When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Bug Season is just getting underway here and thought I'd make a bug screen to keep my rad from getting plastered from bugs and keep it running cool. Nylon screening - 24" x 62" @ $0.25/ft = $1.25 small bag of brass grommets = $1.00 4 8" zip ties - plenty around the shop I doubled up the screen lengthwise, sewed it up to fit, added the grommets on each corner and installed it behind the grill with the zip ties.
Ill be doing this mod this year for sure. Just swapped out my grille with an aftermarket steel mesh one. Diff needs a backer to keep the bugs out.
Bug Season is just getting underway here and thought I'd make a bug screen to keep my rad from getting plastered from bugs and keep it running cool.
Nylon screening - 24" x 62" @ $0.25/ft = $1.25
small bag of brass grommets = $1.00
4 8" zip ties - plenty around the shop
I doubled up the screen lengthwise, sewed it up to fit, added the grommets on each corner and installed it behind the grill with the zip ties.
How tight is that mesh? It seems tight enough that I'd be concerned about reduced air flow, especially if I were towing. And a ton of dead bugs stuck to that screen would exacerbate the issue. Maybe I'm being overly concerned, but I'd watch the engine temp carefully if it's hot out or if I was towing.
On the other hand, you may never notice it in the temp, but your fan may end up running a lot more. I don't know if you can hear the fan when it kicks in, but I'd want to know if the fan clutch engaged more often with the bug screen.
Last edited by travelrider; 04-29-2015 at 04:23 AM.
How tight is that mesh? It seems tight enough that I'd be concerned about reduced air flow, especially if I were towing. And a ton of dead bugs stuck to that screen would exacerbate the issue. Maybe I'm being overly concerned, but I'd watch the engine temp carefully if it's hot out or if I was towing.
On the other hand, you may never notice it in the temp, but your fan may end up running a lot more. I don't know if you can hear the fan when it kicks in, but I'd want to know if the fan clutch engaged more often with the bug screen.
I had one on my last truck for 5 years without any problems. It doesn't get as hot up here as it does down in Florida and if it does its only for a month in August. I would always spray the bugs off mine if I noticed a lot accumulating on my front end.
How tight is that mesh? It seems tight enough that I'd be concerned about reduced air flow, especially if I were towing. And a ton of dead bugs stuck to that screen would exacerbate the issue. Maybe I'm being overly concerned, but I'd watch the engine temp carefully if it's hot out or if I was towing.
On the other hand, you may never notice it in the temp, but your fan may end up running a lot more. I don't know if you can hear the fan when it kicks in, but I'd want to know if the fan clutch engaged more often with the bug screen.
I have never noticed any rise in engine temps on any of the vehicles I've added a bug screen to and this one is no different, even towing this back home 580 mi.
There is quite a gap between the screen and the rad and the bugs pretty well shake right off,
04-26-2015, 04:55 PM
