Radiator Blinds?

[wass]

I was reading on another site about an american owner who was using a radiator blind in the winter. I remember people using them in the 1960s in UK but havent seen them since. I had always thought that modern cooling systems just didnt need anything so simple as a radiator blind. Does anyone have any thoughts about these ingenious but simple devices?

[kevin h]

I've started using foam tubing to block the radiators.

It works as my MPG had started to drop from 70mpg down to 67 but now its back up again.

[wass]

That's confirmed my suspicion.:) Thanks Kev

[Terry953]

Does anyone have any thoughts about these ingenious but simple devices?

Right On Wass! and I thought I had cornered he market on radiator blinds for Hybrids, so now I must confess and tell all.

Right back to the fifties I have been a radiator blind fan [and A Kenlowe Electric Fan as well] and fitted both systems to most of my cars.

So why not to my Auris? I rigged it like this :--

Bought a thermal window blind from Argos for £7.00 in a nice Mocha colour and mounted it in front of the radiators.

Connected the winding mechanism to a stepper motor whose signal is controlled by a sensor attached to the driver's sun visor - but [and here is the clever bit] modulated by the engine coolant transmitter.

The result is a fully automatic instant control that positions the blind to an optimum position but [and here is another clever bit] again modulated by the ambient solar vector at the time depending on the suns direction onto the bonnet by the drivers positiong of the sun visor.

I am working on a refinement [us inventors are never satisfied !!] whereby a sensor on my sun glasses can evaluate and input conditons to signal and fine tune the solar input.

Well Done Wass, this forum needs a bit of levity.

Cheers TerryB

[Ancient Nerd]

Does anyone have any thoughts about these ingenious but simple devices?

Right On Wass! and I thought I had cornered he market on radiator blinds for Hybrids, so now I must confess and tell all.

Right back to the fifties I have been a radiator blind fan [and A Kenlowe Electric Fan as well] and fitted both systems to most of my cars.

So why not to my Auris? I rigged it like this :--

Bought a thermal window blind from Argos for £7.00 in a nice Mocha colour and mounted it in front of the radiators.

Connected the winding mechanism to a stepper motor whose signal is controlled by a sensor attached to the driver's sun visor - but [and here is the clever bit] modulated by the engine coolant transmitter.

The result is a fully automatic instant control that positions the blind to an optimum position but [and here is another clever bit] again modulated by the ambient solar vector at the time depending on the suns direction onto the bonnet by the drivers positiong of the sun visor.

I am working on a refinement [us inventors are never satisfied !!] whereby a sensor on my sun glasses can evaluate and input conditons to signal and fine tune the solar input.

Well Done Wass, this forum needs a bit of levity.

Cheers TerryB

I've used a couple of bits of pipe foam tube insulation stuck on the front during really cold weather. It is definitely effective, but I worry about it without a Scangauge or similar to monitor the coolant temperature. So I probably remove it earlier than is necessary.

[GreenJuice]

Needn't worry too much, certainly if temperatures are below 10 C.

I monitor with SG. In the Gen II, I confirmed what others reported on Priuschat that you are OK to keep grill blocking up till 15 C. Last 3 winters, I had 100% block on top grill and 75% on the bottom section. Engine coolant temps got to just over 90 C on rare occasions on the motorway, which sits comfortably in the normal operating range.

In Gen III, I'm following current Priuschat advice for 50% top and 75% bottom grill block. Coolant temps well within range. However, I should say I rarely floor it on the motorway.

[sjrainsford]

Hmm interesting.

So what are all the blocking methods people are using? Any neat ideas apart from an automated blind system? I quite fancy doing mine, but nothing that can be too obvious to ruin the look of the car would be nice.

[johalareewi]

Hmm interesting.

So what are all the blocking methods people are using? Any neat ideas apart from an automated blind system? I quite fancy doing mine, but nothing that can be too obvious to ruin the look of the car would be nice.

The weapon of choice seems to be lengths of copper pipe insulation foam...

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-2010-prius-accessories-modifications/62556-2010-prius-grill-blocking-strategy-2.html

[kevin h]

Hmm interesting.

