Duramax during the Winter

I would have to agree. Its only been in the 30s a few times in the past
weeks here in SoCal.


However, if you are in a place where its near or below freezing most the
time, I would think it would be a good idea. And if your driving, and the
temp gauge is too high, then you know you have covered too much.

Jonathan Race wrote:
 > Sorry, but that's a bad idea - it doesn't get near cold enough here in
 > Florida!
 >
 > Cheers - Jonathan
 >
 >
 > (This message may contain personal opinions and/or information not
 > related to my employment or employer)
 > "Dave" <NewsGroups.TakeThisOut@Nordquist.us> wrote in message
 > news:ija9r0tgur4odu7f696intgofqmqf3vgk5@4ax.com...
  >> I am considering putting a grill cover on my truck to restrict the
  >> air flow into the Duramax's radiator during the winter months.
  >>
  >> I would like to know if you consider this a good idea or a bad idea?
  >>
  >> Dave<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Duramax during the Winter 

"Dave" <NewsGroups RemoveThis @Nordquist.us> wrote in message
news:ija9r0tgur4odu7f696intgofqmqf3vgk5@4ax.com...
 >I am considering putting a grill cover on my truck to restrict the air
 > flow into the Duramax's radiator during the winter months.
 >
 > I would like to know if you consider this a good idea or a bad idea?
 >
 > Dave

In most cases you don't want to do this because not only do you restrict the
air flow to the radiator but also to the intercooler, trans cooler and so
on. So I would talk to you local service manager and see what he says.

mark<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Duramax during the Winter 

On Mon, 6 Dec 2004 22:11:57 -0500, "r_d"
<rock_doctor DeleteThis @nospam.hotmail.com> wrote:

 >
 >"Dave" <NewsGroups DeleteThis @Nordquist.us> wrote in message
 >news:ija9r0tgur4odu7f696intgofqmqf3vgk5@4ax.com...
  >>I am considering putting a grill cover on my truck to restrict the air
  >> flow into the Duramax's radiator during the winter months.
  >>
  >> I would like to know if you consider this a good idea or a bad idea?
  >>
  >> Dave
 >
 >In most cases you don't want to do this because not only do you restrict the
 >air flow to the radiator but also to the intercooler, trans cooler and so
 >on. So I would talk to you local service manager and see what he says.
 >
 >mark
 >
I hadn't considered the intercooler, transcooler, etc. But, in your
opinion, is there an outside temp that would override this concern and
justify a grill cover?

I have found that changing the air flow (inside the cab heater) from
fresh air to recirculate dramatically reduces the amount of time it
takes the engine to reach normal operating temps. I also use my
engine heater for a couple of hours before I leave in the morning.
This not only makes starting faster, but also makes my wife more
comfortable. I'd say the second reason is probably more important.

Dave<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Duramax during the Winter 

"Dave" <NewsGroups.RemoveThis@Nordquist.us> wrote in message
news:if5br0dt8c0pl65ehovcctslii8p4vhmpk@4ax.com...
 > I hadn't considered the intercooler, transcooler, etc. But, in your
 > opinion, is there an outside temp that would override this concern and
 > justify a grill cover?
 >
 > I have found that changing the air flow (inside the cab heater) from
 > fresh air to recirculate dramatically reduces the amount of time it
 > takes the engine to reach normal operating temps. I also use my
 > engine heater for a couple of hours before I leave in the morning.
 > This not only makes starting faster, but also makes my wife more
 > comfortable. I'd say the second reason is probably more important.
 >
 > Dave
I can answer you question because I don't use a grill cover but I would talk
to your service manager and see what he says. I had read a post on the Ford
group that a guy said he had to pay for a new trans, the dealer said he
fried it by restricting the flow to the rad with a cover, but Ford goes out
of their way to not pay warranty claims...so take that with a grain of salt.
I guess you will have to let your common sense be your guide and make sure
there is some air flow. You can get yourself a heavy duty timer, plug the
block heater into it and set it to turn on 3 hours before you are scheduled
to leave (4 hours if it is in the 10's) and you will find that the engine
will be warm enough to start easily and give you heat with in 10 or so
minutes.

good luck,
mark<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Duramax during the Winter 

On Tue, 07 Dec 2004 06:44:59 -0500, Dave <NewsGroups.RemoveThis@Nordquist.us>
wrote:

Apples & oranges time...
a couple of guys in the Dodge group use them on their Cummins... at
least one of them is a Cryco tech..

