LanceK

I forgot to take my cold weather front off this year and then realized that it was running normal temps with it on and in the OPEN position.

Then it occured to me that leaving it on might prevent excess radiator damage from bugs and debris?

Has anyone played around with this?

1. Was there any adverse affect from using the front in the summer vs. not using it?

2. Was your A/C performance any different?

3. Was there a noticable difference in radiator damage?

For reference I live in the Northeast.

TIA

BigHornCTD

I forgot to take mine off this spring before a trip out of town. When the outside temp got above about 50 degrees, the cooling fan started cycling driving 70 MPH with all the flaps open. It would amount to extra wear and tear on the fan clutch for sure.

DBLR

Once the temp go above 60 degrees with my winter front on I will see the coolant temps go above 205 so I make sure I take mine off when the temps will stay above 55 in the day time. I worry some as to how hot your trans temps are getting with it on?

klx650a2

What I do is have some very heavy duty metal screen infront of my a/c etc to keep the stuff out. In summer you want as much cool air over the inter cooler as you can get (at least I do). Winter, its blocked off completly.

D-Roc

Would there be any adverse effects in removing one of the slats (one in front of the air intake or around intercooler), leaving the others on?
I have seen people do this as well as removing one or two with an all season grill.

Foxborough

I got the grill protector from Genos because the thin cooling fins were bending with some of the bugs also . It was around $50 and has been working very well. I think the winter front in the summer to be a bad idea, you are blocking not just the radiator but the A/C coils, the intercooler and the transmission.

05mxdiesel

Heck I take mine off if we have a 50 degree day in the winter time. I also run a window screen over the condenser down and wrapped around the swaybar to keep bugs off the fins. I have to replace it every other year due to salt dryrotting it.