Radiator Muff

[RBBailey]

For a 300Tdi -- other than what you can buy ready-made, what have any of you done as a radiator muff?

I'm thinking it would be nice to get the engine to normal temps once in a while.

 

[Napalm00]

I used to just slip a piece of hardboard from home depot or a cut up plastic political lawn sign in between my full width Intercooler and the radiator, blocking the entire rad. Works great, is free and easily removeable.

Before I had the full witdth Intercooler the hardboard was better because it could slip into the front of the rad frame and stick out if the top slightly enough to never come out but be
removeable.

 

[1of40]

I disconnect my electric fan.

 

[RBBailey]

I have not used a fan since summer.

 

[Napalm00]

Also say that the first few years I didn't block my radiator the heat my truck was pretty much non-existent. After blocking the rad the truck would actually get up to temperature and made a huge difference

 

[rocky]

I'm laughing. V8 owners complain about overheating. Tdis can barely warm up.... Wonder how the Cummins will do.

 

[rovercolorado]

I'm laughing. V8 owners complain about overheating. Tdis can barely warm up.... Wonder how the Cummins will do.

It's totally true with my Discovery's I always worked on getting more airflow and my Defender Tdi I'm doing everything to block air or warm up my engine with add on's. Guys I know in Colorado with Pickups don't do as much airflow restriction but when it's really cold some guys have block heaters to help.

 

[Napalm00]

Agreed on the block heater. I had a moroso oil pan heater and a Kats 600w freeze plug block heater on my truck for upstate ny.

Had them both plugged into a outdoor Christmas light timer so they would come on one hour before my commute. They truxk would start like it was 80 outside and had heat in about ten min of driving with the rad blocking board In place.

Without this stuff I would never make it to temp and mileage would suck.


Moving to syn gear oil and mtf also helped mpg and drive ability in the cold considerably

 

[Scrubs]

Gorilla tape,black, lol
Looks good 2

 

[rovercolorado]

Agreed on the block heater. I had a moroso oil pan heater and a Kats 600w freeze plug block heater on my truck for upstate ny.

Had them both plugged into a outdoor Christmas light timer so they would come on one hour before my commute. They truxk would start like it was 80 outside and had heat in about ten min of driving with the rad blocking board In place.

When I use just my Kat oil pan heating pad it runs like it's summer.
I normally just leave it plugged in all night since its fairly low wattage but the Xmas light timer is a great idea. I'm going to do that this year for sure. Already been in the mid 20's overnight many times in the past several weeks here in Colorado and it's time to start the preheating process up. It was 25 this morning and I didn't have "warm" air until i got to work 15 min later.