Radiator cover in winter

jrfarms21 · 09-20-2012, 06:19 AM

hello, hope everyone is doin great. i was just wondering if anyone used a radiator cover in the winter (if it snows where home is for ya guys),andwhat are the benefits of using one? any info is well appreciated

Johnp3 · 09-21-2012, 12:59 AM

I put my winter front on when the first cold spell comes around and leave it on till the spring. If I am towing heavy then I will remove it, only when the fan comes on. I live in the mountains, a 3400 ft climb when I go to get groceries and 2000 ft down grade.

jrfarms21 · 09-21-2012, 07:27 AM

wow! our ky winters are probably nothin compared to yours lol I really dont use my gmc 3500 to tow, ive always used the farm truck. do you think the cover would help keep the block heated better and possibly quicker cold starts? This will be my first winter with a daily driver diesel and im tryin to get ready to winterize everything

Ericcon · 09-21-2012, 10:03 AM

Well I don't use any radiator cover in winter and I don't think there is any benefit of doing so.
If I am wrong, any one can guide me well on this issue, please !!

Johnp3 · 09-21-2012, 02:42 PM

When the temperature, gets to 20F and at highway speed the engine, the engine does not warm up properly and it burns a lot more fuel when it is cold. Leaving my house, with the truck having run for 1 minute, I pull a hill about 800 ft, it burns 1/3 the fuel getting up there and warmed up as it does the rest of the 35 mile trip. I have never put on the bumper cover, so I always have the lower grill open.

jrfarms21 · 09-21-2012, 06:05 PM

thanks for all the input guys

Ericcon · 09-22-2012, 08:59 AM

Okay, now I understand properly the reason behind to cover the radiator.
When it comes to the fuel consumption , I too will keep the radiator covered during winter.
Hey thanks!

GM Guy · 09-26-2012, 09:37 PM

a good set of thermostats do alot of good, and if it is really cold, and downhill coasting, the winterfront is the thing to have. just leave the bumper nostrils uncovered so you get a little flow. IIRC, it is hard on the fan if you completely seal everything.

Johnp3 · 09-26-2012, 09:46 PM

When it comes to the FAN, mine does not engage, and I live in the mountains.
When you are driving down the road with the winter cover off it takes a lot more power, to turn the fan, that it does when the winter cover is on. It is all to do with air preasure, and volume.
I was involved with a test on N14's speeding up the fan RPM, you could engage it in the shop and it ran OK, when the fan engaged on the road at 65 MPH it melted the belts off.

GM Guy · 09-27-2012, 11:29 PM

If it was to get hot enough to cause the viscous fan clutch to lock, wouldnt that cause it to pull more than if a little air was allowed through to keep the bi-metal coil cool enough to not engage? I guess if it was cold enough, maybe the cold air blasting through would keep the fluid thick enough to allow a partial lockup, but I dont know.

09-20-2012, 06:19 AM	#1
jrfarms21 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Kentucky Posts: 21 Points: 2,498 Thanks: 15 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Radiator cover in winter hello, hope everyone is doin great. i was just wondering if anyone used a radiator cover in the winter (if it snows where home is for ya guys),andwhat are the benefits of using one? any info is well appreciated

09-21-2012, 12:59 AM	#2
Johnp3 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 2,919 Points: 32,502 Thanks: 45 Thanked 431 Times in 396 Posts	I put my winter front on when the first cold spell comes around and leave it on till the spring. If I am towing heavy then I will remove it, only when the fan comes on. I live in the mountains, a 3400 ft climb when I go to get groceries and 2000 ft down grade. __________________ 1988 ford van fresh overhaul, 1991 nissan pick-up 1993 Caprice 2000 GMC S10 Blaser 2007 nbs 3500 GMC 4x4 crew-cab long box 17 inch single wheels Duramax Alison. BW turnover Ball. Furakawa FL35 loader. Retired, HD mechanic, worked on engines all my life. Fabricator welder. electrician. in the process of finishing my new shop. Live in Rock Creek B.C. Wife has a fruit stand.

