I'm Skeptical of These New Grille Cooling Claims

[Moby]

If you want a true test, you need a control. Take the grill off and run a 10 mile circuit - city and highway at varying speeds. Record the high and low temps.

Install the old grill and run the same circuit. Record high and low temps.

Install the new grill and run the same circuit. Record high and low temps.

Compare and determine which is better or worse compared to the control.

I’ve got the diesel grill on mine which is significantly more “open” than the old grill in the photo above and closely resembles the grill insert of the new one.

Empirically testing the effects of different grille configurations - now there’s an idea! Anecdotal results aren’t often valid, and neither are “I believe” results. Do some rigid testing. Great post.

Sponsored

 

[bleda2002]

If you want a true test, you need a control. Take the grill off and run a 10 mile circuit - city and highway at varying speeds. Record the high and low temps.

Install the old grill and run the same circuit. Record high and low temps.

Install the new grill and run the same circuit. Record high and low temps.

Compare and determine which is better or worse compared to the control.

I’ve got the diesel grill on mine which is significantly more “open” than the old grill in the photo above and closely resembles the grill insert of the new one.

That's why I dont think it will be as drastic on gladiators as they all have the wide mesh. I do think it will still help as the slats aren't solid, the mesh is even wider, and the air flow area is wider as well, but 15 degrees difference seems wild.

 

[Sandevino]

That's why I do t think it will as drastic on gladiators as they all have the wide mesh. I do think it will still help as the slats aren't solid, the mesh is even wider, and the air flow area is wider as well, but 15 degrees difference seems wild.

Right. Show me something other than I swapped this out and BAM... my temps are lower.

 

[JarHeadLV]

I tend to agree with your comment here. I have a JT now after having a ZR2 and before that, a JK with LS3 and 6L80 trans. When I had the JK, the car had an aftermarket radiator that did not cool well. I did a lot of research on my own to figure out what was going on and why the car would not cool correctly. I did airflow tests at different speeds among other testing. What I found was, no suprise here, that Jeeps are about as aerodynamic as a shipping crate. The airflow thru the grille isn't too bad until you go above 60 mph and then lots of stuff starts happening. I found that the air piles up in front of the vehicle so much that it starts to curl backwards and at that point airflow thru the grille really suffers. Eventually, CG&J Radiators in Alabama built me a radiator that solved my problems and gave the JK a consistent 200 degree running temp. So, if Jeep can help the airflow a bit by opening up the grille a bit more that is good news. One of the things people forget about the airflow issue is in order for the air to flow well thru the grille/radiator, it has to be able to exit the engine compartment at a similar or faster rate. Skid plates, extra equipment in the engine compartment, etc, deter the air from exiting quickly and hurt colling to some extent. Newer engines are designed to run at hotter temps than older model engines but part of that is due to the fact that vehicles are getting packed with more and more equipment and given reduced frontal profiles to make them more aerodynamic and help with fuel economy so there are lots of reasons for the higher numbers. One thing I see over and over again are the Jeeps with big winch sitting high over the bumper, right in the middle of the grille. If people realized how much this disrupts the airflow thru the grille at different speeds, they would opt for a winch mounting design that placed the winch low behind the front bumper. Even the bull bars on many Jeeps affect the airflow negatively at speed. Sorry for rambling here but the Jeep running temp issue is complex and much more than just grille opening size although that is a major factor for sure.

You make some good points. I DO have a winch and bull bar that could affect the airflow as you mentioned. I live in Las Vegas, have a Mojave and when it's like 112 (this is recent temps outside) I've been seeing around 195- 201 degrees coolant temp. No issues so far with overheating.

The new grill looks like more airflow, but also there's "less grill" meaning the grill isn't as tall as the original and it has a piece under it that I believe blocks air. I guess the only real way to see is someone to do a (as best as they can) controlled test. I'd be curious to see if there's a difference. I do like the look of the new grill.

 

[WK2JT]

You make some good points. I DO have a winch and bull bar that could affect the airflow as you mentioned. I live in Las Vegas, have a Mojave and when it's like 112 (this is recent temps outside) I've been seeing around 195- 201 degrees coolant temp. No issues so far with overheating.

The new grill looks like more airflow, but also there's "less grill" meaning the grill isn't as tall as the original and it has a piece under it that I believe blocks air. I guess the only real way to see is someone to do a (as best as they can) controlled test. I'd be curious to see if there's a difference. I do like the look of the new grill.

I think you nailed it. Would be nice to see measurements on the opening volume. The slats on the new grill are differently shorter. This was probably as designed knowing the factory winch option was going to block the vents of the old grill. The new grill also provides some desperately needed clearance for winch wiring.

I *think* this is definitely an improvement for the JL, but as previously mentioned, the JT grill was already “opened” up to flow more air. True imperial measurements would be interesting for sure.

If the new grill flowed more air, I’d think that’s something Jeep might market as an improvement. The HD truck makers certainly would as their target market is in tune with tweaks like that.

 

[JarHeadLV]

I think you nailed it. Would be nice to see measurements on the opening volume. The slats on the new grill are differently shorter. This was probably as designed knowing the factory winch option was going to block the vents of the old grill. The new grill also provides some desperately needed clearance for winch wiring.