So what are all the blocking methods people are using? Any neat ideas apart from an automated blind system? I quite fancy doing mine, but nothing that can be too obvious to ruin the look of the car would be nice.

The weapon of choice seems to be lengths of copper pipe insulation foam...

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-2010-prius-accessories-modifications/62556-2010-prius-grill-blocking-strategy-2.html

Yep, thats what I use

But I've only ever blocked the bottom grills.

I seam to remember seing something that recomended not blocking the top at all, but I'm open to additional advice on that one

[timberwolf]

Yep, thats what I use

But I've only ever blocked the bottom grills.

I seam to remember seing something that recomended not blocking the top at all, but I'm open to additional advice on that one

Depends on the Prius Generation and where the radiator that cools the inverter and transaxle is located. Probably not a good idea to allow the inverter to overheat.

[acetip]

Do Rolls Royce still the use the auto closing grill.Maybe not but,but the cooling systems still use thermostats.

used to have a wind up rad blind fitted to my vauxhall Victor.to0k it in for a mot and some idiot played with the winder,must have wondered what it was and left it wound fully up.the wife picked the car up and drove over to her sister and wondered why car was running funny (she never looks at gauges)luckly brother inlaw sorted it out.

i have used a sheet of cardboard stuck in front of the rad with a hole cut out of the top.with a bit of experiment to find the best size hole.a cheap and simple method.

[timberwolf]

Modern cars such as the Prius have a cover covering the gap in front of the radiator and air deflectors underneath, which would make slipping a piece of cardboard in front of radiator a bit more difficult.

[Jamesbelfast]

If you are going to play around with blanking areas of the radiator always leave enough space in the fan area. When running the fan motor relies on incoming air to keep itself cool.

The only time the blind will have any effect is when the engine has reached operating temperature as no coolant will be circulating through the radiator until the thermostat has opened.

[kithmo]

The only time the blind will have any effect is when the engine has reached operating temperature as no coolant will be circulating through the radiator until the thermostat has opened.

This is the reason I don't bother, my commute is only 3 miles and the engine has probably only just reached operating temperature by the end of the journey.

[acetip]

Modern cars such as the Prius have a cover covering the gap in front of the radiator and air deflectors underneath, which would make slipping a piece of cardboard in front of radiator a bit more difficult.

Yes, modern cars are difficult to use a piece of carboard trick on, or a roll up blind.

In the case of the Victor, the cardboard or blind was in front of the rad and the fan behind.

[acetip]

If you are going to play around with blanking areas of the radiator always leave enough space in the fan area. When running the fan motor relies on incoming air to keep itself cool.

The only time the blind will have any effect is when the engine has reached operating temperature as no coolant will be circulating through the radiator until the thermostat has opened.

Blanking also reduces air around the engine which is some benifit.although not a great deal.but the every little helps.

[GreenJuice]

So what are all the blocking methods people are using?

The grey insulation foam is easy to source from all DIY stores and cheap. Black insulation foam for air-conditioning piping is harder to find, more expensive but also more invisible when applied.

[wass]

Thanks for all the constructive information guys.I now know quite a lot more about something which I had always seen as an unexplored avenue.

[kevin h]

Yep, thats what I use

But I've only ever blocked the bottom grills.

I seam to remember seing something that recomended not blocking the top at all, but I'm open to additional advice on that one

Depends on the Prius Generation and where the radiator that cools the inverter and transaxle is located. Probably not a good idea to allow the inverter to overheat.

Gen III - Is the inverter at the top or bottom?

[timberwolf]

Yep, thats what I use

But I've only ever blocked the bottom grills.

I seam to remember seing something that recomended not blocking the top at all, but I'm open to additional advice on that one

Depends on the Prius Generation and where the radiator that cools the inverter and transaxle is located. Probably not a good idea to allow the inverter to overheat.

Gen III - Is the inverter at the top or bottom?

The radiator to cool the inverter (and other components) is at the top on a Gen 3. I think it is always a good idea to look at various sources of information, and see if they agree, try to judge how reliable the information is likely to be, etc.

e.g.

Starts with a page from a maintenance manual