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Winter grille cover

JLURD

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As much as it pains me to cover up the most iconic grille in the industry, my 3.0 often could not reach operating temperature at the end of last Winter when it was delivered. Anyone used a grille cover on theirs yet? The only one I’m seeing online is from FIA.
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BuffaloBill

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I’ve been wondering if we need grill covers for our Jeeps. Mine was delivered after winter temps, so I’ve not experienced that yet. With my 2014 Ram ecodiesel, I run the grill cover when temps are in the 40s or lower. Even a 30min drive in temps in the 50S do not make it run much higher than normal water/oil temps (not pulling trailer, etc).

By comparison, the Jeep reaches say, 203F water temp much faster than the 2014 Ram (in summer temps), so I was wondering if a grill cover would be needed for say, 0F. From your experience, it sounds like we need a grill cover. With the Ram, a cover came with the truck when I took dlivey. I undestood those sold in cold climates were shipped with a cover. I did not receive a cover with the Jeep however.

Do you happen to have a part number for a Wrangler grill cover?
 

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As much as it pains me to cover up the most iconic grille in the industry, my 3.0 often could not reach operating temperature at the end of last Winter when it was delivered. Anyone used a grille cover on theirs yet? The only one I’m seeing online is from FIA.
It would make mine over heat! I live next door to Hell. But I like it hot!
 
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JLURD

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I’ve been wondering if we need grill covers for our Jeeps. Mine was delivered after winter temps, so I’ve not experienced that yet. With my 2014 Ram ecodiesel, I run the grill cover when temps are in the 40s or lower. Even a 30min drive in temps in the 50S do not make it run much higher than normal water/oil temps (not pulling trailer, etc).

By comparison, the Jeep reaches say, 203F water temp much faster than the 2014 Ram (in summer temps), so I was wondering if a grill cover would be needed for say, 0F. From your experience, it sounds like we need a grill cover. With the Ram, a cover came with the truck when I took dlivey. I undestood those sold in cold climates were shipped with a cover. I did not receive a cover with the Jeep however.

Do you happen to have a part number for a Wrangler grill cover?
WF929-68 is the JL-specific grille cover from FIA. They sent me the picture below to get an idea of the adhesive attachment points. Anything below 0F will definitely need it or something similar unless the load on the engine is relatively high. Even driving 15 minutes to work in February below about 10F from a heated garage the engine wouldn’t reach operating temps.
Jeep Wrangler JL Winter grille cover CDD148E4-05A4-456C-AF0F-EB8EEABBF02F
 

imjester77

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So at what temp would you think one would need something like that? when the Temps hit below 15* for longer than say 8 hours?
 

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BuffaloBill

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WF929-68 is the JL-specific grille cover from FIA. They sent me the picture below to get an idea of the adhesive attachment points. Anything below 0F will definitely need it or something similar unless the load on the engine is relatively high. Even driving 15 minutes to work in February below about 10F from a heated garage the engine wouldn’t reach operating temps.
I wonder if we could make a panel to slip behind the grill. I haven’t really looked at that in detail yet.

I agree, that quilted-looking cover isn’t the most attractive!. It could be smooth and have “Jeep” screened on it or something. The Ram cover used no adhesive and hasn’t affected my grill finish. The JL’s grill is painted, probably more easily damaged than the chrome plated Ram grill.
 
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JLURD

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I wonder if we could make a panel to slip behind the grill. I haven’t really looked at that in detail yet.

I agree, that quilted-looking cover isn’t the most attractive!. It could be smooth and have “Jeep” screened on it or something. The Ram cover used no adhesive and hasn’t affected my grill finish. The JL’s grill is painted, probably more easily damaged than the chrome plated Ram grill.
If you don’t have xpel on that paint, I highly recommend it. Adhesives won’t damage xpel. In AK, ain’t nothing attractive on vehicles in the winter and we spend long enough below +10F that I’ll have to find something either way...FIA seems to be the only real option until someone finds something else.
 

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Going to try the old cardboard method.
Removed the plastic cap above the radiator.
Cut a piece of cardboard to size.
Put some tape over the mounting points and edges of the cardboard.
Drilled some holes in the cardboard so it is adjustable.
Painted it black with a coat of Plasti-dip and then a coat of old header paint I had laying around.
I found a few metric bolts in my bolt bin to mount to 2 conveniently located speed nuts on the radiator shroud.

If this works out I'll probably get some little metric studs and wingnuts, and a large sheet of that silicone you set pots and pans on to use instead of cardboard.
 

Plongson

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This has got me thinking about the DEF tank/system. What happens when we're parked outside and the temp is 0°f ???

I'm gonna be in a place in a few days where it's gonna be real cold and just wondering what to expect first thing in the morning...
 

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gijohn56

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the def tank has its own little heating system. it will keep it at the temp it needs to be at.
 
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JLURD

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This has got me thinking about the DEF tank/system. What happens when we're parked outside and the temp is 0°f ???

I'm gonna be in a place in a few days where it's gonna be real cold and just wondering what to expect first thing in the morning...
I started mine no problem from -15F back in February. DEF will freeze around +12F if I recall correctly, but the line and the tank thaw from their heaters.
 
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JLURD

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Alright folks, FIA winter front is installed and yea, it fn works. Coolant temp reaches optimal about 3x faster than prior. Only downside is the thermometer for outside temp is completely FUBAR with this thing on. The picture below was taken at about 0F ambient in AK. The engine compartment stays good and toasty with an insulated cover on apparently. Oh and one of the snap rivets broke when I installed it so FIA is sending me a new one.
Jeep Wrangler JL Winter grille cover C67A5542-B3B5-4317-AC30-CB96E8D32BA3
Jeep Wrangler JL Winter grille cover 1488E8C8-259B-4239-91F0-44104DCC50C6
 

Marbles

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As much as it pains me to cover up the most iconic grille in the industry, my 3.0 often could not reach operating temperature at the end of last Winter when it was delivered. Anyone used a grille cover on theirs yet? The only one I’m seeing online is from FIA.
It looks like mopar released one. The picture on the mopar store website looks like the usual car bra, but the instructions show the winter grill cover:facepalm:.

Front End Cover
Part Number : 82215366
https://store.mopar.com/accessories...front_end_cover/front_end_cover_82215366.html
 

GtX

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Google image search on the part number shows some actual pictures.
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