Card board.

[Eric McCarthy]

I know back in the day in the winter time it was common for people to stick a piece of cardboard infront of the radiator to restrict the air flow making the engine run a little hotter.

I did it a few winters ago with my 87 Bronco and I noticed it didn't seem to take as long for it to warm up and blow comfy heat into the cab. I wanted to ask if any long term damage can result from doing it.

Thinking about sticking a piece of card board in front of the rad on my 88 one ton but I don't want to cook the motor either.

 

[Lil Foot]

I've had 3 Landcruisers, all with the rear auxiliary heater, and in really cold weather (i.e. snow) they were so cold blooded they ran like crap & it was hard to heat them. An old Landcruiser guy showed me that they had a slot (made for this use?) in front of the radiator for a piece of sheet metal that blocked the whole radiator. Put it in when you needed it, slide it out when it got warmer. I made a piece of plastic sheet that worked perfectly, and I ran them this way for years with no ill effects.

 

[trouble11]

Eric,
What You want to do with Cardboard would be the same as Shutterstats on most large Trucks, helps them get to the correct operating temp faster and helps the engine run warmer when its cold. You should not have a problem doing this. Just glance at Your temp gauge or idiot light every so often to make sure its not overheating. Several people do this in the North Country where I live. Its Funny, it worked 50 years ago and still does, but few people think to do it.
Have a good one
Jeff

 

[alansz400]

If your therostat is working the way it should the hot water should stay in the motor and not be in the radiator. If you are not getting enough heat in the cab try back flushing the heater core. I just did the one on my old truck and it made it a lot better. Real easy to do just unhook the hoses going to the heater core and use the garden hose to back flush the core. I could tell mine was pluged since the hose going in was hot and with the blower off the one coming out was not.

 

[m32825]

I've used the cardboard trick on my '87 Camry. Must have had the wrong thermostat in it, because it would take quite a while to warm up and you'd be where you were going before you started getting toasty air out of the heater. Once I replaced it the car warmed up much faster, no more need for the cardboard.

-- Carl

 

[hodge]

As stated and simply put, your temperature gauge (if working) will tell you if it is running too hot or not. Run the cardboard, and if it is running too warm, remove it. You should be fine.

 

[SteveF]

Alansz400 I respectfully disagree with your description of the function of the thermostat. The engine's thermostat purpose is to recirculate engine coolant until the temperature in the water jacket reaches the bi-metal element pre set temperature at which time the thermostat opens to allow circulation through the radiator to permit further cooling.

It is all about gradient... school busses use a canvas screen that the driver exposes more or less surface area of the radiator to adjust how much of the radiator is exposed?

So all that said I'm not sure how much restricting air flow through the radiator going eight miles an hour really helps verses altering fan speed.

 

[RCW]

Eric -

Ironic you ask - I saw the first piece of cardboard in many years just this week.

As several other guys said, while I don't see an issue with your truck in COLD weather - watch the temp gauge - I don't know the "normal" winter temp in Virginia warrants restricting air through the radiator. I mean aren't highs (or even lows) normally above freezing in VA?

Do you drive long distances at highway speed, or local, lower speed commutes? If its local, low speed commutes - I would definitely not put cardboard in if its above 20 or 30 degrees out. Sitting at a red light, that could be bad if the radiator is starved for air, even though the fan is running. They are designed for air from the front, through the grill.

If I remember right - it was common when it was really cold, and the only way to keep operating temps up was to restrict air through the radiator when travelling. If your thermostat is working right, cardboard would have no effect if it was sitting still and warming up in the morning (like I do every day now).

Another thing to consider is the heating system. I've had heater cores go in a Jeep CJ-7, Ford P/U, and GMC P/U. Sometimes they will just not heat, shortly before they start to leak......

We can go weeks without going over 32 - normal lows are low-teens, and below 0 happens all too often. Our high today was 19. For those kind of temps, cardboard may be an option - as the guy I saw this week used.

As SteveF eluded, I would try a smaller piece of cardboard first, and go from there....

 

[Wbk]

I know back in the day in the winter time it was common for people to stick a piece of cardboard infront of the radiator to restrict the air flow making the engine run a little hotter.

I did it a few winters ago with my 87 Bronco and I noticed it didn't seem to take as long for it to warm up and blow comfy heat into the cab. I wanted to ask if any long term damage can result from doing it.

Thinking about sticking a piece of card board in front of the rad on my 88 one ton but I don't want to cook the motor either.

Hi Eric around here it's called a winter front. If you put the cardboard directly in front of the rad I would suggest cutting a hole in the center so it will still allow some air to cool the rad. Another easier way is to cut a piece of cardboard the size of your grill and stretch a bungy cord across it, if it overheats a little just fold the cardboard a little. Which ever way you do it keep a close eye on the temp. gauge as it can overheat real quick. We use the one right in front of the rad on our bx2230 and started with a 6" hole but had to increase it to 8" to get the necessary air through to keep the temp. in the normal zone when blowing snow. Hope this was helpful Barry

 

[UnionMan]

I don’t think it would have the same effect on a tractor as it does an over the road tractor trailer. Unless your tractor does 65mph on the highway there’s no real need to restrict airflow.

UnionMan

 

[RCW]

I think Eric is talking about a 1-ton pickup.

I used to see some kind of radiator screens on tractor-trailers often years ago.

 

[lsmurphy]

I just turn my E-fan off.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

Thanks guys! Its just on my one ton truck, no tractor. I'll give it a shot and see what it does and keep an eye on the temp gage. I got in a habbit years ago to keep a gallon of anti freeze and a gallon of water in anything I drive. Never knowing when you might need some juice.

I could use a tad bit of extra warmth in the cab. The damn windo seals on the back passanger door is dry rotted and it gets kinda nippy in the cab going down the high way.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

Soooo after looking under the hood today I'd half to unbolt half the grill area just to shove a piece of cardboard down in there. Bolt it all back up then do it again in the Spring when the weather warms up.

The truck had a block heater in it at one time but that was like 2 engines ago so I doubt it's still in here. Wouldn't be hard to get another one at 25 bucks.

Huummmm decisions decisions...

 

[m32825]

Soooo after looking under the hood today I'd half to unbolt half the grill area just to shove a piece of cardboard down in there. Bolt it all back up then do it again in the Spring when the weather warms up.

The truck had a block heater in it at one time but that was like 2 engines ago so I doubt it's still in here. Wouldn't be hard to get another one at 25 bucks.

Huummmm decisions decisions...

Haven't I seen covers on the front of the grill? Even if it's just temporary you could rig something up to test your theory and see what you'd gain.

My old Camry had a faulty thermostat. It should have stayed closed until the engine got close to operating temperature, then opened as needed to hold it there. Mine wasn't closing all the way. As a result, the temperature would slooooowly climb, taking 20 minutes or so of driving to stabilize. Since replacing it the gauge goes to the same place in less than five minutes. Is your thermostat hard to reach/replace?

-- Carl

 

[Eric McCarthy]

I haven't checked into the location of the thermostate. I assume it should be fine since it has a brand new crate engine that is only 4 years old. I could be wrong.

I had kicked around the idea of getting some outdoor weather proof fabric and making an external cover over the front grill and mounting buttons on the truck and making something along those lines. This would be a crafty project for my dad since he has a big commercial sewing machine.