I installed an upper grill block on my truck. Prior to the grill block the water temperature was running in the high 170's according to the scangage. With the grill block, the water temperature is running in the low 180's even when the weather outside is in the 90's. I don't think I've hit the full open temperature of the thermostat yet. The first inclination is that I can block off more of the radiator, I don't know the temperature that the fan clutch kicks in, but I wonder if blocking the grill is a zero sum game: you get better aero, but lose on the fan. I know the answer is an electric fan, but for now.... I can turn the fan with the engine not running, but I'm thinking that it's turning all the time due to viscous forces anyhow.
The second question I'm sure will get me some raspberry's, but I do use the AC
. If I block off the cooling to the radiator (or get an electric fan set to water temperature) I'm afraid I'll loose efficiency in the AC. The AC already has a noticeable impact on mileage.
Final question: this is the first time I've started a thread. I know there are numerous threads on grill blocks. Should I have looked one up and revived it instead of starting a new thread?
Any opinions (other than turn off the AC)?