How many folks use a winter cover on the old Dmax? and at what temp do you use it? Thanx, Brian http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley1.gif

I use mine when its cold outhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gif


Usually at daytime high temps below 40 i keep mine on.. Stays there all winter

Me too when the day time Temps stay at or near freezing ,I snap it on.If the temps get up to 40+ I fold and tuck in the corners for more airflow.





Mac

thanks for the reminder ... need to look for mine, don't really know where it is http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley5.gif ... last winter had the truck in single digit temps and have never put it on http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley18.gif


Jim

Mine is on now. It got cold out and the upper winter cover goes on. I don't bother with the lower. I took it off and put in on once. Too much pain for too little gain.


I won't take it off until it gets above 60 and stays there. Or, I tow.

Mine is on now and will stay until spring. Like Mackin, just fold the corners back if it gets real warm out and keep an eye on the gauges.. An added bonus for people like us, in the salt belt, it keeps the road salt spray out of the engine compartment keeping it dry and clean thus reducing corrosion in that area.

I'll add I don't use the bumper cover either, just the grill.

I'll add I don't use the bumper cover either, just the grill.








That's how I do it too - I don't usually add the winter front until there is sustained temps below 20°F

I install mine near 32 Deg. You can fold the entire ends in about two inches, (up to the snaps), and tuck them in if a little more air flow is needed. The cold front sure helps the tranny fluid warm up sooner also. I would never tow with it on though, because of the tranny cooler.


As for the bumper cover, I think I'll pass on that this winter. It should be called a "salt catcher", because it does a good job at that near the wheels.Edited by: modified

never used mine yet . . . . still in the bag, under the back seat . . .

Mine went on this week when high temps dropped to around 40. Will stay on unless temp goes above 60. I do not use the bumper cover, just the grill cover, but may install it all for this winter. The grill cover alone makes a huge difference in winter warmup and also fuel economy.

Just finished wrestling with the bumper and grill covers for the first time myself. Intend to use them until temps go back above 40f (next spring).


Only used it for a couple of days, but so far am very impressed with how the truck warms up much better in the cold.


BTW, I bought my truck used, and it did not come with a cover. I was fortunate that a forum member from the South sent me his for the cost of shipping. Man, I love this website!

I have been thinking of putting mine on now that the daytime highs have dropped down to the mid 70's and low 80's. Just hope it isn't too stiff to put on during this cold snap. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gif

Mine is on now. It got cold out and the upper winter cover goes on. I don't bother with the lower. I took it off and put in on once. Too much pain for too little gain.


I won't take it off until it gets above 60 and stays there. Or, I tow.





sO IF YOU TOW IN WINTTER TIME TAKE IT OFF?

If any one has a grille and bumper cover that they don't use pm me with a price, I bought my truck used as well and didn't get one with it. Temps are getting down below 32 and I should look at getting one. Thanks

Mine is on now. It got cold out and the upper winter cover goes on. I don't bother with the lower. I took it off and put in on once. Too much pain for too little gain.


I won't take it off until it gets above 60 and stays there. Or, I tow.





sO IF YOU TOW IN WINTTER TIME TAKE IT OFF?








Yes, you have to.


Basically, you can get away with covering up the airflow to the radiator and trans cooler in an unloaded truck in the cold weather. But when towing, the loads on the engine and trans are higher and that heat has to be disapated.


For example, my trans temp will run about 140 deg in the cold weather with the cover on. At the same ambient temps with the cover off, the trans temp will not go above 105-110.


That's why GM says to remove winter cover when towing.

I got my truck in March 2003. I didn't use it the remainder of that winter season, as I didn't drive the truck any more than I had to when the weather was crappy. But going into Nov-Dec 2003 after reading all the stuff on this board, I decided to install the grill cover (the bumper cover looks like a pita to put on). It does make a difference. Matter of fact I drive 13 miles into work and it was about 25 degrees this morning and I noticed that the truck wasn't running up to normal operating temperature.

Thanx Guys for the info, Brianhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley1.gif

i didnt like the factory one so i got a nice polished aluminum winter grille insert, its on for the winter season now, unless it goes above 60 degrees it will stay on till spring since i'm to lazy to take it on and off all the time and the truck and tranny stay plenty cool. i even leave mine on towing in the winter, of course the only time i tow in the winter is to go snowmobiling so its usually well into the 20's and the truck still stays pleny cool,and the tranny never goes over 150ish pulling a 7x14 enclosed trailer. honestly the highest my tranny ever got was when i was not towing,and in city traffic with the air conditioning on in the summer about 95 degrees out then it got over 160ish. i guess if it was going to pull a bigger trailer then i would pull the cover off, but this truck doesnt even really notice the trailer behind it

I run mine on the 6.5TD when it would get to be below 45-50* on a daily bases. I still have to get one for the Duramax, I just need to decide which on to get.





