What happened to radiator blinds?
Discussion
As we all know, when winter temperatures are really cold, fuel economy suffers due to slower warm up times.
In the days of yore and carburettors, as well as having an air filter intake that could be turned towards the exhaust manifold, cars for use in colder climes were often fitted with radiator blinds. They were even sold as after market accessories. For those of us too poor to afford such luxuries, a similar increase in warm up times could be had be blanking off half of the radiator grill with an offcut of old lino.
I appreciate that fitting modern thermostatically controlled electric fans mean that cold air isn't forcibly drawn through the rad until its necessary, but wouldn't the humble rad blind stop cold air being forced through the rad by the vehicles forward motion until it reached optimum operating temp?
I appreciate that winters here are not as cold as they used to be, but is there a place for rad blinds for those cars bound for much colder climes, or would they cause more problems than they solve?
In the days of yore and carburettors, as well as having an air filter intake that could be turned towards the exhaust manifold, cars for use in colder climes were often fitted with radiator blinds. They were even sold as after market accessories. For those of us too poor to afford such luxuries, a similar increase in warm up times could be had be blanking off half of the radiator grill with an offcut of old lino.
I appreciate that fitting modern thermostatically controlled electric fans mean that cold air isn't forcibly drawn through the rad until its necessary, but wouldn't the humble rad blind stop cold air being forced through the rad by the vehicles forward motion until it reached optimum operating temp?
I appreciate that winters here are not as cold as they used to be, but is there a place for rad blinds for those cars bound for much colder climes, or would they cause more problems than they solve?
Electric shutters in the front grille replaced this years ago. BMW, Skoda, most have it... They stay shut while cold/cool, to improve the car's aero and keep heat in the engine bay. As the engine gets (too) hot, they open and allow cold airflow before closing again. They can open to any angle, and it's varied depending on demand, rather than just being an open/shut job.
Edit: The first result I found searching for active shutters should have more info. I didn't read it all though.
Edit: The first result I found searching for active shutters should have more info. I didn't read it all though.
Edited by rainmakerraw on Sunday 19th January 00:13
sparkythecat said:
As we all know, when winter temperatures are really cold, fuel economy suffers due to slower warm up times.
In the days of yore and carburettors, as well as having an air filter intake that could be turned towards the exhaust manifold, cars for use in colder climes were often fitted with radiator blinds. They were even sold as after market accessories. For those of us too poor to afford such luxuries, a similar increase in warm up times could be had be blanking off half of the radiator grill with an offcut of old lino.
I appreciate that fitting modern thermostatically controlled electric fans mean that cold air isn't forcibly drawn through the rad until its necessary, but wouldn't the humble rad blind stop cold air being forced through the rad by the vehicles forward motion until it reached optimum operating temp?
I appreciate that winters here are not as cold as they used to be, but is there a place for rad blinds for those cars bound for much colder climes, or would they cause more problems than they solve?
Thermostats don't allow water/oil to flow through the radiator core until upto operating temperature.In the days of yore and carburettors, as well as having an air filter intake that could be turned towards the exhaust manifold, cars for use in colder climes were often fitted with radiator blinds. They were even sold as after market accessories. For those of us too poor to afford such luxuries, a similar increase in warm up times could be had be blanking off half of the radiator grill with an offcut of old lino.
I appreciate that fitting modern thermostatically controlled electric fans mean that cold air isn't forcibly drawn through the rad until its necessary, but wouldn't the humble rad blind stop cold air being forced through the rad by the vehicles forward motion until it reached optimum operating temp?
I appreciate that winters here are not as cold as they used to be, but is there a place for rad blinds for those cars bound for much colder climes, or would they cause more problems than they solve?
Mr Tidy said:
sparkythecat said:
rainmakerraw said:
Electric shutters in the front grille replaced this years ago. BMW, Skoda, most have it...
Thanks for that. I didn't know about those. 
And they will have the data to back it up
.frisbee said:
Mr Tidy said:
Yes, but BMW decided to stop fitting a temperature gauge!
Manufacturer water temperature gauges are intentionally designed to sit in exactly the same place on the gauge over a 40 degree range of water temp. They are next to useless.Even had a so called v8 engine expert ‘discovering’ that the gauge was ‘inaccurate’ and wanting to sell auxiliary temp gauges until i told him this was by design.
Temperature gauge tells you that the thermostat is knackered.
When I had a rad hose burst, the first indication was the temp gauge. It’s stabilised, but it started to move.
When your electric fan fails, the first indication will be the temperature gauge.
You don’t need a temp gauge until something goes wrong. Then you need a new engine, which I suppose is the whole point of removing them.
We don’t have rad blinds like the old days because we have proper thermostats.
When I had a rad hose burst, the first indication was the temp gauge. It’s stabilised, but it started to move.
When your electric fan fails, the first indication will be the temperature gauge.
You don’t need a temp gauge until something goes wrong. Then you need a new engine, which I suppose is the whole point of removing them.
We don’t have rad blinds like the old days because we have proper thermostats.
Ive had an S90 and an E class, both have motorised shutters behind the grille, according to the blurb its for aero as well as fast warm up. The S90 didn’t have a temp gauge, just a warning despite the upgraded all digital dash.
The last car I had with an unstabilised/true temp gauge was an Alfa, and that moved all over the place and could be quite off putting till you get used to it, but was actually quite useful to diagnose a less than effective thermostat.
The last car I had with an unstabilised/true temp gauge was an Alfa, and that moved all over the place and could be quite off putting till you get used to it, but was actually quite useful to diagnose a less than effective thermostat.
Rozzers said:
IThe last car I had with an unstabilised/true temp gauge was an Alfa, and that moved all over the place and could be quite off putting till you get used to it...
The digital temperature readout on the Lotus Elise was a source of unlimited angst among new owners, on K-series Elises with their reputation for blown head gaskets.As soon as they witnessed it climbing a few degrees in traffic, they'd be writing in to the forums!
Equus said:
Rozzers said:
IThe last car I had with an unstabilised/true temp gauge was an Alfa, and that moved all over the place and could be quite off putting till you get used to it...
The digital temperature readout on the Lotus Elise was a source of unlimited angst among new owners, on K-series Elises with their reputation for blown head gaskets.As soon as they witnessed it climbing a few degrees in traffic, they'd be writing in to the forums!
frisbee said:
Mr Tidy said:
Yes, but BMW decided to stop fitting a temperature gauge!
Manufacturer water temperature gauges are intentionally designed to sit in exactly the same place on the gauge over a 40 degree range of water temp. They are next to useless.Many gauges are stabilised. Fuel gauges are stabilised. I remember the old fuel gauges that used to oscillate all over the place. Modern fuel gauges are stabilised for various vehicle attitude and road conditions. One particular test is three circles at 50m diameter at maximum lateral g, and also at various other diameters, obviously on a test pan. The gauge had to be stable for that period - the signal was electronically stabilised. You would never comfortably drive those three circles at maximum lateral g, quite a feat for the drivers.
skyrover said:
Thermostat, water pump, radiator/expansion cap, hose leak, radiator leak/blockage, head gasket.
All things a proper working temperature gauge will help diagnose.
All things the OBD will warn you about as well, before you do any engine damage, which is why there is no need for a temperature gauge for you to look at, the OBD is looking at it for you.All things a proper working temperature gauge will help diagnose.
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