Show off your Grille Block

[BrandonMods]

Originally Posted by Cd

Is the top blocked as well ? You might get better results if you block the top instead. One of the members here did some flow testing on a car much the same as yours. ( I think his is a Chevy Malibu.The grille design looks identical to your car. )
The testing showed some detached flow right at the hoodline.

Im a little paranoid about blocking off the top one. The lower one is directed mainly at the intercooler and initially worried me as this is a turbocharged car (want to avoid hitting a lean condition and creating hot spots on the piston heads - I hear this is an issue with turbo engines that run too hot). Either way since the intake is continuous with the turbo, the warmer temperatures from the cold side of the turbo not being cooled down have definitely helped my fuel economy as Michigan is cooling down right now. I used the intercooler block all last winter but, as soon as spring arrived with warmer temperatures I began to run into predetonation issues I removed the lower block and the symptom went away.

That being said, I'm afraid I'd be pushing my luck with completely blocking off the top for the radiator unless you're talking about the faux grill that rests right beneath the hood which serves no purpose whatsoever except for 'asthetics?' If that is the case I will definitely make one up this weekend and give it a shot.

[bikeprof]

Afraid to block off too much?
Leave ~two inches on each side and that'll create sufficient Venturi to cool the RAD enough, especially going into the winter.
Put slider(s) in there(looong pieces or the wind will take...!) and slide that to block on YOUR demand.

[bikeprof]

VERY, wait!
Where is that thing..?

Gorgeous is all I can say, "nice"...

Originally Posted by cowmeat

Made from the rear spoiler of a 90's Subaru Legacy wagon.

This is the second Insight I fabricated this same kind of grill block for. It looks so OEM it's almost invisible, and Insights without one look funny to me now.

[bikeprof]

Originally Posted by Cd

Older version :



Newer version. In winter, I block off the right side with a flat piece ( with matching teeth )

:

HAHAHA; if you roll backwards, will the onlookers get dizzy with them hubcap psycho drawings turning against "normal" ?

More HAHAHAHA but nice job in and on your Honda.

[Eddie25]

upper v.2




lower






Average 0.3 L/100km gain on daily work commute. up to 0.5 gain on highway long distance trips

[Cd]

Originally Posted by BrandonMods

That being said, I'm afraid I'd be pushing my luck with completely blocking off the top for the radiator unless you're talking about the faux grill that rests right beneath the hood which serves no purpose whatsoever except for 'asthetics?' If that is the case I will definitely make one up this weekend and give it a shot.

So the first grille opening just below the hood line is fake ?
If so, I would plug it, since from what I recall, this was causing some airflow disruption.

[Cd]

Originally Posted by bikeprof

HAHAHA; if you roll backwards, will the onlookers get dizzy with them hubcap psycho drawings turning against "normal" ?

More HAHAHAHA but nice job in and on your Honda.

Actually the spiral works both ways - going forward, or in reverse.
I wasn't the first person to do spiral hubcaps on Ecomodder.
Sven7 beat me to it, but I have had the idea for years.
I was inspired by M.C. Escher and the old hippie vans that had these.

Far
out
man

[ksa8907]

Originally Posted by BrandonMods

Im a little paranoid about blocking off the top one. The lower one is directed mainly at the intercooler and initially worried me as this is a turbocharged car (want to avoid hitting a lean condition and creating hot spots on the piston heads - I hear this is an issue with turbo engines that run too hot). Either way since the intake is continuous with the turbo, the warmer temperatures from the cold side of the turbo not being cooled down have definitely helped my fuel economy as Michigan is cooling down right now. I used the intercooler block all last winter but, as soon as spring arrived with warmer temperatures I began to run into predetonation issues I removed the lower block and the symptom went away.

That being said, I'm afraid I'd be pushing my luck with completely blocking off the top for the radiator unless you're talking about the faux grill that rests right beneath the hood which serves no purpose whatsoever except for 'asthetics?' If that is the case I will definitely make one up this weekend and give it a shot.

It all depends whether you do city or highway driving. I blocked roughly 75% of my grille. It got hot in traffic the other day with ambient around 70-75. With the temps under 60 i can safely stay under 205 most the time, occasionally hit 210.

Once it gets down around freezing i should be set. Only one tank thus far but i may gain as much as 10%!

[BrandonMods]

Originally Posted by ksa8907

It all depends whether you do city or highway driving. I blocked roughly 75% of my grille. It got hot in traffic the other day with ambient around 70-75. With the temps under 60 i can safely stay under 205 most the time, occasionally hit 210.

Once it gets down around freezing i should be set. Only one tank thus far but i may gain as much as 10%!

I agree with what you're saying. With colder temperatures coming I will not be as worried about doing a complete block of the radiator inlet. However, when it warms up I will definitely be more cautious. Does anyone have experience regarding lean conditions and turbocharged engines creating hot spots on piston heads and creating a hole through? Any info is greatly appreciated.

[ksa8907]

Originally Posted by BrandonMods

I agree with what you're saying. With colder temperatures coming I will not be as worried about doing a complete block of the radiator inlet. However, when it warms up I will definitely be more cautious. Does anyone have experience regarding lean conditions and turbocharged engines creating hot spots on piston heads and creating a hole through? Any info is greatly appreciated.

I dont have any experiencewith forced induction, but your engine will never go lean unless there are component failures. Your o2 sensors will keep the fuel mixture in the correct range. Those horror stories are from people building and tuning engines.

I do know that there is some worry about the longevity of the turbocharger when engine off coasting, if there is not adequate time for it to cool down after a period of high usage.