Greg

Thanx Again, Brian

Does anyone know where I could purchase a winter cover (factory or aftermarket) for a 2001 Chevy Duramax?

talk to max power. shoot him a PM. cloud rider is what he has and they are very nice. Or try buying a used factory from someone that bought a cool man bling bling cover from him

Cjr1973 this is were I got my grill cover fits great http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/horizontal-pod.jhtml?id=0005914&navAction=push&navCount=3&indexId=cat20135&parentId=cat20135&parentType=index&rid=&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fcatalog%2Fpod-link.jhtml_A&_DAV=MainCatcat21412

Man you all need to move to a warmer area...:ro) ....40's for a daytime high???...Salting the roadways?:eek: I put on my winter front but the center is cut out and I stitched in a bug screen.... Now you all know I am just messin with you. Today was a clean sunny day in the high 60's.....tonight might hit low 40's...Brrrrrrrrr:D

Everybody have a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving......

Yup,

Living in the southwest sucks. I may have to wear a shirt boating in Lake Havasu this weekend...honestly though, I will start keeping my ears open arount here for some covers. I bought my 03 used, so I don't have an extra. Whatever I can find, you guys are welcome to. Will keep u posted.

I take mine off and put it on depending on the weather. Around here, the winter weather fluctuates between lows below 0 and highs in the 50's. Can't just leave it on for that. When I go skiing, I usually take it off for the drive up because it is a steep hill where I've seen 190 on the tranny with the cover on. For the drive home, I put it back on because the engine won't get above 100 with out the cover.

Whats the OEM cover look like compared to the one from Cabela's?

Greg

I just put my grill cover on the truck on Monday, of course I waited until the weather was miserable before putting it on. The bumper cover will stay in the bag, I didn't see much use in putting it on, besides my hands were getting cold. The temperature has been dropping to 12F overnight, no problems starting the truck yet without having the block heater plugged in. I am interested in seeing how cold it will take before the truck will not start.

Guess its time for me to break mine out.:(
Going to try just running with the grill cover this year.
We'll see how that works out.

It's been pretty warm here in Ohio, but this morning it's in the 20's with a dusting of snow and highs are going to be in the 30's. I'm about to install my grill cover only for the fourth Winter in a row. I've never used the bumper cover - too much work for only covering a couple of slots in the front and it is notorious for trapping salt and grime and rusting the front bumper.

A little installation tip:
I usually pop my grille cover into the dryer for a minute or two - just enough to get it nice and warm - and then hippity hop to the garage and snap it on. It smooths out real nicely and then cools down and tightens up nice and snug!

I got a 01-02 GMC full set... brand new.

Who wants it?

I'll take it Hoot!

Do the GMC's and Chev's use the same one?

What is the best winter cover to BUY? and were to buy it? Thanx Brian :confused:

Cloud Rider.... On or off in a minute or less and looks great.

They are stainless steel in either black powder coated or polished finishes. You can get them from Max Power here or factory direct. Some folks think the Lund maybe the same thing, but I can't say about that since I've not seen a stainless Lund.

The Lexan Lund is a piece of crap though, I've tried one of those.

Got mine coming from Max Power and his prices are better than the Cloudrider website.
He responds quickly and it sounds like mine will be in next week.
I'll be glad to get it cause its getting cold here.
Blake

Dittos...

I also purchased my Cloud-Rider (http://community.webshots.com/photo/63497470/103356739mpWojf) from Max-Power ... excellent!

(pics of Cloud-Rider parts & mounting H/W (http://community.webshots.com/album/63497470OVEkww))

:)

I put mine on when the temps fall below 30. Its on right now till the end of winter. BTW, all of you who live in the southwestern part of the usa, I spent twenty years out in AZ, I dont regret coming home here to MN one bit! love the cold hate the heat, cant stand temps above forty deg.

I install my grill cover as soon as the temp's are steady below 30 degrees. I don't use the bumper cover. The first winter I had the truck, I left it on for about 6 weeks before removing it to wash it out. Found that the salt had collected in the crevices of the bumper and started pitting, that quick! Dealer said SOL on the corrosion because it was due to the owner not cleaning the truck properly. Then last winter really f.u.b.a.r'd the bumper. Now I need a new bumper. :-( On a 2 year old truck!