I *think* this is definitely an improvement for the JL, but as previously mentioned, the JT grill was already “opened” up to flow more air. True imperial measurements would be interesting for sure.

If the new grill flowed more air, I’d think that’s something Jeep might market as an improvement. The HD truck makers certainly would as their target market is in tune with tweaks like that.

At the very least with the new grill, my winch wires would have some more room like you said, that would be nice. Not sure why they havent figured out a way to just hide the wires better? The DO rub against my grill, but no damage.

 

[River2016]

I’m not as smart as you all. But I will say if you go to the RIPP supercharger page they all pull the mesh out and the grills go back with out it. And it’s not because it won’t fit with the intercooler because I know for a fact it will.
…fwit

 

[River2016]

You make some good points. I DO have a winch and bull bar that could affect the airflow as you mentioned. I live in Las Vegas, have a Mojave and when it's like 112 (this is recent temps outside) I've been seeing around 195- 201 degrees coolant temp. No issues so far with overheating.

The new grill looks like more airflow, but also there's "less grill" meaning the grill isn't as tall as the original and it has a piece under it that I believe blocks air. I guess the only real way to see is someone to do a (as best as they can) controlled test. I'd be curious to see if there's a difference. I do like the look of the new grill.

Hot as hell and humid in Sout carolina Diving briskly w Supercharger and grid removed only in the middle oil temp hovers between 204-220 depending on placement of right pedal. I don’t watch coolant. Just oil temp.

 

[JarHeadLV]

I’m not as smart as you all. But I will say if you go to the RIPP supercharger page they all pull the mesh out and the grills go back with out it. And it’s not because it won’t fit with the intercooler because I know for a fact it will.
…fwit

How do you like your RIPP supercharger? good and bad?

 

[River2016]

How do you like your RIPP supercharger? good and bad?

I’ll message you direct. Don’t want to hijack thread

 

[Pedal Metal]

Let me just wade into the waters with what might seem like a shocking and distasteful question. Has anyone who wants the possibility of more airflow in the existing grill asked or thought to drill out a portion of the slats on the that version? I realize that it could look hideous on a painted grill, but I sort wonder if it could be done in a way that looks like punched speed holes going vertically up the inner rails of a blacked out grill? It might just look cool and be functional?

Sure, there are mountings for the inner slits inside those rails, so such a modification wouldn‘t create as much flow as the new design, but for someone experiencing a cooling problem, might it be a ‘cool’ modification for a grill that might otherwise be pitched by someone seeking a change.

 

[ScottBeach]

Why do we feed air thru the 7 slot ? Seems a better design would be a air scoop like cars just at the hood rather than below.

 

[Reddog]

You make some good points. I DO have a winch and bull bar that could affect the airflow as you mentioned. I live in Las Vegas, have a Mojave and when it's like 112 (this is recent temps outside) I've been seeing around 195- 201 degrees coolant temp. No issues so far with overheating.

The new grill looks like more airflow, but also there's "less grill" meaning the grill isn't as tall as the original and it has a piece under it that I believe blocks air. I guess the only real way to see is someone to do a (as best as they can) controlled test. I'd be curious to see if there's a difference. I do like the look of the new grill.

You make some good points. I DO have a winch and bull bar that could affect the airflow as you mentioned. I live in Las Vegas, have a Mojave and when it's like 112 (this is recent temps outside) I've been seeing around 195- 201 degrees coolant temp. No issues so far with overheating.

The new grill looks like more airflow, but also there's "less grill" meaning the grill isn't as tall as the original and it has a piece under it that I believe blocks air. I guess the only real way to see is someone to do a (as best as they can) controlled test. I'd be curious to see if there's a difference. I do like the look of the new grill.

The issue of fluid dynamics and aerodynamics is interesting to me. I have had big hp hot rods of all kinds as well as the LS converted Jeep Wrangler and have learned some beneficial facts over the years when it comes to cooling. I'm retired but was trained as a civil-structural engineer so the nuances of Laminar versus Turbulent flow of air have always interested me. Suffice to say here that the less "stuff" we place in front of the grille opening the better if we want maximum cooling possible. I agree with you, if the 2024 grille has more surface opening area that's a good thing. Lot's of things a person can do to make the Jeep run cooler too, many of which don't require many $$$. Take care and be safe.

 

[Ryan...]

Funny how making bigger holes doesn’t always equal more flow.
One of the biggest problems with the JT is cooling and they know that. Engineers worked like crazy to improve flow.

Reminds me of my days in the Porsche world with my 996. Lots of guys/gals became obsessed with cooling their (daily driven) cars and tried testing aftermarket vented trunks with bigger cut outs/slats/bigger wings with vents, etc..

Turns out the engineers know a hell of a lot more than your average enthusiast, and it's more important to know how the air travels through/around an engine than the size of the holes. Unless you're stationary, extra vents above your engine do nothing, and can actually hurt the cooling characteristics.

 

[willys 41]

Just received and installed Gladiator / Wrangler JL upgrade grille inserts
I also remounted the horns behind the bumper to allow more air to the trans cooler
$54 shipped from BAM Wholesale Parts

1​	6QN23RXFAC	Texture Grille
1​	6QN21RXFAC	Texture Grille
1​	6QN22RXFAC	Texture Grille

Sponsored