Grill insert? Will it reduce airflow?

[19Delta]

I'd like to get an American flag insert, but don't want to if it will need removed later when I get my supercharger. Did anyone know if the reduce airflow?

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[Jeeperjamie]

They definitely reduce airflow, by how much is anybody's guess.

 

[dcmdon]

That's a good thing in Indiana winters.

Maybe its a seasonal thing.

 

[GrubbyBaja]

Anything other than nothing will impede air flow. Probably won't affect cooling much under normal driving conditions but problems could arise during high ambient temps, altitude, gross weight, towing, etc.; especially if you throw a supercharger w/intercooler under the hood.

 

[Jerry C]

I'd like to get an American flag insert, but don't want to if it will need removed later when I get my supercharger. Did anyone know if the reduce airflow?

Yes it will reduce air flow. If someone would send me a small piece ( 6in by 6in ) I will put on my flow bench and post what % it reduces air flow.

 

[Bonanza]

Yep. Further, it could create an imbalance in the intricately designed areas of high and low pressure under the hood. Jeep engineers, for instance, but the fender vent in the newest models to alleviate the hood flutter that comes from the high pressure under hood. I doubt it will make much of a difference, but there will certainly be -some- difference.

 

[Josh00333]

2nd issue, will it effect the ability in insert the SC cooler? Not sure how the inserts mount in or how thick they are?

 

[Jerry C]

2nd issue, will it effect the ability in insert the SC cooler? Not sure how the inserts mount in or how thick they are?

My wife has a grill insert on her Sahara. It is not a matter of thickness it is a matter of area that is reduced by the size of the holes in it. Just by looking I would guess at least a 35% or 40% air reduction. No big deal for a stock engine but for a SC with inter cooler engine, not so good.

 

[Jerry C]

It was a big deal for me on my JK. The fan was running constantly when offroad in 4 low. I took it off and threw it away. Lesson learned.

Send me a piece of it and let me measure the flow reduction.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

After reading all of the stuff the engineers went through to get Jeep to approve the changes they did get approved, and the stuff that wasn't approved, just to get the tow ratings and such, I'm extremely careful about what I decide to put up front. These operate on the edge as it is if you are towing their max capacity in certain conditions. There's a reason the grill on these differs from other Jeeps and they have 240 amp alternators and higher wattage fans with the tow package.

If you don't tow you may not care but get it working hard in the rocks on a hot day......

 

[MrZappo]

My wife has a grill insert on her Sahara. It is not a matter of thickness it is a matter of area that is reduced by the size of the holes in it. Just by looking I would guess at least a 35% or 40% air reduction. No big deal for a stock engine but for a SC with inter cooler engine, not so good.

40% reduction in air flow ? Not a big deal ?

I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that is not a reasoblnable conclusion.

Change anything in a mechanical device by 40% and expect it to be no big deal ? Nope.

Especially cooling.

Not a mechanic, no data to cite, and I could be wrong. But I'm an engineer and this simply sounds way off.

I'd never mess with airflow. In any way on any engine. It was designed as it is for a reason.

If you live in the Arctic, please ignore my statements.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

40% reduction in air flow ? Not a big deal ?

I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that is not a reasoblnable conclusion.

Change anything in a mechanical device by 40% and expect it to be no big deal ? Nope.

Especially cooling.

Not a mechanic, no data to cite, and I could be wrong. But I'm an engineer and this simply sounds way off.

I'd never mess with airflow. In any way on any engine. It was designed as it is for a reason.

If you live in the Arctic, please ignore my statements.

If you've watched some of the wind tunnel with smoke videos, the air going through the engine bay is carefully calculated and routed in SOME vehicles. There are some where it's directed to under the vehicle for very specific reasons.

 

[Jerry C]

40% reduction in air flow ? Not a big deal ?

I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that is not a reasoblnable conclusion.

Change anything in a mechanical device by 40% and expect it to be no big deal ? Nope.

Especially cooling.

Not a mechanic, no data to cite, and I could be wrong. But I'm an engineer and this simply sounds way off.

I'd never mess with airflow. In any way on any engine. It was designed as it is for a reason.

If you live in the Arctic, please ignore my statements.

The 35 or 40% I was speaking of is only a guess based on the visual of the restriction. The only way to know for sure is with good data from measuring the air flow. I do have the capability to do the measurement, but I don't have a sample. What I do know is there are a lot of jeeps running around here with the inserts. I did not notice any temp increase after the insert was added on my wife's JL Hers is stock and only runs on easy trails.

 

[MrZappo]

The 35 or 40% I was speaking of is only a guess based on the visual of the restriction. The only way to know for sure is with good data from measuring the air flow. I do have the capability to do the measurement, but I don't have a sample. What I do know is there are a lot of jeeps running around here with the inserts. I did not notice any temp increase after the insert was added on my wife's JL Hers is stock and only runs on easy trails.

Reduced airflow = reduced cooling thresholds and capacity.

If there was not an engine temp increase, that the OAT outside air temp was low enough to still stay ahead of the engine cooling requirements.

All good. Until the threshold is crossed and the temp begins to climb.

The jeep has a good cooling system with a lot of "headroom" and likely masks the effect of the reduced airflow. Until it can't.

It likely can in Colorado in the spring. I'd be very surprised if it still could in Arizona in July.

People do a lot of stuff. Most don't understand the ramifications of said changes.

As I said. If you live in a cold place, have at it.

 

[Jerry C]

Reduced airflow = reduced cooling thresholds and capacity.

If there was not an engine temp increase, that the OAT outside air temp was low enough to still stay ahead of the engine cooling requirements.

All good. Until the threshold is crossed and the temp begins to climb.

The jeep has a good cooling system with a lot of "headroom" and likely masks the effect of the reduced airflow. Until it can't.

It likely can in Colorado in the spring. I'd be very surprised if it still could in Arizona in July.

People do a lot of stuff. Most don't understand the ramifications of said changes.

As I said. If you live in a cold place, have at it.

I agree to all that. I will not put one in mine either.

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