Grill Cover

[littlebitfarm]

I want to cover up part of the grill to try and up my MPG in the colder weather. My drive to work is short (4 miles) and I barely get the car warmed up enough to go into EV in the mornings. I would like some a little less tacky then a hunk of cardboard or duct tape. So what options are out there and how best to attach them. 

[FoutsNC]

I am sure he will respond before too long, but ptjones has been playing around with a few different concepts.  Check out his gallery to see what he's done.  Also look through his posts to see some of the results that he has has.  You are in a colder area and it might be of even greater benefit for you.

 

http://fordcmaxhybridforum.com/index.php?/user/143-ptjones/

[PWBarrett]

Doesn't the C-Max have an active shutter grill already that takes care of this?

[MikeB]

I think the bottom grill has active shutters, but the middle and top don't.

 

Over in the VW TDI world, I learned to put foam pipe insulation between the slats of the grill in the winter, cut a few pieces to length and just squeeze them in place. As long as they are dark, they tend to disappear at any distance, and the foam survives just fine with wet winter weather. One 6' length cost a couple bucks at the local hardware store, so it's a very cheap solution.

[Chinto]

The C Max has active shutters that close and open automatically to maintain optimum temperature.  THe system closes to speed warm up which so far I think this car warms faster than any car I have ever had.    Adding any kind of grill covers may interfere with that operation.