09-21-2012, 10:03 AM	#4
Ericcon Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: new york Posts: 6 Points: 1,374 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Well I don't use any radiator cover in winter and I don't think there is any benefit of doing so. If I am wrong, any one can guide me well on this issue, please !! __________________ Go now

09-21-2012, 02:42 PM	#5
Johnp3 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 2,919 Points: 32,502 Thanks: 45 Thanked 431 Times in 396 Posts	When the temperature, gets to 20F and at highway speed the engine, the engine does not warm up properly and it burns a lot more fuel when it is cold. Leaving my house, with the truck having run for 1 minute, I pull a hill about 800 ft, it burns 1/3 the fuel getting up there and warmed up as it does the rest of the 35 mile trip. I have never put on the bumper cover, so I always have the lower grill open. __________________ 1988 ford van fresh overhaul, 1991 nissan pick-up 1993 Caprice 2000 GMC S10 Blaser 2007 nbs 3500 GMC 4x4 crew-cab long box 17 inch single wheels Duramax Alison. BW turnover Ball. Furakawa FL35 loader. Retired, HD mechanic, worked on engines all my life. Fabricator welder. electrician. in the process of finishing my new shop. Live in Rock Creek B.C. Wife has a fruit stand.

09-21-2012, 06:05 PM	#6
jrfarms21 Junior Member Threadstarter Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Kentucky Posts: 21 Points: 2,498 Thanks: 15 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	thanks for all the input guys __________________ Always Earned, Nothing Given!

09-21-2012, 07:27 AM	#3
jrfarms21 Junior Member Threadstarter Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Kentucky Posts: 21 Points: 2,498 Thanks: 15 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	wow! our ky winters are probably nothin compared to yours lol I really dont use my gmc 3500 to tow, ive always used the farm truck. do you think the cover would help keep the block heated better and possibly quicker cold starts? This will be my first winter with a daily driver diesel and im tryin to get ready to winterize everything

09-22-2012, 08:59 AM	#7
Ericcon Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: new york Posts: 6 Points: 1,374 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Okay, now I understand properly the reason behind to cover the radiator. When it comes to the fuel consumption , I too will keep the radiator covered during winter. Hey thanks! __________________ Go now

09-26-2012, 09:37 PM	#8
GM Guy Man. Trans 2wd Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 184 Points: 16,585 Thanks: 13 Thanked 24 Times in 23 Posts	a good set of thermostats do alot of good, and if it is really cold, and downhill coasting, the winterfront is the thing to have. just leave the bumper nostrils uncovered so you get a little flow. IIRC, it is hard on the fan if you completely seal everything. __________________ 99 Chev C3500 6.5L NV4500 14 bolt 2wd 4.10 130K White Ext, Gray Int. RC159.5" WB DRW Chassis Cab with utility box Runs Great, building up 96 GMC C2500HD 6.5L NV4500 14 bolt 2wd 3.73 240K White Ext, Blue Int. ECLB 155.5"WB SRW Pickup runs bad, getting motor right now 95 GMC C2500HD 6.5L NV4500 14 bolt 2wd 4.10 135K White Ext, Grey Int. RC 131.5"WB SRW Pickup with utility box runs strong, yet huffs on 1 hole 95 Chev C3500HD 6.5L NV4500 D80 2wd 5.13 132K White Ext, Grey Int. RC 159.5"WB DRW Chassis Cab with flatbed bad heads, needs motor re-do 94 GMC C2500HD 6.5L 4L80E 14 bolt 2wd 3.73 300K White Ext, Blue Int. Suburban needs engine 91 GMC C1500, 6.2L SM465 10 bolt 2wd 3.42 59K Red Ext, Red Int. RCLB 131.5"WB SRW Pickup needs injectors, oil cooler lines 91 Chev C1500 4.3L 5LM60 10 bolt 2wd 3.42 ??K White Ext, Red Int. RCLB 131.5"WB SRW Pickup needs...alot Dad's: 98 GMC C3500 5.7L Vortec NV4500 208K down right now, needs head gaskets (dex cool claims another set! ) 92 GMC C3500HD 6.5L Turbo NV4500 160K needs exhaust system and oil cooler lines 93 GMC C3500HD 6.5L Turbo 4L80E 260K had a crate 6.5L sometime All above are 159.5" C&C, 10'-12' flatbed, Summit white, RC, SL trim, 2wd 96 GMC C2500HD SL ECLB 6.5L 5spd 2wd. 215K (sold to dad, ran good for a bit, started missing at idle, had blowby since purchase 84 Pete 362 COE, 300 BCIII RTOO 13 spd Fuller (3 OD ratios, hard to find) Single axle tractor, air seats, cab, suspension, OEM twin 200 gallon tanks. 74 Pete 352 COE, cat, 13spd TS, B&H grain truck 90 Marmon 57P long hood conventional, 60"flattop, 12.7L60 Series, 13 spd fuller, TS tractor 76 Marmon COE 8V92T 13spd fuller, TS B&H grain truck 95 IHC 9600 COE M11, 10 spd, SA tractor.

