Topic: Cardboard in front of Your Radiator. Winter Driving tip.....

[:)bestgen4runner]

So, About 6 years ago I had to make a trip from Renton Washington to Kimberly Idaho to pick up My new puppy.
The weather had become Arctic conditions at best between here and there. I was mentally prepared for a long slow drive with a pucker factor on the high side but had no clue what I was in for. Cold, I mean COLD! There was a few times when the temps dropped as low as -10 to -20 and with a wind chill of 55MPH (safe driving speed) at some points. I can't imagine how cold it was outside the poor 4Runner on the freeways. 1987 4Runner 22re w56
During the trip I encountered temps and winter conditions I had no experience with.
The first thing I noteiced was the heater can't keep up at those temps. The windshield started to freeze and frost on the outside and the inside. It started to become impossible to see between the buckets of snow coming down the completely white road and the freezing windshield. It got to the point of completely unsafe so I had to pull off the freeway to figure something out.
The snow was so deep and coming down so fast that once I pulled off the freeway, I had to get out lock the hubs in just to make it up the off ramp. We are talking there was no tracks on the off ramp for a I90 exit. Yeh it was coming down.
So, first place I come to is a little run down gas station. Well lets fill up and figure out a plan.
Next thing I learned  apparently when it gets this kind of cold out people don't shut the vehicle off when they gas up. OK! Sounds good to me.
I go inside and tell the cashier what its like out side (snomagedin), where I am going (a galaxy far far away), and
how Ducked I am (Oh I am Ducked alright). 
He says "city people , Hang on I will find You something"
I am thinking to Myself, What the hell are you going to find?
He comes back with a piece of cardboard? (pizza box to be exact)
Now I am a nice guy but, I strait up said "What the hell is that going to do"
He says "put it in front of your radiator" 
Now that's a good idea. So, I walk out to the 4runner open the drivers door and say to My wife "I have an idea honey, I'm going to put this here pizza box in front of the radiator to block the air. This sound work great" My wife says "Your so smart".
Well Let me tell You what it worked awesome.....
It was still quite the challenge to drive threw the blizzard, But now we had heat and I could see threw the windshield. Thanks Cashier Guy!

So, over the years I have continued to use the cardboard trick when the temps drop even into the 30's and it works great with no negative affects. I have found that as long as the temp is below 50F there is no problem. Temps here fluctuate quite a bit 20's to 50's in the same day can occur. Don't forget to pull it out if the temps go above this or you could cause an overheat condition. 
My 2015 Diesel F350 loves the cardboard trick. Makes a huge difference in how long it takes to warm up, without it I can drive quite a long distance with the engine not warming up. 

[R.DesJardin]

I guess when you grow up on the Right side of Wahington state that's just something that's a given. Winters here time for cardboard, or canvas on the tractors. Never thought of it as a Tech tip. I agree ~50* or less works great.

[300k]

snow?? snow is so over rated. 60s and 70s down here all day

[Gnarly4X]

snow?? snow is so over rated. 60s and 70s down here all day

Every snowbird knows that! 

Gnarls.

[OTO Phil]

I guess I kinda already have something blocking 😂😂😂



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[:)bestgen4runner [OP]]

I guess when you grow up on the Right side of Wahington state that's just something that's a given. Winters here time for cardboard, or canvas on the tractors. Never thought of it as a Tech tip. I agree ~50* or less works great.

Why have you never came over and wheeled with us? 
Local wheeler have to stick together. 

[:)bestgen4runner [OP]]

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1035633

Some solid facts and info I found on this topic. 

[SqWADoosh]

I like how you took credit for the idea when you told the old lady about it 

[blackdiamond]

I am glad the advice is coming from an actual experience in COLD weather.  Cardboard does work, maybe I should try it here in mild western WA.

[300k]

Every snowbird knows that! 

Gnarls.

ok for the record, I spoke WAY too soon. earlier today it was pouring rain and 40 degrees. might wake up to the much hated snow tomorrow.

[mudmaster]

I've known about this for quite a while.........

[H8PVMNT]

That trick works good.  We don't usually need it until it's like -20F but it would help with the heater.  I don't think it's a "city person" thing, it's more where you live.  When we fill anti-freeze we will use one gallon of 50/50 and one of strait anti-freeze so you end up with around a 70/30 mix.  50/50 will slush in the radiator up if it's around -29 with the wind blowing.  Then you overheat, which seems odd .

[Cheesemaker]

Yeah, this trick has been around for a long time.