Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > Aerodynamics
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 08-08-2012, 10:16 PM   #21 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Zerohour's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: PA
Posts: 314

Pooparu - '01 Subaru Outback Limited
90 day: 28.12 mpg (US)

Cop Car - '94 Chevy Caprice Interceptor 9C1
Last 3: 18.48 mpg (US)

Mini - '11 Mini Cooper
90 day: 37.63 mpg (US)

Gramps - '95 Subaru Legacy Postal
90 day: 23.18 mpg (US)
Thanks: 10
Thanked 17 Times in 10 Posts
I always thought of using door actuators and a universal radiator fan controller (for electric fans). Have the fan controller open/close the door locks based on engine temp. You would still need to build the opening mechanism.

__________________
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Zerohour For This Useful Post:
WesternStarSCR (10-29-2012)
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 08-09-2012, 02:39 AM   #22 (permalink)
EcoModding Apprentice
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Fontana, CA
Posts: 167

Red Egg - '95 Ford Aspire
90 day: 38.51 mpg (US)

Dodge SRT-4 - '04 Dodge Neon SRT-4 2.4L Turbo
90 day: 26.24 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I like all the approaches as a whole, and each one may work better for some vehicles and not others. You don't want your oem cooling fans turning on earlier or staying on longer than they do without a new grill shutter mod. The e-fans eat mpg on their own. I always wanted to just shut off the seconday fan for my a/c once i was rolling 30mph or better, especially if its really hot the regular fan may be on too anyway and pulling air thru the condenser already
__________________
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2012, 03:32 AM   #23 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: idaho
Posts: 282
Thanks: 0
Thanked 96 Times in 74 Posts
Many cars in the 1920's and 1930's had thermostat controlled shutters in front of the radiator, in some cases the shutters were also the grille. Depending on the design of the car the shutters were horizontal or vertical.

Look up photos of 1930's Packards. They used two panels of vertical chromed louvers. With the car at rest and engine off and cool, the grilles look like solid metal sheets with some vertical grooves.
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2012, 07:37 AM   #24 (permalink)
Do more with less
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: North Eastern Missouri
Posts: 930

OD - '05 Ford Econoline
90 day: 18.64 mpg (US)

Joetta - '86 Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Oil Burner
TEAM VW AUDI Group
90 day: 49.71 mpg (US)

Benzilla - '85 Mercedes Benz 300D
90 day: 28.08 mpg (US)
Thanks: 66
Thanked 177 Times in 112 Posts
Question, If you are worried about running a cooling fan to save fuel, why are you then running the air conditioning?

I barely see any difference when running an electric load but when I turn on the AC, I get anywhere from 2 mpg in my Econoline to 5mpg in my minivan.

Be careful cutting off your cooling fan with your ac condenser on. The money you save in gas may be going to buy you a new engine or transmission. Just saying....

Quote:
Originally Posted by getnpsi View Post
I like all the approaches as a whole, and each one may work better for some vehicles and not others. You don't want your oem cooling fans turning on earlier or staying on longer than they do without a new grill shutter mod. The e-fans eat mpg on their own. I always wanted to just shut off the seconday fan for my a/c once i was rolling 30mph or better, especially if its really hot the regular fan may be on too anyway and pulling air thru the condenser already
__________________
“The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those that speak it.” George Orwell

“Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe.

The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed.”

Noah Webster, 1787
  Reply With Quote
Old 09-01-2012, 06:19 PM   #25 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Louisville,TN.
Posts: 31
Thanks: 79
Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts
While they are just now arriving on the streets, the new Dodge Dart/Alfa Romeo also has a shutter system in the grill. I was a detailer for Chrysler at the shows this year. We had first a pre production show car ( only the motor under the hood and nothing hooked up) that we used on a display to show the new model. By Cleveland, we had actual running test cars that could be driven onto displays and a cutaway..
  Reply With Quote
Old 09-01-2012, 06:22 PM   #26 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Louisville,TN.
Posts: 31
Thanks: 79
Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts
Not a great picture, but here is a view of the shutter system and location

