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09-17-2007, 10:23 PM | #1 |
Steals terrorist's lunch
Drives: 2007 Yaris Liftback Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Reno, Nevada, USA
Posts: 1,299
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DIY: Engine Grille Block
One of the main reasons that fuel efficiency drops in the cold months is because fuel doesn't burn as well in a cold environment. Your engine can't always keep itself warm, and when its temperature drops too low your ECU starts feeding even more fuel into it in order to force it to run at a higher RPM in an effort to generate more heat.
In order to stop this wasteful cycle many people block their engine grilles in the colder months in order to stop the flow of too-cold air into the engine area. My own rule of thumb is to block the upper grille when daytime temperatures are peaking at 65F, and also the lower grille when daytime temperatures are peaking at 55F. I also use an engine insulation blanket once daytime temperatures drop to 45, and I will post a DIY on that when that time comes. Supplies: 6' x 1/2" foam pipe insulation, x2 = $4 total at any hardware store 8" PVC, UV-resistant zip ties, black, x30 = $4 at Radio Shack and other places Total cost: $8 Tools: Scissors Wire cutters Flathead screwdriver Instructions: 1) The front bumper needs to be pulled forward far enough to get your hand behind it. To do this use a combination of a lot of finesse, your fingers, and the flathead screwdriver to remove the 5 push pins on top of the bumper, right underneath the hood's front edge. 2) Once those are out do the same thing with the 2 that are in the front wheel wells, at the rear edge of the bumper piece. 3) Use the scissors to cut the foam to fit, using only one half of the foam each time (cut it in half lengthwise to make a half-pipe). Shape it a bit if you desire. 4) Run zip ties into the grille, and then carefully reach behind the bumper to route them back through the grille towards the front. 5) Close the zip ties and tighten them just enough to keep the pieces in place without wiggling too much. 6) Use the wire cutters to trim the excess from the zip ties, then use the screwdriver to push on the zip tie's nodule backwards into the grille in order to hide it. That's it! The lower grille is done in the exact same fashion.
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- Brian Share the Road I often carry 2 carpool passengers and mountain bikes or snowboards/skis over a 4,500 foot elevation difference. Click the graphic above to see my detailed mileage logs. Last edited by BailOut; 09-17-2007 at 11:29 PM. |
09-18-2007, 07:38 AM | #2 |
Passin' The Gas...Station
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Now it REALLY looks like a "BumperCar". The assumption of all that work would suggest you need some "padding" in the passenger's compartment too...Wouldn't want you to hurt yourself.
Get a sheet of that clear 3M stuff, cut it just a bit larger than the opening (trace the opening and add about 1 1/2" to the over all dimension) and then punch a few small holes (trace a half-dollar sized object) into it to allow SOME air to go in. It's clear, it blocks the air and it looks good. I've done it with a truck it had (diesel). That way I didn't cover up a custom grille and at the end of the season.....pull it off and toss it out.
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MY Gas Station Attendant Misses Me... Chuck |
09-18-2007, 08:35 AM | #3 |
Super Moderator
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It gets THAT cold in Reno??
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09-18-2007, 08:49 AM | #4 |
Steals terrorist's lunch
Drives: 2007 Yaris Liftback Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Reno, Nevada, USA
Posts: 1,299
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I commute over a mountain pass that takes 3 plows and the world's largest snow blower to keep open in the Winter, and it still shuts down sometimes. Each day I pass directly in front of my favorite ski area (Mount Rose) which causes me to use many vacation days.
10 minutes from my office is the Diamond ski area. 20 minutes past my office is Squaw Valley, where the Winter Olympics were held in 1964. 30 minutes in the other direction is Heavenly. One of our friends that lives just down the road is the Marketing Director at the Kirkwood Ski Resort. In other words, yes, it gets that cold here.
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- Brian Share the Road I often carry 2 carpool passengers and mountain bikes or snowboards/skis over a 4,500 foot elevation difference. Click the graphic above to see my detailed mileage logs. Last edited by BailOut; 09-18-2007 at 12:57 PM. |
09-18-2007, 08:50 AM | #5 |
Super Moderator
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Makin' me cold just reading that.
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09-18-2007, 11:49 AM | #6 |
Drives: 2005 Scion xB Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: The Black Hills of South Dakota
Posts: 1,059
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Surely there is a better looking option... Perhaps a power inverter with a space heater under your hood.
By the way, what is that on the front edge of your hood? |
09-18-2007, 01:07 PM | #7 |
Steals terrorist's lunch
Drives: 2007 Yaris Liftback Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Reno, Nevada, USA
Posts: 1,299
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Do you mean the magnetic bra?
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- Brian Share the Road I often carry 2 carpool passengers and mountain bikes or snowboards/skis over a 4,500 foot elevation difference. Click the graphic above to see my detailed mileage logs. |
09-18-2007, 02:27 PM | #8 |
Drives: '14 GT86, '08 Vitz Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Central Valley, CA
Posts: 9,873
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haha, yup, it gets super cold in Reno.
