Unblocking the front grill

kdmorse · 03-22-2007, 10:34 PM

Since temperatures have risen into the 65/70's this week, I pulled out the foam insulation I had put in the front grill to keep the engine warm during the winter. It was just regular pipe insulation, just like most other folks used, squeezed in there tightly.

One segment however tore instead of coming out cleanly, and the bit that remained (about 4 inches long), fell back into the car. Umm... Where did it go?

This bit was in the uppermost slot, right below where the hood opens. A quick look under the car shows it didn't come out the bottom, nor is it visible from above with the hood open. Nor can I find any good way of getting to where it might be. Oops

Any suggestions? Leave it in there? Or perhaps advice as to how best to get at it? I plan on taking a more serious look tomorrow morning, as this evening was dark and it started to rain while I was looking.

Thanks,

-Ken

TheForce · 03-22-2007, 10:57 PM

Its most likely laying on the engine undercover or the inside bottom of the bumper. I would not worry about it. It will most likely fall out while driving.

Bill Merchant · 03-23-2007, 12:46 AM

But then Ken would be littering!

It's probably laying on the black plastic that goes from the bumper to the rear. You may be able to reach it from the bottom, or push it off the ledge through the lower grill. Or just let it ride around in there until it evaporates.

judymcfarland · 03-23-2007, 08:20 AM

One of my foam pieces vanished sometime while I was driving, I assume - I noticed it was missing when I went to plug in the block heater. I took out the others yesterday - the weather was getting warmer and the remaining foam looked silly (like a hockey player with a tooth missing). I kept the survivors as patterns for next year.

JimN · 03-23-2007, 09:53 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(theforce @ Mar 22 2007, 10:57 PM) [snapback]410653[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Its most likely laying on the engine undercover or the inside bottom of the bumper. I would not worry about it. It will most likely fall out while driving.
[/b]

I "lost" my first piece during installation. I immediately noticed that plastic pieces seal off the top and bottom of the radiator so I couldn't retrieve it. Either it fell out somewhere or it is still laying beneath the radiator. I haven't lost any during driving so maybe the compression fit wasn't tight enough.

My top pieces are custom fit so I'll label them upon removal. The next burning question will be, "How long does grill blocking pipe insulation last?"

Frank Hudon · 03-23-2007, 11:24 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimN @ Mar 23 2007, 06:53 PM) [snapback]411293[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

The next burning question will be, "How long does grill blocking pipe insulation last?"
[/b]

I'm on my second winter using the "winter lips" on my Classic

kdmorse · 03-23-2007, 11:52 PM

Well, I looked, and I fished around with my fingers, no luck. It's probably going to sit there for a while

The rest I just tossed. I've nowhere convenient to store that length of pipe insulation without permanently kinking, or flattening it. I think I can afford the $4 to buy new stuff come next winter. And I'll probably do a better job, my first attempt this winter was a bit, imperfectly shaped...

-Ken

kdmorse · 03-25-2007, 07:02 PM

I swear, to the best of my ability - that removing that foam knocked my mileage down. Since removing it I have taken two trips which all winter I would avg 50mpg. This weekend, same trip, 45mpg. So either the foam really does make a difference even when it's 61F out, or any of the million other things that affect mileage affected me unexpectedly. (Temperature, Fog, Traffic, Phase of the moon, what I ate for dinner, etc...)

It's so remarkably hard to tell some times....

-Ken

03-22-2007, 10:34 PM	#1
kdmorse Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Germantown, MD Posts: 197 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Since temperatures have risen into the 65/70's this week, I pulled out the foam insulation I had put in the front grill to keep the engine warm during the winter. It was just regular pipe insulation, just like most other folks used, squeezed in there tightly. One segment however tore instead of coming out cleanly, and the bit that remained (about 4 inches long), fell back into the car. Umm... Where did it go? This bit was in the uppermost slot, right below where the hood opens. A quick look under the car shows it didn't come out the bottom, nor is it visible from above with the hood open. Nor can I find any good way of getting to where it might be. Oops Any suggestions? Leave it in there? Or perhaps advice as to how best to get at it? I plan on taking a more serious look tomorrow morning, as this evening was dark and it started to rain while I was looking. Thanks, -Ken __________________ 2006 Black Package #7 Dark Grey Interior Headlight Flasher EV Mod

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03-22-2007, 10:57 PM	#2
TheForce I Plug-In My Prius Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wheelersburg, Ohio Posts: 2,136 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 7 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 18	Its most likely laying on the engine undercover or the inside bottom of the bumper. I would not worry about it. It will most likely fall out while driving.

03-23-2007, 12:46 AM	#3
Bill Merchant absit invidia Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA \| Oregon \| Portland area \| 97004 \| Posts: 3,964 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 6 Times in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 1 Friends: 53	But then Ken would be littering! It's probably laying on the black plastic that goes from the bumper to the rear. You may be able to reach it from the bottom, or push it off the ledge through the lower grill. Or just let it ride around in there until it evaporates.

03-23-2007, 08:20 AM	#4
judymcfarland Queen of Moral Indignation Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Glendale, WI Posts: 395 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #3 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 7	One of my foam pieces vanished sometime while I was driving, I assume - I noticed it was missing when I went to plug in the block heater. I took out the others yesterday - the weather was getting warmer and the remaining foam looked silly (like a hockey player with a tooth missing). I kept the survivors as patterns for next year.

03-23-2007, 11:52 PM	#7
kdmorse Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Germantown, MD Posts: 197 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Well, I looked, and I fished around with my fingers, no luck. It's probably going to sit there for a while The rest I just tossed. I've nowhere convenient to store that length of pipe insulation without permanently kinking, or flattening it. I think I can afford the $4 to buy new stuff come next winter. And I'll probably do a better job, my first attempt this winter was a bit, imperfectly shaped... -Ken

03-25-2007, 07:02 PM	#8
kdmorse Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Germantown, MD Posts: 197 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I swear, to the best of my ability - that removing that foam knocked my mileage down. Since removing it I have taken two trips which all winter I would avg 50mpg. This weekend, same trip, 45mpg. So either the foam really does make a difference even when it's 61F out, or any of the million other things that affect mileage affected me unexpectedly. (Temperature, Fog, Traffic, Phase of the moon, what I ate for dinner, etc...) It's so remarkably hard to tell some times.... -Ken