2013 Dodge Dart | All New compact that's everything but compact | Dodge
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to slime For This Useful Post:
WesternStarSCR (10-08-2012)
Old 10-26-2012, 01:57 PM   #27 (permalink)
Corporate imperialist
 
oil pan 4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NewMexico (USA)
Posts: 11,175

Sub - '84 Chevy Diesel Suburban C10
SUV
90 day: 19.5 mpg (US)

camaro - '85 Chevy Camaro Z28

Riot - '03 Kia Rio POS
Team Hyundai
90 day: 30.21 mpg (US)

Bug - '01 VW Beetle GLSturbo
90 day: 26.43 mpg (US)

Sub2500 - '86 GMC Suburban C2500
90 day: 11.95 mpg (US)

Snow flake - '11 Nissan Leaf SL
SUV
90 day: 141.63 mpg (US)
Thanks: 269
Thanked 3,522 Times in 2,796 Posts
Its getting cold out so I broke down and got the broil master grill shutters a few days ago, should be here any day now.
__________________
1984 chevy suburban, custom made 6.5L diesel turbocharged with a Garrett T76 and Holset HE351VE, 22:1 compression 13psi of intercooled boost.
1989 firebird mostly stock. Aside from the 6-speed manual trans, corvette gen 5 front brakes, 1LE drive shaft, 4th Gen disc brake fbody rear end.
2011 leaf SL, white, portable 240v CHAdeMO, trailer hitch, new batt as of 2014.
  Reply With Quote
Old 10-26-2012, 02:08 PM   #28 (permalink)
The PRC.
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Elsewhere.
Posts: 5,304
Thanks: 285
Thanked 536 Times in 384 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by oil pan 4 View Post
Exploded view of Chevy Cruze "shutter" grille [w/video]

So simple, never thought I would see such a thing coming from an OEM these days.
Looks easy enough to build up a stack of these as needed for use in an existing vehicle.
Could it be too good to be true?
I thought the best grill to block was the upper one, but this shows the shutter only operating on the lower one ?

__________________
[I]So long and thanks for all the fish.[/I]
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Arragonis For This Useful Post:
WesternStarSCR (10-29-2012)
Old 10-27-2012, 12:05 AM   #29 (permalink)
Corporate imperialist
 
oil pan 4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NewMexico (USA)
Posts: 11,175

Sub - '84 Chevy Diesel Suburban C10
SUV
90 day: 19.5 mpg (US)

camaro - '85 Chevy Camaro Z28

Riot - '03 Kia Rio POS
Team Hyundai
90 day: 30.21 mpg (US)

Bug - '01 VW Beetle GLSturbo
90 day: 26.43 mpg (US)

Sub2500 - '86 GMC Suburban C2500
90 day: 11.95 mpg (US)

Snow flake - '11 Nissan Leaf SL
SUV
90 day: 141.63 mpg (US)
Thanks: 269
Thanked 3,522 Times in 2,796 Posts
Upper is better, but a lower grill block is better than no grill block.
__________________
1984 chevy suburban, custom made 6.5L diesel turbocharged with a Garrett T76 and Holset HE351VE, 22:1 compression 13psi of intercooled boost.
1989 firebird mostly stock. Aside from the 6-speed manual trans, corvette gen 5 front brakes, 1LE drive shaft, 4th Gen disc brake fbody rear end.
2011 leaf SL, white, portable 240v CHAdeMO, trailer hitch, new batt as of 2014.
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to oil pan 4 For This Useful Post:
WesternStarSCR (10-29-2012)
Old 10-29-2012, 04:02 AM   #30 (permalink)
The PRC.
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Elsewhere.
Posts: 5,304
Thanks: 285
Thanked 536 Times in 384 Posts
Pondering further I think we have seen these types of blocks here before haven't we - sliding covers with grill holes spring to mind, operated by cable and returned with a spring or a cable going in the opposite direction. Something using a warm air style heating vent may be possible too.

__________________
[I]So long and thanks for all the fish.[/I]
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Arragonis For This Useful Post:
WesternStarSCR (10-29-2012)
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com