Dmax grill cover?

[Bigsky]

Hi Guys,

I've got a new Sierra 2500HD Dmax on order and was wondering if anyone had any experience with the grill/bumper covers that come with the dmax? Do you need them and if so when? Thanks and reading this forum helped a lot when deciding on my vehicle!!!

Thanks again,

Bigsky

[Shaners]

Welcome to the forum!!!

 

Hopefully one of the Dmax owners can answer your question.  I live in Western PA, and I don't recall ever seeing a Dmax with the grill cover on it.  Maybe it doesn't get cold enough here...

 

I guess as long as the engine is making a sufficient amount of heat while driving it, then you are OK.

[Colorado Kid]

I believe the Diesel SUplement to the Owner's Manual says to use the cover when the temperatures are below about 20*F.  Mine is still neatly folded under the back seat, where I put it the day I got the truck last Feburary.  My truck wams up nicely without it, but that may be because, living in a very small town, I go at least 20 miles on the highway if I go anywhere.  I'd say that at 10*F the D-max goes about 1 mile farther than the old 4.3L to reach normal operating temperature.  Sometimes on a long downgrade at low temps the engine will cool below normal temp, but it comes right back up on the next upgrade.

[Bigsky]

I appreciate all the input I can get. It is 16 degrees below zero as I write this, up here in the mountains. And Thanks to Howard (Thank you Howard) I found out my truck was born on the 6th of this month and should arrive on the 22nd. More than likely it will be colder by then. BRRRRRRRRRR

[Roofer]

I use the grille cover when it is below 30F. I don't use the bumper cover because it's kinda tough to get on and it holds alot of salt and sand against the shiny new bumper. I park in my garage at night and run the truck about every 2-3 hours for work during the day. If I left it all day and night outside alot, I would change the oil out to synthetic. I run 15W-40 Rotella now and no problems starting, but it hasn't gotten below zero for any start ups for me yet. I also get the Arctic fuel when it is available and below freezing.

 

Hope this helps

[4x4man]

I have not noticed a difference in warm up temp with the grill cover on or off.  We had a minor cold snap a few weeks ago and it was in the 20's and 30's so I decided to put the grill cover on to see what difference there was.  I didn't notice the DMAX warm up any faster.  The one thing I did notice was that it didn't have the wild temp swings when warming up.  The DMAX has two thermostats and so I would see around 200 or so, then it would drop down to like 160 and slowly climb back up again.  With the grill cover on it went to operating temp pretty much in the same amount of time, but stayed there..  Then the warm weather hit so I have folded the cover and haven't used it since.  Last week it was in the upper 60's here in Colorado, it's like we went from Summer to Spring.  But this morning it was 10 degrees when I went to work and the mighty DMAX again heated up just as any other morning....  By the way I will not use the bumper cover at all, I have also heard that it can hold gravel and stuff and cause pitting and rusting of the bumper.  No thanks....

Sorry for the long winded reply....

 

Bob

[Richardv]

how about the nice grille covers I see on some GMC Yukons? Are these factory?

 

-Richard

[bluesbiker]

We should be using our winter covers any day now up here in Buffalo!

[BlownChevelle]

Helps only a little when temps drop below 30 degrees.

[Machine]

Nice, a 4 year old thread resurrected.

 

I've never used the cover, and S. Dakota winters can be brutal. I do, however, plug it in at night if its a hard freeze.

[DownhomeVA]

I'm not really sure what a grille cover is...but i'd like to know!

 

my question is only somewhat related, but i wasn't sure where else to post it...

anybody know of any good websites that sell chrome grilles for chevy trucks?

i don't like the black plastic factory grille on my 02 2500hd.... i would like to get a nice chrome one.

 

how easy are they to install?

[Shaners]

In my first reply I ownes a 6.0L, but now I have a Dmax and the factory cover was a bargain price... I've never used the lower portion, but I use the top portion once the temp starts to get cold. I think it helps the motor warm up a little faster, and definatly helps the motor maintain good operating temps at highway speeds in the middle of winter.

[Duramax911]

I purchased my 2004 Silverado used and it did not come with a grill cover. I purchased one off ebay and used it for the better part of last winter.

 

Living in Western MA where the winters can be quite harsh, I noticed a significant cut back in warm up time, just by putting the grill cover on. I would highly encourage using it