Quote:
Originally Posted by matthew
Hey all, been lurking here for a few weeks and learning a lot, so much wisdom to absorb.
I've just started working on a set of fully reversible mods for my '06 TDI Golf, including rear wheel fairings, smooth wheel covers, and a removable partial kammback.
Anybody have experience with grille blocks on this generation of VW? I'd like to add one if the return seems worthwhile but I'm a bit worried about restricting my air intake on the diesel without knowing exactly what I'm doing.
Cheers,
Matt
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Welcome aboard Matt!
A surprising amount of the radiator / grill can be blocked, even in summer. Diesels get more efficient when the engine block and the compression chambers are up to, and kept at the normal operating temperature.
There's a few things I'd recommend, namely:
- Test grill blocks with something that's easily reversable (Tape, or cardboard, or plastic film you can cut a hole into, to provide more air if you find coolant temperatures rising up too high).
- If you're using the car for more stop and go traffic in an urban setting, you'll need more area open (Being that you're in Wyoming, that's LESS likely).
If you're primarily doing highway driving, you can stand to block most of the upper and lower grill on your Mk V. As evilskillit, mentioned, if it gets too warm, make a bigger hole.
- Winter you can cover up nearly EVERYTHING without worries. If it's at or below freezing, your car will warm up faster, and you and the car will be warmer. I quick checked for the overall weather pattern there - you get warm days, cool nights in the summer, and ... moderately cold averages in winter. Whenever the Temperature hits 40F or lower consistantly, you'll benefit from everything but the engine intake, and intercooler blocked up.
I've the previous generation TDI, so I can't give Mk V generation specific tips, but I can give you an idea what to look for based on the Mk III and Mk IV.
You want to trace out where the intake for your Mark V Golf is pulling in air. Wherever that is, you need to leave some of that grill open directly in front of this.
On the MkIV I have, the engine air intake is the top Driver's side quadrant of the upper grill. On Mk III's, the engine takes in air from the passenger fender.
The intercooler for the Mk IV is the lower passenger side scoop, the driver's side only has the horn (so, it's for show, and can be covered without issue).
If you don't mind your test rig looking only semi terrible, most of the the grills that cover the open areas can be popped out and replaced back in. You could use something sturdy like a contractor grade black garbage bag to cover a scoop, which'll allow you to quickly open up any areas you may need by either placing tape on it, then cutting it to leave a stable hole, or if you're overheating, just cut the bigger hole *period*.
My own car, I used black Gorilla Duct Tape in late 2007 to cover over my upper grill on my Mk IV. No one noticed it, oddly enough, unless I pointed it out that it was Duct Tape. I found on mine, that I needed about 1/4 of the top grill in front of the intake open, and roughly 1/4 of the lower grill open to supply enough air to keep the coolant temperatures in a stable 80-90C range while at highway speeds in summer's peak temperatures. That and I found that I could block my upper and achieve better mileage, while leaving the lower open/partly blocked. Of course, different generation, so YMMV.
So, take your pick on test materials to determine the size of the openings you'll need to operate the car without overheating. August heat, a long highway run, then crawling in stop and go traffic will let you know your absolute worst case cooling needs.
Test... then blaze the trail for Mk V Volkswagen owners, and figure out a more permanent setup.
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