09-26-2012, 09:46 PM	#9
Johnp3 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 2,919 Points: 32,502 Thanks: 45 Thanked 431 Times in 396 Posts	When it comes to the FAN, mine does not engage, and I live in the mountains. When you are driving down the road with the winter cover off it takes a lot more power, to turn the fan, that it does when the winter cover is on. It is all to do with air preasure, and volume. I was involved with a test on N14's speeding up the fan RPM, you could engage it in the shop and it ran OK, when the fan engaged on the road at 65 MPH it melted the belts off. __________________ 1988 ford van fresh overhaul, 1991 nissan pick-up 1993 Caprice 2000 GMC S10 Blaser 2007 nbs 3500 GMC 4x4 crew-cab long box 17 inch single wheels Duramax Alison. BW turnover Ball. Furakawa FL35 loader. Retired, HD mechanic, worked on engines all my life. Fabricator welder. electrician. in the process of finishing my new shop. Live in Rock Creek B.C. Wife has a fruit stand.

09-27-2012, 11:29 PM	#10
GM Guy Man. Trans 2wd Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 184 Points: 16,585 Thanks: 13 Thanked 24 Times in 23 Posts	If it was to get hot enough to cause the viscous fan clutch to lock, wouldnt that cause it to pull more than if a little air was allowed through to keep the bi-metal coil cool enough to not engage? I guess if it was cold enough, maybe the cold air blasting through would keep the fluid thick enough to allow a partial lockup, but I dont know. __________________ 99 Chev C3500 6.5L NV4500 14 bolt 2wd 4.10 130K White Ext, Gray Int. RC159.5" WB DRW Chassis Cab with utility box Runs Great, building up 96 GMC C2500HD 6.5L NV4500 14 bolt 2wd 3.73 240K White Ext, Blue Int. ECLB 155.5"WB SRW Pickup runs bad, getting motor right now 95 GMC C2500HD 6.5L NV4500 14 bolt 2wd 4.10 135K White Ext, Grey Int. RC 131.5"WB SRW Pickup with utility box runs strong, yet huffs on 1 hole 95 Chev C3500HD 6.5L NV4500 D80 2wd 5.13 132K White Ext, Grey Int. RC 159.5"WB DRW Chassis Cab with flatbed bad heads, needs motor re-do 94 GMC C2500HD 6.5L 4L80E 14 bolt 2wd 3.73 300K White Ext, Blue Int. Suburban needs engine 91 GMC C1500, 6.2L SM465 10 bolt 2wd 3.42 59K Red Ext, Red Int. RCLB 131.5"WB SRW Pickup needs injectors, oil cooler lines 91 Chev C1500 4.3L 5LM60 10 bolt 2wd 3.42 ??K White Ext, Red Int. RCLB 131.5"WB SRW Pickup needs...alot Dad's: 98 GMC C3500 5.7L Vortec NV4500 208K down right now, needs head gaskets (dex cool claims another set! ) 92 GMC C3500HD 6.5L Turbo NV4500 160K needs exhaust system and oil cooler lines 93 GMC C3500HD 6.5L Turbo 4L80E 260K had a crate 6.5L sometime All above are 159.5" C&C, 10'-12' flatbed, Summit white, RC, SL trim, 2wd 96 GMC C2500HD SL ECLB 6.5L 5spd 2wd. 215K (sold to dad, ran good for a bit, started missing at idle, had blowby since purchase 84 Pete 362 COE, 300 BCIII RTOO 13 spd Fuller (3 OD ratios, hard to find) Single axle tractor, air seats, cab, suspension, OEM twin 200 gallon tanks. 74 Pete 352 COE, cat, 13spd TS, B&H grain truck 90 Marmon 57P long hood conventional, 60"flattop, 12.7L60 Series, 13 spd fuller, TS tractor 76 Marmon COE 8V92T 13spd fuller, TS B&H grain truck 95 IHC 9600 COE M11, 10 spd, SA tractor.

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