rattle_rattle

Am I gonna need them? I live in SE Indiana.

TPilaske

I just got mine in the mail about a week ago! I live in SE MI. How cold does it get there? ;D<br><br>Tony

rattle_rattle

Short spells of teens but have seen weeks in the 20's.

Shovelhead

I live in Virginia, and mine have already been on for 2 weeks.<br>With covers-engine temps @ 180*, tranny temps @ 175*(in traffic).

TPilaske

Hmmm.... maybe I should put mine on eh? You have all 4 on or just 2? Do you even have the ones from Eric?<br><br>Tony

Shovelhead

I'm using all 4.<br>And yes, they are Eric's set-up for the Sport grille.

UTAH

Just my .02:

I put the winter grill closures (Lund) on one of my previous Ram Cummins and was surprised to find no difference - performance wise or in temp readouts.

It gets down to 0 degress F here and I have not used winter covers for the last five years. None on my VW TDI, the Ford PSD, or the previous Ram TDC.

Maybe my experience with trying it was not the norm. But, if it works for you - do it. [undecided]

Best to y'all
Bill

Shovelhead

Utah ???<br>Without the winter fronts my temp gauge barely passes the first warm-up mark on the temp gauge and my auto trans temp never moves until I get in traffic.<br>Morning lows now in the low 40s, daily highs around 60.<br>When temps fall into the 20s, I also add a piece of cardboard with a 6&quot; hole in the middle between the radiator and the charge air cooler.<br>Maybe my CTD is just &quot;cold-blooded&quot;.<br>

Commatoze

It was 25[sup]o[/sup] here this morning, and I did my usual 35 miles on the interstate. My temp guage indicated no difference in temperature than when it's in the 90's. It usually is just under 190[sup]o[/sup]. I'm curious too since I haven't had the truck long enough to experience zero temps.

TPilaske

Hey Shovel, did you use wingnuts instead of the hex bolts provided to put them on? ???

Shovelhead

[quote author=TPilaske link=board=7;threadid=6130;start=0#55970 date=1035302970]<br>Hey Shovel, did you use wingnuts instead of the hex bolts provided to put them on? ???<br>[/quote]<br><br>I used Carriage bolts and Nyloc nuts, the ones with the nylon insert, to keep them from falling off, and so I don't have to crank them down so tight. I keep a nut driver in the console in case I want to take them off.

UTAH

Yeah, Shovelhead (Ed) - I was surprised to find no difference too. Maybe it was just that particular truck? Guess I'll have to see how this new truck does. Too bad my old grille inserts won't fit - oh well.<br><br>My Rover D90 is so cold-blooded I have to completely cover the radiator with cardboard in the winter or else it will not reach operating temps.<br><br>Best to y'all<br>Bill

TPilaske

We're having about the same temps here shovel, my temp gauge shows like it does all year, just under the 190. I'll wait until it get's in the constant 30's or lower before I put mine on! Of course, if I had them on, I probably wouldn't have to 'wait to start' so long when I get out of work eh?

Palmetto_kid

why do you put card board between the radiator and charge air cooler? what would it hurt to put it in front of the charge air cooler.<br><br>my front end repalcment bumper has some angle iron welded to the gille part that one could slide a pice of plywood into. i was wondering if i could just do that. it seems to me that it would be doing the same thing as the 4 grille covers yall where talking about.

Shovelhead

[quote author=Palmetto_kid link=board=7;threadid=6130;start=0#56403 date=1035390134]<br>why do you put card board between the radiator and charge air cooler? what would it hurt to put it in front of the charge air cooler.<br><br>my front end repalcment bumper has some angle iron welded to the gille part that one could slide a pice of plywood into. i was wondering if i could just do that. it seems to me that it would be doing the same thing as the 4 grille covers yall where talking about.<br>[/quote]<br><br>I put the cardboard there 'cuz I don't have to tie it to anything, it just slips in and out as needed.<br>Just don't forget to cut at least a 6&quot; hole in the middle for the fan clutch to get some CoooOOOoooOOOL air or you might get to listen to that roar.<br><br>Some have even removed the fan entirely in the cooler months.