Winter Front: Do You Use One?

Hello! The cold weather will be upon us soon. I wanted to ask the experienced hands on here whether or not they run a winter front. I have never ran one on my Freightliner Cascadia or my Columbia before it. I have noticed pictures of K100’s with them on, though. Like I mentioned in an earlier post, all indications point to them being rather cold blooded. I don’t think I’ve ever seen mine go over 200 degrees, even pulling my conestoga. So, do you guys run winter fronts? Do you run one on your cabover? How do I know if I need one? For reference my Kenworth is a 2000 K100 with an N14 Cummins. I do run the Midwest and New England in winter time. Thanks for chiming in.

-Josh

 

Never have ran one or needed one

You will know if you need one if you’re freezing in the cab
Also. I’ve seen some guys with the entire grill buttoned up. I’m not 100% certain but I think you need some flow otherwise you restrict your engine sorta like putting your hand over the end of a vacuum hose
The motor needs to draw air from somewhere

I know people would do that to their cars in the winter and have always heard to leave some opening

 

I had a Cummins in an 89 Pete that needed a winter front. My 96 Series 60 in my 2015 389 hasn’t needed one yet. I don’t run north of Indiana so I generally don’t see too much extreme weather.

 

I used to run one on the 2001 Cornbinder going into Calgary from Idaho and South Dakota, she had a hard time staying warm below zero. First time I ran up there I begged a trash bag from a restaurant to slip between the wire bug screen and the grill slats. ("A Country Boy Will Survive"). The 680 doesn't seem to need one, but we haven't run north in the winter much with it.

 

Might need a full bra over the front like this to keep yer toes from get'n frost bite.. lol


I put a winter front over my M11 once. It was -3°f & had an empty wagon. Warmed up to about 25°f after loading & the fan come on a couple times so I hit an on ramp & pulled it off..

 

Always ran one with Mechanical Waterjacketed Engine....Newer Air to Air different animal...typically runs warmer to start with and need air flow to intakes of air to air

 

KT Cummins?

 

Cat 425 As&Bs

 

What size rubber do you run?

 

You can block off 1/2 to 2/3 of the radiator and it should be fine.If the temperature outside goes up in the 20's then remove the winter front.
I've used cardboard or a cheap blue tarp and some duct tape in a pinch.Good to -50.