How much of the grille should I cover to increase warm up time and keep my temp around 190F? My truck runs pretty cold in the winter months. We average around 40-50 degrees F around here in winter, with a few colder snaps come Jan/Feb.

 

Cover all of the outer grill. I put in chrome winter fronts in October and pull them in April. With the holes in the bumper, overheating is not an issue.

 

I pretty much do the same. Helps a ton.

 

I'm glad you guys think a front helps.
Only times I've noticed a difference is when the outside temp gets up over 80 F with the full front blocked with inserts.
Then the fan kicks on.
Too much air gets in from underneath.
I've experimented with the fronts on and off, still takes the same distance on the same road for the coolant temp to come up.
For this reason I haven't bothered using my front for at least ten years.

 

I may give it a try. I usually start plugging in this time of year, but if she sits all day its a cold ride home and never really gets up to temp in 8 miles.

 

For me the winterfront helps keep my engine warm with my Espar too. Keeps the wind from howling through the front end and letting the convection of heat escape through the grill coming up from the bottom.

The most difference for me is the huge drop in engine temperatures during driving on the highway. At 0°F the thermostat will drop the temp of the engine like a rock with a sharp spill of cold water. With the inserts, the engine maintains the rad at a little warmer temp and the needle doesn't spike.. FWIW. I think the sharp thermal cycling could cause HG problems.

 

I slip a piece of mudflap that I cut to fit between the intrcooler and radiator. I cut a small hole in the center to keep cool air to the fan clutch so it doesn't lock up. This year, I'm leaving the fan off and blocking 90% of the radiator with a different mudflap. Doing this only because I don't tow with this truck. If I worked it, I'd keep the fan. Mudflap trick works for quicker heat, imo.

 

Taking the fan off can help some, but you just have to be aware of the minor risk to your A/C system.

 

Thanks for all the advice.

I'm gonna try placing a blocker between the intercooler and radiator as sug'd.