Radiator bug / debris protection

Probably not the same thing but, 200,000 miles ago I used aluminum gutter protector to form baskets around my Ford grill from the back side. It is easy to cut, easy to bend and cheap. Used small zip ties to attach. Radiators still look good.

This is more of a product I can link to.
The chrome or stainless metal wire grill comes made for some truck grills and cars. I think it is jaguar and I've seen others with a not too coarse weave or grid openings.
Perhaps a supplier for trucks or custom trucks might have a size that would work. The chrome or stainless wire grid/grill looks nice and fends off rocks and birds sticks etc.
maybe someone here knows a source for a stock size that could be cut to fit.

Way back in 08 in preparation for our first Alaskan trip, & the bugs, I trotted off to Lowes & bought a roll of the plastic screen wire & zip tied it over the front of the grill.

It is still there.

I did have concerns about overheating & watched the temp guge like a hawk the first time we were in a very hot area or doing some serious mountain climbing. No issues but still keep an eye on it as always.

Screen cleaning is easy. That is what a snow brush is for.

When you get home take a spray bottle, Home Despot or Lowe's sell them the bigger the better, with dishwasher detergent Dawn or Shout, 1/4 soap the rest water spray the radiator and coolers, leave 5 minutes and rinse with water, repeat as many times as needed do not scrub with a brush, you will bend the fins.

Bugs are more grease than matter and the detergent brakes down the fat and you can rinse it off.

navegator

fastroadster wrote:
Being a "OLD Radiatorman" it was proven, the bug screens knock off approx. 15% of your cooling. Don't block off any airflow to your radiator. Just my 2 cents of advice.:B

I would have guessed a higher % of blockage. In the Fire Dept the rule of thumb was that the window screens reduced airflow by 1/2 when ventilating. I know... Apples and oranges. I don't have any additional screens on any off my vehicles, but I do rinse the radiators out every once in a while and straighten out any bent fins.

Being a "OLD Radiatorman" it was proven, the bug screens knock off approx. 15% of your cooling. Don't block off any airflow to your radiator. Just my 2 cents of advice.:B

Old school days we use to always put a screen in front of the radiator..It's just what we did.

I haven't done so in years. (I want as much air getting to my radiator and tranny cooler as possible...)

I thought the same thing when I bought my Ford Superduty, the space between grill bars is about three inches. I never did it and 178K miles later all is still working well.