Front Grill Cover Rules

[RES]

These are the conditions I will use to install/remove the front covers on my 2010 JSW. If you have any suggestions or reasons to modify the limits please be free to comment. Also can anyone think of a reason to only install the top covers without the bottom cover?

 

[MichaelB]

These are the conditions I will use to install/remove the front covers on my 2010 JSW. If you have any suggestions or reasons to modify the limits please be free to comment. Also can anyone think of a reason to only install the top covers without the bottom cover?

I just leave mine on both top and bottom until it is warm enough outside to not need it. If you are driving along and think your car is over heating it takes less than 1 min to remove. No pre planning needed.

 

[ticketed2much]

Those are probably overly cautious on the overheating end. I saw a poster before who only ran into high engine temps with both covers on in the 50f range(via scangauge). So far I only put both on when the daytime temps were below 30f, and probably won't remove bottom till spring (temps above freezing).

Of course since our temp gauge is utterly useless, it does not tell you if your engine is running hotter than normal.

Glad more people are trying this, maybe we can get a collection of data to see if this helps significantly with IC icing.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Those are very conservative plans. I would monitor coolant temperature and adjust your winter cover accordingly. You can probably run the full cover (upper and lower) up to 50 or 60 degrees Fahrenheit unless you are towing without any temperature control issues.

Everyone is going to have a slightly different set of conditions based on the vehicle model, location on the map, weather conditions, driving behavior, etc. There is no one size fits all.

 

[Samcar222]

Very conservative. Nice chart though. I would have both on at 25*f or lower like you said, but would keep only the lower grille block on up to 40*f. Above 40*f I would run with all vents unblocked.

 

[RES]

Very conservative. Nice chart though. I would have both on at 25*f or lower like you said, but would keep only the lower grille block on up to 40*f. Above 40*f I would run with all vents unblocked.

You are right especially since you have radiator fans as a backup. How is this?

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

I was driving around a lot yesterday with the lower cover on my Golf, and it was 60 out. No sign of elevated coolant temp and no issues with air intake temperatures. For my own use I'd revise the chart to leave both covers on up to 40 degrees and lower to 60.

 

[steve05ram360]

We are forecast to have temps around 70* next week... I can drive it around town some with the high temps and report back what coolant temps and intake temps do while having the lower cover on if anyone is interested. I dont plan to pull the lower block until i see a problem, expecting that to be when temps are into the mid to upper 70's.

Should also mention i logged my 2nd best commute tank a couple of weeks back, 48.7 mpg... Before the lower block i was seeing low 40's, after the block i was seeing mid 40's which made me do the mpg check...

 

[schultp]

It definitely would be interesting to see the coolant and intake temps with the temps in the 70s.

I too have seen a nice increase in mpg with the IDParts covers in place...back to near summer levels!

 

[steve05ram360]

It definitely would be interesting to see the coolant and intake temps with the temps in the 70s.

I too have seen a nice increase in mpg with the IDParts covers in place...back to near summer levels!

Roger that... I will post them here later this week.

 

[Analogeezer]

I just became aware of the existence of this product; looks to be backordered at iD parts.

How does it attach/detach to the grill(s).

I've had two instances of IC icing, the first one was really my fault

(I left the car idling for an extended period of time in ~30 degree weather (not trying to warm it up, I was moving cars around and then discovered my wife's MINI had lit up the TPMS so rather than shut my JSW off I left it idling in the cul-de-sac.....BAD MOVE),

the second one was not my fault.

I like the idea of regaining a bit of mileage too.

We get pretty wide weather swings here though, can be 20 degrees one day and 60 the next, so being able to attach/detach these quickly sounds like a plus.

Thanks!

Analogeezer

 

[msantram]

I installed 1/2" pipe insulation last Friday. Love seeing the temperature rise much faster. Best $4.24 I've spent in eons. Just make sure you zip tie the pipe insulation to your grill. The come off easily in a car wash. Oops. Otherwise, they do stay on pretty well without zip ties.

