Blocking Off Front Grill for Winter GRRRR!!

Turbospool · Nov 8, 2009

How many of you guys do this? What are the gains you realize? Any potential hazards ? I use my scanguage to monitor temps./ never get over 185 Fht. ,wondering where danger begins? If the car warms up qiucker do you see better mpg in winter months?

NB_TDi · Nov 8, 2009

There is no danger. I mean VW sells a kit to block of the front, they expect you to do it!

I notice slightly quicker warmups and the car doesn't cool down on the highway.

Joe_Meehan · Nov 8, 2009

There is little chance of damage or negative results. You would not want to leave it there next summer, but it is generally a plus for the winter.

Turbospool · Nov 9, 2009

thanks guys..... it's confirmational replys like this that makes this forum so informative.

n8ronJ · Nov 9, 2009

I saw someone with foam pipe insulation at a gtg last year and then looked up in the forum afterward. I did it from late January til April and just a couple weeks ago I stuffed them back in. Since my Jetta is gray they kind of blend in. I'd get the fancy ones from VW (or tdiparts.com) if I felt like ponying up the money. I think it was around $40.

+1 for quicker warm-ups.

Ausgezeichnet TDi · Nov 9, 2009

Look for Scurvy on the forum. He came up with the Scurvy Winter Front which involves using pipe insulation in the grill. Works great! If you're in a really cold area, consider making or buying a frostheater.

dieselimblut · Nov 9, 2009

I use 3/4" black or dark gray pipe insulation around the badge...works great...reduces warm up time on HWY and once in town, keeps temp warmer...

Turbine Suburban · Nov 9, 2009

Might it reduce performance slightly by raising intercooler temps?

Ausgezeichnet TDi · Nov 9, 2009

Only if you have a front mount IC I would think. You don't block off airflow on the passenger side where the IC is, only the front grill and lower grill in front of the radiator and condenser.

coalminer16 · Nov 9, 2009

Intercooler is on the lower bumper grill that is separate of the radiator grill if stock. So blocking radiator wouldn't affect the intercooler. I just use foam but the stock ones are $27 plus shipping.

NB_TDi · Nov 9, 2009

I blocked off my intercooler vent on the front. Cooler weather means more power yes, but also means less mileage. So by blocking it I can keep my mileage up a bit more.

My entire front is blocked with the OEM kit and foam pipe insulation.

sfierz · Nov 9, 2009

I'm using the foam pipe insulation on my lower grill on my Passat. Seems to restrict airflow somewhat and keep the car warmer, but not enough to cause any negatives. Gonna leave it on until May, I think, or at least until temps warm into the 70s. I'm also using a Zerostart 1000w coolant heater, and have all my engine covers (top, bottom) intact. Helps that we have heated garage, too.

CSM Jetta · Nov 9, 2009

does anyone have a picture of their grill cover installed? Also how cold does it need to get to consider getting one of these? The lowest it gets here is about 15 F.

Bob_Fout · Nov 9, 2009

CSM Jetta said:
does anyone have a picture of their grill cover installed? Also how cold does it need to get to consider getting one of these? The lowest it gets here is about 15 F.

I put mine on when the lows get to 40*F to 50*F, all through winter, and until it warms up past 40*F to 50*F.

NB_TDi · Nov 9, 2009

I ran mine on the car just last month it was still 15c outside. I actually travelled on the highway for 13 hours to Ottawa again. The car can keep itself cool enough with it on if the day is warmer. It's the colder days that you need it. I run it from fall to late spring. I still only hit around 93C in late May.

IndigoBlueWagon · Nov 9, 2009

My own .02 is don't worry about blocking it off. Get in the car, get it on boost, and it'll warm up and stay warm, especially where you are. If you were in Illinois or Wisconsin I might think different. I drove to Detroit last January when it was -3 out and saw the coolant temp drop when I was going down hills. But in more moderate climates it's not an issue.

NB_TDi · Nov 9, 2009

I for one did notice a difference with and without the kit. Driving on the highway with winds coming at you that are -30C tend to chill down the car a tad.

IndigoBlueWagon · Nov 9, 2009

Well sure, but you don't get much of that in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

twentyeight · Nov 9, 2009

I just took a stab at this a few weekends ago. I had some old fakish leather scraps at home; I would suspect one could pick something similar up at a fabric store. I cut out a pattern with some overlap

I then drilled some holes around the perimeter, and then laced them up with some nylon string.

Then the grill gets re-installed. The bottom grill needs a slit for the tow hook, and two more to screw in the bolts.

Temps are up to just under 200 on the gauge, the car stays warm longer afterword, and heats up quite a bit quicker. It got up to 60 or so the past few days, and the fan keeps running for a moment after the key is turned off, but other then that, all seems great

sfierz · Nov 9, 2009

Nice!

Turbospool · Nov 13, 2009

IndigoBlueWagon said:
My own .02 is don't worry about blocking it off. Get in the car, get it on boost, and it'll warm up and stay warm, especially where you are. If you were in Illinois or Wisconsin I might think different. I drove to Detroit last January when it was -3 out and saw the coolant temp drop when I was going down hills. But in more moderate climates it's not an issue.

Thanks...... that is specifically my question...... how cold before you guys see advantage?

NB_TDi · Nov 13, 2009

I honestly see it anywhere when it's around 10c and below.

Vulcan · Nov 13, 2009

Anybody got a photo of the VW kit installed? I looked at the foam pipe DIY but I didn't like how it looks.

itchytweed · Nov 14, 2009

Be careful if your car has a DPF...

You may want to be careful about doing this if you have the not-so-loved DPF, like I do. When that barnacle is going through an active regen cycle, the radiator fans turn on and the unit gets HOT

There are other threads here that discuss the temps that are generated when it starts really cooking. The airflow is needed so things don't get grilled "Texas-style" when the car is stopped or moving very slowly.

NB_TDi · Nov 14, 2009

It doesn't seal off the front end like a zip lock bag. Doubtful it would hurt anything.

JB05 · Nov 14, 2009

I stuffed some foam wrapped in cardboard directly in front of my radiator after removing the grill. A also replaced the hood liner with Dynamat a week ago and that seems to shorten warm-up time. The OEM liner was destroyed by a squirrel.

wny_pat · Nov 14, 2009

Vulcan said:
Anybody got a photo of the VW kit installed? I looked at the foam pipe DIY but I didn't like how it looks.

Look at post 14 on this thread, page 1.

Vulcan · Nov 14, 2009

I didn't think that was the factory one....for some reason I thought the factory one had a diamond pattern stitched in it.

NB_TDi · Nov 15, 2009

No it doesn't. That was it. I have the same one.

Vulcan · Nov 15, 2009

Ok...Thanks

Blocking Off Front Grill for Winter GRRRR!!

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