When should I take remove the grille blockers?

Mid 40's your still fine. It has been 60 here the last couple days and i have the bottom still blocked and 1 taken out of the top (it blew off on the highway the other day) what i am going to do is remove one from the bottom and put it in the top. Do you have a scangauge? when my water temp is cosistently at or above 200 i start removing the blocking 1 by 1 starting at the bottom. I try and keep the water temp about 180-190F

 

I've driven my '02 with blocked grille (not 100% but may be 80% on the bottom, 100% on the top) in 70F and looking at the temperature readings on my scanner. I saw no difference with what I saw after I took the grille off. I only monitored the engine coolant temp though - my scanner does not read the transmission/electric motrs or inverter temps. In the city the engine was actually cooler than on the highway so in mostly city traffic I think it is quite allright to keep the block into the 60s or even 70s

 

I don't have a scan gauge, I just have the top blocked off and once it consistently stays in the 60's I will take them off. The weather in NJ has been up and down the last 2 weeks. one day it hit 70 and the next day there was frost on my car. I can't wait for regular spring weather.

ClubFord00 you can't say it blew off in the highway. Remember what site you on. This is a "eco" friendly site and you just opened yourself up for a onslaught of replies. lol You should of tied them on!

 

I leave 'em (half grill method) in until the morning commute is 60 or higher. Then if it's in the 80's on the way home, I pull it out before I take off. What, it's only a whopping 45 seconds to do a reinstall when the drive home commute is finished.

 

I've kept the top blocked year round. The bottom is 80% blocked and I'll pull that when the fan starts.

 

Pardon my ignorance. I'm a newbie. What are you guys talking about? I don't think I've come across anything about grille blockers on the "maintenance and care" section.

Thanks in advance.

 

Thanks, efusco. Makes a lot of sense. I live in LA. But, will be moving to Toronto mid-year. I have to look into it since it will definitely affect me when I move to Canada.

 

it does work. I did this for 2 months this year when it was down in the 30's at night..we actually hit in the upper 20's for a week..chilly! It's already 86 during the day now..and mid 60's at night..no need anymore for blockage.

ugh 110 is around the corner quick, which sucks also because A/C must be blasted or suffer

 

Bigg, first of all it did blow off ON the highway, not IN the highway. but i should have explained the rest of the scenario. It blew off flipped up in the air up and over my car and right in the back of a recycling truck. :bounce:

 

That's ok then, :heh:. as long as it was a recycling truck.

 

So if one does have a ScanGuage, what reading should one look for to say it's time to remove the blocks?

 

Okay, I haven't read the manual yet and the dealer didn't tell me anything about grille blockers. I live in Tampa. Should I remove the grille blockers now (are there grille blockers on 08)?

 

Unless you went to a hardware store & bought pipe insulation that got stuffed (or compression fit) in your grill your grill isn't blocked.