Anyone running a grill block read this one

[benfrogg]

So, a mod I've wanted to do for a while now actually happened today. I installed an LED indicator wired to the positive lead coming from the radiator cooling fan.
Why, you may ask?
I just put my "plug" into my already 80% blocked grill making it more like 95%. Ambient temps here are 50 df or less and are getting colder by the day. I figured all was well. The temp gauge has never shown any problem.
I wanted to know if, when, and for how often/long the fan was running. The results were surprising.
For the first ten minutes of my drive no fan at all. After the first ten, the fan cycled on and off every minute or so for about 25 seconds. It was on longer on hills. It was also coming on more frequently and staying on longer the faster I drove. After pulling the "plug" on my grill block, it ran only once in 35 miles up a really good hill with a load in the back seat.

So, other than the obvious power it takes to run the fan, and the potential for engine damage, what's the other concern I have?
I don't know if this is a problem in my car, but I be it would be a problem for more modern cars. When that fan is running frequently or all the time, I'm wondering if the ECU retards ignition timing and other potential changes that could decrease engine temp at the sacrifice of efficiency. Any honda guys know if this is possible in the VX? I've heard of it being the case. If so, retarded ignition timing would reduce efficiency gains from the grill block.

All that being said, it took 20 minutes to install this LED. It seems like a no-brainer for anyone with a grill block.

Next project is to replicate what someone on ecomodder did and make a "choke like" adjustment for the "plug." Then I can use a choke cable in the cabin to open or close a door in the front of the grill block.

B