Blocking off engine ventilation in cold weather
Discussion
I remember seeing old Land Rover defenders with the radiator grills partially blocked off in the winter, presumably to help the engine get up to temperature.
This was many years ago and I thought things had moved on a bit by now, however, I saw a reasonably new Range Rover with a similar device fitted this morning.
What purpose do these things serve, particularly on a modern car?
For those who dont have a clue, this is what I'm talking about:

This was many years ago and I thought things had moved on a bit by now, however, I saw a reasonably new Range Rover with a similar device fitted this morning.
What purpose do these things serve, particularly on a modern car?
For those who dont have a clue, this is what I'm talking about:

Edited by Goochie on Monday 20th December 15:41
Used to use cardboard on the radiator grill.
Helps keep the engine warm and the driver / passenger warm. The old cars had poor ability to transfer heat to the air entering the "cab", newer cars have better mechanics. I am sure that it may even help on very cold days in the newer versions
Then again, I could be talking a load of b
ks
Helps keep the engine warm and the driver / passenger warm. The old cars had poor ability to transfer heat to the air entering the "cab", newer cars have better mechanics. I am sure that it may even help on very cold days in the newer versions
Then again, I could be talking a load of b

I've been meaning to fit my bit of lino to the Defender for some weeks now. Land Rovers don't have great heaters at the best of times, and they have huge radiators so you won't overheat if you're towing 3.5 tonnes in 40C. Consequently, they never warm up in cold weather unless the engine is working really hard. Diesels don't generally make a lot of heat anyway; that's why you see all the cabbies doing it too.
I fitted one to the Audi, it warmed up ok until the thermostat opened (70degrees) but then just hovered around that point forever, blanked off 75% with some fibreboard and now she warms up to 90 pretty quickly and just sits there, keeping me nice and toasty 
Sat in traffic jams for hours with no problems too
Cars are designed to sit in traffic on a hot day without overheating so when it's -10 and your blasting down a motorway, don't expect it to get upto temperature!!
I should add that the Audi has a viscous fan, which freezes and therefore is on until the ice melts too!
Also Stops snow and ice damaging the radiator

Sat in traffic jams for hours with no problems too

Cars are designed to sit in traffic on a hot day without overheating so when it's -10 and your blasting down a motorway, don't expect it to get upto temperature!!
I should add that the Audi has a viscous fan, which freezes and therefore is on until the ice melts too!
Also Stops snow and ice damaging the radiator

They're completely pointless on any vehicle with a fully functioning cooling system.
The thermostat wont let water through the radiator until it's approx 90 degrees regardless of the
external temperature. If your car is showing a lower temperature than that then it's broken, fixing it
doesn't involve bits of cardboard on the front of the car.
The thermostat wont let water through the radiator until it's approx 90 degrees regardless of the
external temperature. If your car is showing a lower temperature than that then it's broken, fixing it
doesn't involve bits of cardboard on the front of the car.
DennisTheMenace said:
Older cars had poorer cooling systems, these days the antifreeze is far more advanced the cooling system far more effective and the temp control is now starting to be controlled via the ECU rather than a wax thermostat.
Which cars don't come with a wax (or equivalent) thermostat now?Fish981 said:
Which cars don't come with a wax (or equivalent) thermostat now?
I wondered that too, and a quick Google revealed that E46 BMWs do. Sounds like something else to go wrong to me.Also, Land Rover would appear to disagree with your comment about fully functioning cooling systems, hence they offer part number DA2161 ('Radiator Muff (Defender)') as an accessory. Cheapskates like me use offcuts of lino which works perfectly. My tip is to secure it with wire so it can be easily removed when required.
Edited by Eggman on Monday 20th December 17:58
Petrolhead_Rich said:
I fitted one to the Audi, it warmed up ok until the thermostat opened (70degrees) but then just hovered around that point forever, blanked off 75% with some fibreboard and now she warms up to 90 pretty quickly and just sits there, keeping me nice and toasty 
Sat in traffic jams for hours with no problems too
Cars are designed to sit in traffic on a hot day without overheating so when it's -10 and your blasting down a motorway, don't expect it to get upto temperature!!
I should add that the Audi has a viscous fan, which freezes and therefore is on until the ice melts too!
Also Stops snow and ice damaging the radiator
70°c seems rather cold for a thermostat, you haven't got an extreme hot weather one fitted have you?
Sat in traffic jams for hours with no problems too

Cars are designed to sit in traffic on a hot day without overheating so when it's -10 and your blasting down a motorway, don't expect it to get upto temperature!!
I should add that the Audi has a viscous fan, which freezes and therefore is on until the ice melts too!
Also Stops snow and ice damaging the radiator

Saabs have a range of stats from 82° to 92°c.
Eggman said:
Fish981 said:
Which cars don't come with a wax (or equivalent) thermostat now?
I wondered that too, and a quick Google revealed that E46 BMWs do. Sounds like something else to go wrong to me.Also, Land Rover would appear to disagree with your comment about fully functioning cooling systems, hence they offer part number DA2161 ('Radiator Muff (Defender)') as an accessory. Cheapskates like me use offcuts of lino which works perfectly. My tip is to secure it with wire so it can be easily removed when required.
Edited by Eggman on Monday 20th December 17:58
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