Installed 75% grille block on my Blazer *pics*

[add|ct]

For what its worth, I'm a newb at really "working" on cars, but I'm dead serious about learning. =)

...though, I'm personally hesitant to try a grille block until the fall is good and set in.

[GasSavers_Brendan]

Beef,
Holy cow(not the member)!!! A great resource, you have helped
me on my way to improving my 4x4's mileage. The thing is I am here
to spam and my website is: nah, just kidding! lol. I really just want
to learn too!

[GasSavers_BEEF]

and my web site is.....

that's pretty funny.

add your vehicle to the garage, get some pics up, and start a gas log. it is hard to tell how far you have come when you don't know where you were. take a look at my garage. it is amazing just how much my car has changed and all the modifications that I have done to it.

be careful though, it is addictive. the guy that started the website in my link has swapped out a transmission and a camshaft in the name of better FE.

good luck to you

[i-DSi]

Hi Brendan,
Take a look at my grill block thread and at my gaslog for the Honda Civic i-DSI. It might help you.
I still drive 60% now in summertime, but I never drive our car on very long distances.

http://www.gassavers.org/showthread.php?t=11766

Major achievement of this grill block in winter: I could keep fuel consumption very stable, no matter what outside temps.

Don't hesitate if you have any questions and good luck.

[eric76]

was there any increase in mileage.

[i-DSi]

Originally Posted by eric76

was there any increase in mileage.

Hi Eric, not clear if your question is for me.
But in my case, I can say 'yes'. But there is a 'but'. I installed the grillblock only 2 months after owning the car and just when winter came.
Result: I can not compare with a previous winter for the same car. But it's a fact that all other cars I've driven consumed more in winter. And this one doesn't. That's why I think I may call the result positive.
I just changed my oil to 0W20 and the result 'seems' to be great. But again here, I can not compare with exactely the same month last year (holiday+hot weather). And my 60% grill block is right now still on.

[Jay2TheRescue]

You may want to look at the grille block thread I made for my Sierra...

http://www.gassavers.org/showthread.php?t=8927

[VX_Arky]

I wish somebody here could make a grill block like this for my 97 4Runner!!! I don't have a clue how to make such a thing but I'd sure buy one!!!

Just curious, would anyone care to say what kind of FE improvement they got after blocking off their grill? I'm curious to know what it might do for my truck, and if I knew what others had gotten, I'd have an idea what I could expect!

[bowtieguy]

you likely wouldnt have much improvement on a truck or suv. that said, if every mod added a little...well you know.

it could be more significant in quicker warm ups(winter time), than in aero as well.

easy to do: get some cardboard to test, and to make a template. find out your vehicles limits(how much to cover), then use the template to make a permanent block--be it coroplast, plexi glass, wood, etc.

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by Arky

I wish somebody here could make a grill block like this for my 97 4Runner!!!

Check Toyota Accessories, JC Whitney, and various truck outfitters. Also check Alaska/northern Canada forums for what people with 97 4Runners do. Most products you buy will likely go on the outside and be ugly.

I don't have a clue how to make such a thing

There are few things easier and simpler. Find a place that can block airflow to the radiator. Put something there.

The something that I like to use is coroplast. That's the plastic sign material similar to corrugated cardboard box material, often used for campaign signs, road spam ("Singles in your town! Blahblahsingles.com"), real estate, etc. I harvested a bunch of road spam and have a nice supply. I spray it with Bulldog adhesion promoter, then primer, then whatever color paint I want if it's going to be visible.

Just curious, would anyone care to say what kind of FE improvement they got after blocking off their grill? I'm curious to know what it might do for my truck, and if I knew what others had gotten, I'd have an idea what I could expect!

Unfortunately it's not a very effective FE mod on most vehicles. I was unable to measure a difference on my GMC or my VW. I'm not sure if it made a difference at all. I do like the slight improvement to warm-up time in winter, though.