Just put a Lund on mine grill and looks good!! Black and comes 3 pieces on the top and 3 on the bottom it's simple to put on. Hope it works fine. Brian :)

I had to take my grill cover back off last week just two days after I put it on... I set a P0181 code and lite up the SES light when I used it and the block heater at the same time.. :(
With a 10 mile commute to work, I don't get heat until I turn into the parking lot at the office... Did a search and it looks like it is common to set this code when you use the block heater and use the front cover. What a bummer...

It is 13 degrees out...I run the high idle for 15-20 minutes and i have heat leaving my driveway..and it opens the thermostat after a mile or two..that wintercover is a waste, you don't need it if you properly warm your truck up.

I only run the grill cover. With my custom bumper and skid plate there is little added air flow. My outside temp gauge reads high but my engine still won't get to 195 unless cruising highway at 70+. I need to relocate to get a good air temp. I tow with it on but I don't have to worry about blocking air flow to my trans cooler. I'm cold blooded. When it gets below zero I plug it in in the garage!!!

I have the lund that is 6 pieces. I have modified the mounting hardware where I can take parts on and off quickly. We get too much temp swing to leave it on all the time. I like to have at lease some of it on when in the 40's and all below 30 to warm it up. Taking parts off is just like tucking in the OEM. I went up to KC over Thanksgiving and the truck wouldn't get much above 180 according to the Juice and that was with 2/3 of it on. I put it on because the trans was not above 100 when running at 70. I got to 135-140 with the two center parts on.

i got my cloud rider from max power also, very decent guy!

I have my stock grille covers for my '03 GMC, was on the truck once,perfect shape, will sell cheap if anyone needs them.

as for the guy setting codes, what was the code?? i use my block heater at night, and grille cover all winter, never set a light, how would the truck know the grille cover is on anyway??

a Diesel place member was kind enough to send me his that he doesn't use. Brand new but it is for an 02 and my truck is an 01. I don't know if it will fit with a few mods or not. If someone in a warmer climate would part with one for an 01 it would be much appreciated. If I can get one for my truck I will gladly give this one to who ever can use it. Its about -10c and snowing like crazy here right now.

The 02 and 01 will be the same.

gsxr-

I set the p0181 code. It is a fuel temperature performace code and from what I have read can set falsly when using the grill cover and block heater. The code can set if 1). Fuel Temp and Engine Coolant Temp are more than 18 Deg F of each other at startup. And 2). Intake Air Temp less than 10 Deg F after running more than 400 seconds >15 MPH.
As I understand it, there is a reflash for this, but I haven't dug further into it. I just cleared the code and moved on. So for my truck, it is a one or the other thing...

i still dont see why the grille cover/block heater would help trip that code falsly.

i would think the cover might actually help not set the code since item #2 would be helped by the cover since the intercooler would not grab as much cold air in sub zero weather thus raising air intake temp??? i can tell you that the 18 degree + diff from fuel to coolant happens any time you re-start your truck after its been running at operating temp, or anytime you would plug the truck in at first startup. very odd code...

I have plugged in my truck overnight with the cover on? never set a code on my 03??? Wierd. Any techs have any insight on this one???

I agree with you, but this code has a lot of history of falsly setting itself when the grill cover is on and you use the block heater, both on here and on the "page". I think I read the reflash for this came out somewhere around 12/02 or shortly after. My truck was built 10/25/02 and obviously doesn't have this flash, maybe yours was built later than mine and already has this update installed and that is why you do not encounter this?? I will probably make an appt for the flash near the end of the month...I would imagine I could set this code at will if I wanted to.

Here is the thread that had the best description of what is going on with this silly code:
http://dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11788&highlight=p0181

ahhh, you left out the part about it needing to be NOT running for 10 hours and then see a 18+ degree difference in temps, now the block heater part makes sense. I dont think the cover has anything to do with your codes IMO, just the block heater and old programming! good luck!

Sorry 'bout that, thought I got all the details. Yeah I still don't understand how the grill cover makes any difference in this at all. I have been using the block heater for the past couple of weeks without any problems. Maybe I will put the grill cover back on tonight and see if the SES light comes back on tomorrow morning. Either way I need to have this flash performed so I don't have to stare at the SES light when this happens!

I bought my 2001 duramax used. Don't think I have one. Where do you get them.
It was 24 degrees this morning.