I also finally started adding diesel additives. I went with PowerService and noticed a jump in fuel economy. Of course I also slowed down to 55 on the highway and giggled as the Fuel Range kept climbing as I drove. I could have easily hit 650 miles for the tank if I stayed on the highway.

 

[Cogen Man]

I just became aware of the existence of this product; looks to be backordered at iD parts.

How does it attach/detach to the grill(s).

I've had two instances of IC icing, the first one was really my fault

(I left the car idling for an extended period of time in ~30 degree weather (not trying to warm it up, I was moving cars around and then discovered my wife's MINI had lit up the TPMS so rather than shut my JSW off I left it idling in the cul-de-sac.....BAD MOVE),

the second one was not my fault.

I like the idea of regaining a bit of mileage too.

We get pretty wide weather swings here though, can be 20 degrees one day and 60 the next, so being able to attach/detach these quickly sounds like a plus.

Thanks!

Analogeezer

Is held on by Velcro strips. Velcro go's around the grill slats and the cover is fastened to the Velcro on lower grill. Upper grill has some sticky tape with Velcro on other side. This secures the upper part. The lower part has a piece that fits in snug between the 2 lower slats (snug fit). Works pretty good.

 

[Marc_TDI]

This should work on my 2010 Jetta TDI?

1/2 inch pipe foam insulation on the bottom grill during cold winter mornings.
Between 0 and 40 degrees.

 

[RES]

While removing the top cover on the driver side today, I noticed that the engine air intake inlet is somewhat blocked by fabric of the top cover. Apparently it is not a problem since no one is complaining, but it does seem to block the flow somewhat. I am wondering if it would be a good idea to remove part of the air inlet and divert the intake to the inside of the engine compartment if you are going to use the top cover.

 

[Cogen Man]

While removing the top cover on the driver side today, I noticed that the engine air intake inlet is somewhat blocked by fabric of the top cover. Apparently it is not a problem since no one is complaining, but it does seem to block the flow somewhat. I am wondering if it would be a good idea to remove part of the air inlet and divert the intake to the inside of the engine compartment if you are going to use the top cover.

I've used all covers upper and lower since I got them with no problems with air flow to the intake. Seen a few passive and active regens of the DPF also. All is good.

 

[steve05ram360]

While removing the top cover on the driver side today, I noticed that the engine air intake inlet is somewhat blocked by fabric of the top cover. Apparently it is not a problem since no one is complaining, but it does seem to block the flow somewhat. I am wondering if it would be a good idea to remove part of the air inlet and divert the intake to the inside of the engine compartment if you are going to use the top cover.

Look at the back of the air box that the inlet feeds, it is open. No problems blocking that inlet.

Got a 46.8 mpg this tank over 620+ miles... very happy to see summer time economy with the front grille blocked & the airbox sucking in hot air...

 

[schultp]

I've used all covers upper and lower since I got them with no problems with air flow to the intake. Seen a few passive and active regens of the DPF also. All is good.

+1 on this!

 

[Conrad -JSW]

While removing the top cover on the driver side today, I noticed that the engine air intake inlet is somewhat blocked by fabric of the top cover. Apparently it is not a problem since no one is complaining, but it does seem to block the flow somewhat. I am wondering if it would be a good idea to remove part of the air inlet and divert the intake to the inside of the engine compartment if you are going to use the top cover.

I think that once the car is moving that the wind will cause the bit that is partially blocking the intake to flatten out and allow air to enter. Even if it did totally block the air intake air will still enter from the backside.

 

[RES]

Look at the back of the air box that the inlet feeds, it is open. No problems blocking that inlet.

Got a 46.8 mpg this tank over 620+ miles... very happy to see summer time economy with the front grille blocked & the airbox sucking in hot air...

Thanks interesting, I did not realize that the airbox was open in the rear. I wonder why people bother to take the box off completely to get engine compartment air when all you have to do is tape up the front.