Newbie question, this is my first winter with a diesel.
I work nights and only live about 10 miles from work. My truck never gets up to normal temp. It about in the 40's at night and its seems like I'm starting to get worse gas mileage. Will a winter cover be ok to help get the truck warmer so the heater will work better and get my gas mileage back up.
Thanks

I'm up in Alberta Canada, and put a winter front on mine. The difference is minimal, more minimal at warm up in the driveway. I believe the most effect it has is at Highway speed obviously blocking the rush of air to the rad. Mine though, even in the coldest temps like -30 Celsius will achieve normal running temp within just a few miles of driving. I warm it up for at least 15-20 mins and am getting warm air out the heater, enough to melt frost of the windshield and make the cab comfortable to sit in. I would think you should be warming up fine with in 10 miles. Is that Highway or city mileage?

I did have an air issue recently after a leaky hose. Dealer replaced the bottom hose and it came back with a leaking Heater Hose.. their clamp was crap. So I replaced it with a gear clamp, and then ended up installing a T Flush kit in the inlet heater hose (Hose toward the drivers side as it enters the Heater Core). I got a clear one so I could see the air travel. I let it run with the T valve open and ran a hose from it into the resevior purging air out of the system. With air I was getting a wandering Temp gauge, sometimes engine would not heat up, then it would pop up to normal, then back down while driving at highway speed., and at times would not get heat in the cab. I did change the thermostats just to rule them out, but in the end it was the air in the system. Seems fine now.

Part of the reason I put the winter front on was to save the grill from winter road sand etc.
Cheers

I use a winter front on mine all winter. I have run it with temps up into the 60s w/o a problem. It really helps mine warm up faster and stay warm.

Find some reason to do a 50 mile run with some power on once every couple of weeks might help.

Longer idle warmup than just a couple of minutes will just drop your mileage more.

These engines really suck up the fuel til they're warmed up, and are not ideal for short commutes, especially in winter.

40 is a bit on the high side for regular use of block heater, but any lower, I'd plug it in overnight, preferably on a timer that gives you a couple of hours pre-heat.

Thanks for the help. The truck will warm up but its almost when I pull in my neighborhood then I shut it off. I know this cant be good for it. I will start letting her warm up for 10 min see if that helps. Maybe try the winter front also.

i kinda have the same issue, i only live 1 mile from work, my truck never gets to operating temp..usually only on weekends when i ride around town.

Same here Im only about a mile from where I work, and it never gets to operating temps. I let it warm up for 10-15 min before I leave. I've had the front cover on since the middle of November, it seems to help a little.

Do you have to have the bottom piece that goes on the whole bumper to make it a significant difference? I just put it on the grill which helps some and just left out the whole ugly bumber cover.

This is the first year I have put on the bumper cover. It doesn't fit very well but does make a difference on how fast the truck warms up.

I have not used the bumper cover yet I have had my truck for 2 1/2 years. I want to wait until it get below 32 F or -10 C for us living in Canada. I hope this will help with the warm up. My truck sucks back the fuel in the winter as well. Do you use the fast idle?

I leave my elevated Idle on through out the winter, heck it decides when it is needed anyways. I don't have a bumper cover for mine, after seeing these posts I may go look for one now.
Cheers

I put mine on and my eng. temp warning went off after driving about 10 miles and the temp out side was around 38'

I use the grill cover and then just wait till the high idle comes down then i go. It warms up pretty quick after that. My fuel mileage always suffers a bit in the winter and i wouldn't take anything for my heated seats..

I put mine on and my eng. temp warning went off after driving about 10 miles and the temp out side was around 38'

!!!! Is that with the bumper cover? I've never used the bumper cover, just the grill cover and I've driven with it in the 40's and never had any OH issues.

I try to use the elevated idle as little as possible since it does suck alot of fuel. Block heater helps alot.

Yes, i do and i believe most people would agree to have the fast idle on to get a faster warm up time.

ok i have searched and searched but this seems the best place to put this...

Those of you that did not have your winter covers come with the truck, where did you buy them??

I'm looking for a grill cover that fits an '05 and i heard of gm parts direct but don't know the part number, and i've tried the dealer and they will sell me one for $95 but im looking for something cheaper. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Mostly ebay or on here.. I actually bought my truck used and the original owner must have had it in his garage and I couldnt even buy one from gm at that time, no idea why.

Ive got an LB7 with electric cooling fans, i just put them on and havnt quit got them dialed in yet, cause it got cold. But anything under 40 degrees unless my tune is all the way up and my foot is through the floor board, I dont see running temp. Ive driven 50 miles 75mph cruise and only run about 185-190 below 40 degrees outside, and thats without the fans running at all. Shell idle 20 minutes with the heat off so the fans arnt running and still wont have come off of 160 on the tach. I havnt put the cover on yet im waiting for the weather to clear up a few days so i can clean it up good before i do it.

Does anybody have any ideas, my only issue with the cover is my tranny is well, ready to let Mr. Fleece work his magic to say the least,(stinkin WS6, i had him too) so she likes to get warm if there is somone to be stomped. Obviously I have a conflict of interest between Dirty and his sister allison, they are not seein eye to eye.

Anything would be great, cause my wallet hurts from my 6-8 mile loss in mileage. Thanks

ok i have searched and searched but this seems the best place to put this...

Those of you that did not have your winter covers come with the truck, where did you buy them??

I'm looking for a grill cover that fits an '05 and i heard of gm parts direct but don't know the part number, and i've tried the dealer and they will sell me one for $95 but im looking for something cheaper. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

I got mine at Pinegar Chevrolet in Republic mo. for 65$

I Run Mine All Winter.. Not Sure If It Helps!! Truck Never Runs Much Over 150 F , Even After A Long Drive..

Arm

ebay 35 bucks Brand new in sealed Package! what a steal!

Just put mine on Dec 1st. I was not enjoying my truck never getting up to normal temp. I could drive 25 miles to work drive in to the parking lot and park within 1 min high idle was kicking on to try and warm it up. Tranny temp would never budge off of the lowest mark. Put the winter cover on and now it runs close to normal. still a bit on the low side but alot better and tranny temp right where I would like it. Best 50 bucks I could have spent. we also had one day last week that it got up to almost 60 and I didnt have any trouble with the cover still on.

id put it on and try it

I put the grill cover on...works great.won't use the bumper cover due to salt and dirt never washing out, even at the quarter car wash...