Cardboard on grill??

[jayocal]

Hello everyone,

I'm driving to Saskatoon tomorrow (Sunday Dec. 21) and I am debating whether or not to partially block my front grill with cardboard or something similar. The wind chill is going to be extreme on this journey!

I drive a '90 Ford Probe. It's handling this weather quite well so far but I'm concerned that 7 hours on the highway may change that!!

Advice??

[ken0042]

Unless your car is human, wind chill will not affect it. The temperature will be the same.

If your thermostat is working fine then you shouldn't need to put anything in front of your grill. However if right now you have issues with heat, then use it.

It's not the wind chill, it's how well your car warms up in -30 temperatures. One thing, let your car warm up in the driveway for a good 20-30 minutes before leaving, so the cooling effect doesn't hit until after warmed up.

[Nancy]

Actually, I have owned vehicles in the past in which it was necessary to block the grill in order for the engine to maintain enough heat to make the car comfortable to drive in (and the windshield defrosted).... this was generally required on highway trips at -30o or below. Even then, the heat gauge would barely make it into the normal range. We are talking about vehicles with very small engines, though. (1.1L)

[burn_this_city]

My diesel truck needs to have the rad covered or it wont reach temperature quickly in this weather.. GM even provides a winterfront to put on when it gets below 0.. Mines still in the package, never been used. If it doesnt get good heat throw a peice of cardboard on, you wont hurt anything since the engine fan should sufficently cool the rad if it gets too warm.

[4X4]

Ken is scientifically correct, but technically wrong. The purpose of the cardboard on the grill is to reduce the amount of air flying directly through the rad.
The radiator is a big hunk of metal with a looooooong narrow tube that snakes back and forth for like 100 meters that your coolant/antifreeze goes through to cool the engine. The reason why it's placed behind the grill is so that when the car is moving, air automatically blows through it and therefore reduces the need for a fan to blow air through it.
Putting cardboard over the grill allows the liquid flowing through the rad to maintain more heat. Ludicrous in the summer, but sometimes necessary in the winter. If your car heater isn't warming the car very well, this is a pretty likely culprit (when it's minus a gazillion). If it were only minus 5 and your car isn't warm, then likely your heater core or just crappy coolant.

[BlackArcher101]

Or a stuck thermostat.

[4X4]

Or an open window.

[BOSSY]

Take a precut piece with you and something to attach it with... I'd start without it but if you find the windows the temp not getting up there or defrosting needed constantly on you windshield put in on when you stop to gas up or something... Can't hurt and better to be safe than sorry in this weather. Travel safe!

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Ken is scientifically correct, but technically wrong.

Yes, I guess more than anything I was trying to stop one more person from using the words "wind chill" and "my car" in the same sentance. Like many people, I think the OP was getting air cooling and wind chill mixed up.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Yes, I guess more than anything I was trying to stop one more person from using the words "wind chill" and "my car" in the same sentance. Like many people, I think the OP was getting air cooling and wind chill mixed up.

I just wanted to sound smart.

[old-fart]

This might better go in the confession thread, but the first time I say this thread I thought "why would he want to cook cardboard? And assuming he did, why grill it? It'll just burn. I think a nice sautee in a garlic butter sauce would be more appropriate...".

Then, after reviewing the thread this morning and thinking what an idiot I was, I saw it later in the afternoon (now) and thought "why would he want to cook cardboard...."

I clearly need more booze.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by old-fart

This might better go in the confession thread, but the first time I say this thread I thought "why would he want to cook cardboard? And assuming he did, why grill it? It'll just burn. I think a nice sautee in a garlic butter sauce would be more appropriate...".

Then, after reviewing the thread this morning and thinking what an idiot I was, I saw it later in the afternoon (now) and thought "why would he want to cook cardboard...."

I clearly need more booze.

The confusion comes from the OP using the incorrect word "grill", when he should have used its homynym "grille."

I was thinking the same thing.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by old-fart

This might better go in the confession thread, but the first time I say this thread I thought "why would he want to cook cardboard? And assuming he did, why grill it? It'll just burn. I think a nice sautee in a garlic butter sauce would be more appropriate...".

Then, after reviewing the thread this morning and thinking what an idiot I was, I saw it later in the afternoon (now) and thought "why would he want to cook cardboard...."

I clearly need more booze.

I originally thought he was trying to make some ghetto salmon on the BBQ since he ran out of cedar.

[jayocal]

Thanks for the input guys. My car has been heating up fine so the thermostat should be ok. I will bring some cardboard, as suggested, just in case.

Currently, the temperature in Saskatoon is -31 but with the air cooling, it feels like -41...