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09-20-2007, 12:07 PM | #9 |
Steals terrorist's lunch
Drives: 2007 Yaris Liftback Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Reno, Nevada, USA
Posts: 1,299
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Speaking of the weather here, it appears I got the grille block installed just in time. This is by no means anything close to what the mountain will look like in a few months when there are 6-12 foot tall snow banks on either side of the road, but today is only 09/20/2007.
Check out my drive over the mountain this morning: 7,000 feet: 7,500 feet: 8,000 feet: 9,000 feet: With any luck my favorite ski areas will open early this season and I can try out my new snowboard.
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- Brian Share the Road I often carry 2 carpool passengers and mountain bikes or snowboards/skis over a 4,500 foot elevation difference. Click the graphic above to see my detailed mileage logs. |
09-20-2007, 02:31 PM | #10 |
Drives: Red Yaris HatchBack Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sunny,Florida
Posts: 298
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OMG...i feel for ya..dress warm,wear ya heavy sock,and keep some chicken soup in your thermost..Man I don't like winter..dont miss it one bit.
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09-20-2007, 02:50 PM | #11 |
Yaris Rules!!
Drives: 2007 Red Yaris Liftback a/t Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Near Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Posts: 201
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I will probably take a carboard wrap in plastic and zip tie it on the inside of the grill.
I do this with my Echo and it works well. But will be harder to install on the Yaris
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The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you've got it made. Groucho Marx (1890-1977) |
09-21-2007, 12:47 AM | #12 | |
Drives: 2005 Scion xB Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: The Black Hills of South Dakota
Posts: 1,059
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Quote:
I've been thinking about this whole blocking the grill during the cold months and am a little pesimistic. Diesel trucks do it because they won't even warm up do to the oversizes cooling system, but our little Yarii have no trouble warming up. My heat was blazing hot last winter even when it was well below zero. Perhaps the loss of mileage in the winter months is more due to the cold air entering the intake. Cooler/denser air means more fuel is added to maintain air/fuel ratios. In addition, drag is always increased due to wet, snowey, and/or slushy roads. Bottom line, if your heater is putting out hot air, your engine is warm enough to operate efficiently. |
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09-21-2007, 11:24 AM | #13 |
Shiny Chromey Coolness
Drives: 2007 Toyota Yaris Liftback Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 982
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Bailout props to you for your recent DIYs...You are the most interesting and devoted cause poster on this board.
I like your MacGyveresque approach. Taking simple tools and materials and applying to real world scenarios. May not look great but works i assume.
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Bringin the Bling to Yarisworld |
09-22-2007, 02:13 AM | #14 |
Drives: 2007 Yaris manual dark silver Join Date: May 2006
Location: Fond du Lac, WI
Posts: 694
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I live in wisconsin and a padded blanket helps but i only put it on over night not while driving
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7 Color Tach Fujita Intake Momo pedals Shift knob and boot. Full TRD SSK. Blitz exhaust Megan Lowering Springs (Next is DC Header) |
08-20-2009, 12:02 AM | #15 |
Drives: 07 YARIS HATCH 5 DOOR Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Montreal Qc
Posts: 354
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I know this tread is over 2 years old but does a piece of cardboard, and a can of black paint can do the trick as well?? put the cardboard behind the grill..maybe dunno..anyone tried?!
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08-20-2009, 07:18 AM | #16 |
Half a Bubble Off Plumb
Drives: 2009 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA
Posts: 1,593
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Look in the hypermiling section and on hypermiling sites like cleanmpg.com. Many people have improvised grill blocks, mainly looking for aerodynamic gains. As an earlier poster said, the thermostat keeps the engine warm anyway.
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08-20-2009, 10:19 AM | #17 | |
Steals terrorist's lunch
Drives: 2007 Yaris Liftback Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Reno, Nevada, USA
Posts: 1,299
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Quote:
That is incorrect, and is also an oversimplification. The thermostat only controls when water circulates throughout the engine block and when it doesn't. In other words, it controls cooling rather than heating. Even with a closed thermostat the engine can find itself dumping heat rapidly in a cold environment. The ECU senses this through water temperature, the knock sensor and the O2 sensors. In this state the ECU causes the fuel system to run rich in order to create more waste heat, thereby using more fuel. A grille block alleviates this and can be seen in use in many vehicles, both commercial and personal, in northern climes (ever seen "Ice road Truckers"?).
__________________
- Brian Share the Road I often carry 2 carpool passengers and mountain bikes or snowboards/skis over a 4,500 foot elevation difference. Click the graphic above to see my detailed mileage logs. |
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08-20-2009, 10:40 AM | #18 | |
Half a Bubble Off Plumb
Drives: 2009 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA
Posts: 1,593
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Quote:
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