system). If you watch engine coolant temps through the UG or Sg, you can see the temp rise to just above the thermostat set temperature. shortly after, the temp drops a good bit (10 to 20 degrees in my car). After the drop the thermostat will close again until coolant temp rises back enough to fully reopen the thermostat. This cycle will happen a few times with the temperature drop being less and the time between high points being less and less until the temperature stabilizes. I also use the grill block to increase the stabilized temperature. My car seems to like 215 or so, not 195 or much higher than 220. The higher and lower temps make it difficult to get high instantaneous mileage and therefore a higher trip average. I adjust the total front end opening to accomodate ambient temps. The electric radiator fans supplement if I get the opening too small and allow a damage free commute until I adjust the opening. ---that was longer than I though it woudl be. Hope it helps. Scott Last edited by olds455; 02-27-2013 at 05:04 PM.. Reason: Sheesh, I made a ton of typos....I should write in word and paste in next time.