[Vwdiesel] winter fronts

[Harmon Seaver]

On Sun, Feb 16, 2003 at 09:16:52PM -0600, James Hansen wrote:

  (snip)

>
> When computer controlled diesels came out in Semi-trailer trucks, they
> didn't want to have winter fronts any more, and manufacturers insisted that
> you needed the airflow throught the engine compartment.  I've been out of
> touch for a while, but I see an awful lot of newer trucks running storm
> fronts again- the air to air intercoolers get frosted up elements if
> conditions are right (high humidity), and totally block airflow, causing
> engine heating. (this is on the outside not the inside) So now a lot of
> truckers run them again, but mostly open, to keep the intercooler cool, but
> not frozen up and the engine from overheating as a result.  A good number
> don't run anything either, but a buddy has lost his coolant due to hoar
> frost on the intercooler, hence the storm front.  Storm front keeps the
> entire engine compartment warmer too- which the cab is behind and keeps your
> feet correspondingly warmer.

   Ah, now that makes sense.

>
> In my Jetta, at -40, turning the heater fan on high makes the engine heat
> drop. There is just too much heat lost to air in the engine compartment if
> you don't have something over the grill at the very least. In fact, in the
> winter, I disconnect the low speed side of the rad fan, so it doesn't run
> when the defrost is on. Engine then runs much closer to normal that way;
> when the fan is on at -30 to -40, it cools off to half of indicated value.
>
> You better buy a cat Harmon ;)

   I'd really like to get a crawler again, at least a small one, just for the
heck of it. Something like an OC-4 diesel or maybe one of the older JD diesels
like a 2010 or 440. Down here in farm country, however, they want ridiculous
prices for crawlers, often 2-3 times as much as what they sell for in the
northwoods. Scarcity, I guess.
   Or did you mean the furry kind? I've got way too many of those. Two in the
house, one in the greenhouse and another that alternates between the house and
the greenhouse, and two more really sweet feral ladies that have taken up
permanent residence on the front porch where we keep a bin feeder for
strays. Had another one too but he got killed last year when some wild tom
chased him into the road. Sometimes I think I should change my name to
Katmandu.


--
Harmon Seaver
CyberShamanix
http://www.cybershamanix.com