Bugs on Radiator

[ORRadtech]

This whole thing seems to me like a solution looking for a problem.
In fact I'd argue that placing a screen of any sort in front of the radiator is actually blocking more are flow than a few dead insects ever could. Put a fan behind a window screen then remove the screen, you'll feel a noticeable difference.
In my 50+ years of owning and driving I have never had an overheating incident or significant damage from road debris or insect clogging and I've had several vehicles well exceed 200k miles.
I just don't see the point...

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[lacanteen]

The same way you stop them from sticking to the car: Spray wax

 

[ice445]

The bugs can't even get to the radiator, the A/C condenser is in the way

(well this is mostly true, every so often one will make it around or through the condenser fins, but it's a non issue).

 

[raptor17GT]

a/c condenser only covers so much of the coolant radiator and while bugs might not cause much damage the stones that use the same route will break away the cooling fins and can easily break a radiator pipe.

 

[ice445]

a/c condenser only covers so much of the coolant radiator and while bugs might not cause much damage the stones that use the same route will break away the cooling fins and can easily break a radiator pipe.

The simplest fix for stones is to just use a good following distance. I leave a truck sized gap between me and the next car.

 

[Cobra Jet]

The bugs can't even get to the radiator, the A/C condenser is in the way

(well this is mostly true, every so often one will make it around or through the condenser fins, but it's a non issue).

I was going to post the same. For some reason folks think the first thing they see through a forward facing grille is a radiator, when in fact it's the A/C condenser.

Looking through my upper grille, I have an impact point on my A/C condenser which has dented one of the core rows in by at least 1/8". But I also drive 500+ miles a week on rural open roads and some highway. Could have been a stone, a large bug or an Oompa Loompa for all I know...No issues with A/C at all as far as any leaks from that dent, so the units can take a hit.

Aside from bugs - on my prior 2016 S550, I had a mushed bat in my upper grille (from rural route)...

 

[raptor17GT]

The simplest fix for stones is to just use a good following distance. I leave a truck sized gap between me and the next car.

aye, the simplest fix for stones is to leave the car at home and then no worries. In the real world, if you are stuck behind a slower car on a single lane carriageway and you want to overtake, leaving a 60foot is a fair amount of space to use up to overtake a camper van. Or you could put a mesh / radiator guard in front of the fins. You have your method, others have their own methods. It's a fine world out there, let us enjoy it.

 

[Vlad Soare]

The simplest fix for stones is to just use a good following distance. I leave a truck sized gap between me and the next car.

Easier said than done, sadly.

 

[Robottrainer]

This whole thing seems to me like a solution looking for a problem.
In fact I'd argue that placing a screen of any sort in front of the radiator is actually blocking more are flow than a few dead insects ever could. Put a fan behind a window screen then remove the screen, you'll feel a noticeable difference.
In my 50+ years of owning and driving I have never had an overheating incident or significant damage from road debris or insect clogging and I've had several vehicles well exceed 200k miles.
I just don't see the point...

I agree especially if you have a supercharger with a heat exchanger. The screen plugged with insects might be a problem. Pull the cover and use a soft brush to clean the fins

 

[FreePenguin]

not like you cant just fix the fins with a comb if you bend them

 

[ice445]

Easier said than done, sadly.

It adds up over time, obviously you can't always have an ideal following distance. But the difference in condenser fins between a car that is always tailgating people versus someone who follows safely when they can is staggering after 5 years.

 

[thunderstrike]

I-70 Rocky Mountain

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