What's the point of a grill cover?

The engine performs best within a certain temp range. Better fuel mileage, etc. When it is cold, this helps keep the engine temp higher.

 

Higher radiator temp means heater works a lil better also.

 

Too many put them on when they're not really needed (especially with the newer trucks) and don't take them off when they should. Driving new trucks, I won't mess with them. If it gets that cold, I probably missed my turn and ended up way too far north.

 

older trucks needed them sometimes when running in frigid temps so driver would not freeze and them huge teeth would scare many so they move out of the way.

 

Helps make your Weber last longer, and look good in the spring when barbecue season begins.

Oh! Winter front, sorry - just read the title.

 

My truck is 2018, only 40,000mi on her now. She will not blow even remotely warm air at idle in a Canadian winter without a winter front. After idling 6 hours, I woke up frozen and the water temp gauge wasn’t registering any temp.

Even driving in blowing wind and snow, below 0°F my water temp is dropping, and with it, the inside temperature of the cab (and fuel mileage, and probably lots of other crap).

Edit: I should add that this doesn’t mean I jam cardboard behind the grill, or use bungees to secure garbage from the truck stop parking lot to the hood. I bought a quilted leather, paint colour matched winter front with zippers to adjust the opening and 3m backed snaps for my last truck for $150 at the Peterbilt dealer. Seemed downright reasonable considering how shabby the trash-mobiles look.

 

Yes. That's another thing. If you have to warm during breaks with idling, then they're much more necessary during severe cold than if you don't need to worry about long term idling temps and have an APU or Webasto bunk heater

We have APUs and trucks won't idle yet some guys run the winter fronts all winter long. Severe cold or mild winter temps.

 

Really? Cummins or Paccar? At 30 below my DD15 stays at a good temp and the cab stays toasty warm. I don't have a winter front.