 >On Mon, 6 Dec 2004 22:11:57 -0500, "r_d"
 ><rock_doctor.RemoveThis@nospam.hotmail.com> wrote:
 >
  >>
  >>"Dave" <NewsGroups.RemoveThis@Nordquist.us> wrote in message
  >>news:ija9r0tgur4odu7f696intgofqmqf3vgk5@4ax.com...
   >>>I am considering putting a grill cover on my truck to restrict the air
   >>> flow into the Duramax's radiator during the winter months.
   >>>
   >>> I would like to know if you consider this a good idea or a bad idea?
   >>>
   >>> Dave
  >>
  >>In most cases you don't want to do this because not only do you restrict the
  >>air flow to the radiator but also to the intercooler, trans cooler and so
  >>on. So I would talk to you local service manager and see what he says.
  >>
  >>mark
  >>
 >I hadn't considered the intercooler, transcooler, etc. But, in your
 >opinion, is there an outside temp that would override this concern and
 >justify a grill cover?
 >
 >I have found that changing the air flow (inside the cab heater) from
 >fresh air to recirculate dramatically reduces the amount of time it
 >takes the engine to reach normal operating temps. I also use my
 >engine heater for a couple of hours before I leave in the morning.
 >This not only makes starting faster, but also makes my wife more
 >comfortable. I'd say the second reason is probably more important.
 >
 >Dave<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Duramax during the Winter 

"Dave" <NewsGroups.DeleteThis@Nordquist.us> wrote in message
news:if5br0dt8c0pl65ehovcctslii8p4vhmpk@4ax.com...
 > On Mon, 6 Dec 2004 22:11:57 -0500, "r_d"
 > <rock_doctor.DeleteThis@nospam.hotmail.com> wrote:
 >
  > >
  > >"Dave" <NewsGroups.DeleteThis@Nordquist.us> wrote in message
  > >news:ija9r0tgur4odu7f696intgofqmqf3vgk5@4ax.com...
   > >>I am considering putting a grill cover on my truck to restrict the air
   > >> flow into the Duramax's radiator during the winter months.
   > >>
   > >> I would like to know if you consider this a good idea or a bad idea?
   > >>
   > >> Dave
  > >
  > >In most cases you don't want to do this because not only do you restrict
the
  > >air flow to the radiator but also to the intercooler, trans cooler and so
  > >on. So I would talk to you local service manager and see what he says.
  > >
  > >mark
  > >
 > I hadn't considered the intercooler, transcooler, etc. But, in your
 > opinion, is there an outside temp that would override this concern and
 > justify a grill cover?
 >
 > I have found that changing the air flow (inside the cab heater) from
 > fresh air to recirculate dramatically reduces the amount of time it
 > takes the engine to reach normal operating temps. I also use my
 > engine heater for a couple of hours before I leave in the morning.
 > This not only makes starting faster, but also makes my wife more
 > comfortable. I'd say the second reason is probably more important.
 >
 > Dave

Did you look at the owners manual? It recommends use only if the
temperatures are 0F or below and the temperature is not expected to be above
32F, and you are not towing a trailer. The cover is normally sold only in
Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire,
New York, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin & Wyoming<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Duramax during the Winter 

On Dodge Cummins trucks we have had no problems covering the bottom half of
the radiator in the cold winter months (late Dec, Jan, Feb, March) when the
outside temp is near or below freezing) The tranny cooler is on the top
half and both the radiator and intercooler take up the whole grill so this
allows cooling too the three of them. I don't know how the Chevys are set
up but if you look and can identify everything I think you will be ok as
long as the tranny cooler has air flow. (also remember you may have power
stearing/brake pump cooler and engine oil coolers in there somewhere also.
 >> Stay informed about: Duramax during the Winter