Summer grill block: how hot will you go?

[Diesel_Dave]

Originally Posted by slowmover

Wow, D_D, I knew that pre-heating was a help -- and that my times s. distance would be different -- but that is one impressive graph commentary on the way you drive!!

That graph would be my like leaving home and essentially coasting downhill for 25-miles.

.

A lot of that is the engine-off coasting. That's the "sawtooth" signature that you see imposed on top of the traces--the engine cools down somewhat during the engine-off portions.

[modproductions]

Toyota matrix 2013

Normal temps without any grill block = engine 87°C

With upper grill block:
outside temps lower than 25°C = engine 89°C
outside temps between 25°C and 30°C = engine 90°C to 95°C
outside temps 31°C+ = engine from 95°C to 98°C

I don't worry as long as the engine is in the 2 digits temp.

[echo-francis]

how hot will I go? if my radiator fan is not running its good

[pjbgravely]

At least on my two vehicles I found the blocking the decorative upper grill improved cooling as some of the air was coming out of the grill after it entered through the bottom intakes.

So my case the grill block resulted in ~1MPH increase and better cooling for both vehicles.

[Xist]

Originally Posted by pjbgravely

At least on my two vehicles I found the blocking the decorative upper grill improved cooling as some of the air was coming out of the grill after it entered through the bottom intakes.

So my case the grill block resulted in ~1MPH increase and better cooling for both vehicles.

How did you figure out that?

[pjbgravely]

For the Mustang I did 3 tank averages with block on and block off and the MPH increased 1 MPG with it on. I didn't know about the cooling effects until I hit a deer. When it was repaired I noticed the AC wasn't as cold as I remembered. When I reinstalled the grill block The AC was ice cold again. So the block helped with cooling.

For the Dodge truck, it had cooling problems climbing hills with heavy loads. After the block the temp gage never moves off normal and I even when climbed a large hill that is known to over heat trucks with a 800# load and the gauge never moved off normal. The MPG gain was tested with a scan gauge since it only gets filled every 3 months or so. The increase was around a 1/2 MPG but at 13 tops it is still a 3% increase. Even without the increase the grill block is still well worth the effort.

[Vekke]

How about winter grill block in summer?

https://youtu.be/kOPpJB12nrc?si=_9ykcnovUA0WU5dP

140km/h starts at 2:00 --> 90C no fans needed. I need about 32 Hp to keep that speed
150 km/h starts at 9:20 -->96c no fans needed I need about 40 Hp to keep that speed
car front explained 12:26
160 km/h starts at 14:04 --> 99C fans are on! I need about 47 Hp to keep that speed
170 km/h starts at 15:17 -->104c fans are on! About the max speed in that outside temperature. I need about 55 Hp to keep that speed.

[RedDevil]

FWIW I completely cleared my grill block in this heat wave.
I saw reduced AC cooling and EGR use with the partial block. (I took out the first bar at the previous heat wave).
At 85 km/h the relative effect of AC on economy is substantial

I like to do without AC but at these temperatures not having AC becomes more than a nuisance. But 1 minute of AC on recirculation at full blast and then 5 minutes of no ventilation at all repeatedly yields both reasonable comfort and pretty good MPG.