I just moved from Texas to Massachusetts and am trying to get accustomed to the cold weather. I've seen some ads for what I would call thermal covers for your grill. The descriptions say that they will give better starts in cold weather. My only worry would be restricting air into the engine. Has anyone used one of these "thermal covers" and what do you think of them?

 

I dont see how a grill cover will help with cold starts, what matters with cold starts is that your engine is cold, its harder to start, etc.

Also, you are usually sitting still when you start your truck, so putting a grill cover on doesnt do anything there.

I wouldnt buy into it...

 

I live in an area where the temps get from 0 to -40 C (I can't remember what that is in farenheit) on a regular basis in the winter, and I have no grill cover, don't need one. And as the previous posting says, it ain't gonna help you anyways as far as cold starts go. Just put in synthetic oil(easier on motor internals) and get a command start if you need a toasty truck to get into

 

about the grill cover..i live in northern mn and it gets -40 to -50 deg F with wind chills at times and a buddy of mine has a lack cloth cover. It does nothing for starting when u wake up...but when you run to the store and shut off the truck it stays warmer in the engine bay longer because the big hole where your grill is covered...that part doesnt make much differance, but when the wind chill is that great ...your heater actually doesnt work as well because the radiator is so cold from the wind at highway speeds...it doesnt ever get to the point where there is NO heat but you can tell the differance. the cover blocks the wind and makes your heater warmer with out overheating or effecting cooling of your truck. thats just what i have noticed and if it were up to me...buy a carhartt you will get alot more use and your truck isnt going to ever get damaged or decline more with out a cover.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by racerf150man
[B]about the grill cover..i live in northern mn and it gets -40 to -50 deg F with wind chills at times

Wind chills have absolutely no bearing on mechanical devices, only things, as in us, with sweat glands. Only ambient temperature is applicable to devices such as cars and trucks. True, a grill cover will let less cold air into the engine compartment, but if the air outside is say minus 20, that's what it is if you are sitting still or going sixty miles an hour down the road(Unless you stick your head out the window, that's when wind chill takes effect)because you are alive and have sweat glands and you truck isn't and doesn't. If you don't believe me, put an outside temp gauge on your truck and see if it decreases in temp as your speed increases.

 

Grill inserts designed to reduce cold air in to the vehicle will not in any way help your cold start problems. But, they will help your vehicle warm up faster and stay warm longer.
If you think your problems are related to the cold, which I doubt, get an engine block heater. There should be aftermarket parts that will either warm the oil up for you ahead of time or a blanket you can put over your engine that you can plug in.

I dont mean to sound disrespectful regarding I doubt the cold being your issue and how the grill inserts would help, but I lived in Massachusetts for 26 years and never once needed to have a block heater. AND most vehicles that are sold with a block heater as an option are usually diesels. Diesels do require warmer temperatures since they ignight differently from gas. Again, usually you will find those grill inserts used mostly on diesels.

The first thing I would check if this is really problem, would be to get your battery checked and maybe replace it with a better one. Other things to improve on would be the ignition. Your vehicle might benifit from a Jacobs or MSD ignition kit... and even hotter burning plugs.

Good luck.