Fitted the lower grill cover at the beginning of the winter and it has drastically reduced the time taken to reach normal operating temperature. Has had a big impact on fuel economy too. Have done the odd 50 mile sprint down the motorway with the grill cover fitted too without any obvious temperature increase, but intend to remove for the summer. Can recommend the Heko cover, good price, quality and two minutes to fit.

Beginning to think I need to get one of these ordered, looked at them before Christmas but didn't get on with it; see other post

The Heko I noticed were available on e-bay until recently, direct from Heko in Poland. Don't believe they are the same brand as that supplied by superskoda; wonder which is best, got a feeling it might be the Heko as they do the wind deflectors for the windows :wonder:

TP

Update I've ordered (hopefully) a Heko lower cover. Contacted the company via ebay and they instructed me to order a top one, as it is currently listed on the ebay site but to add a note that I want the lower one instead. The very helpful people at Heko have since confirmed they have my order and instruction, so here's hoping we get the right one :wonder:

Oh cost including shipping from Poland £30.90

TP

I was considering adding an insulation mat under my petrol Yeti's hood too (just metal there currently), but wondered if it might run too hot in the warmer months. What's your experience?

I bought the under hood mat fitted to the diesel Yeti's (£20'ish), neatens up the engine bay and makes some difference to engine noise, though the 1.2 Tsi is very quiet anyway. No problems with temperature.

I have extra bitumastic pads and extra sound insulation as well as the standard diesel mat. The bonnet does stay cool but no idea if it helps with the warm up. I suppose it must a bit. I'm a bit OCD about engine noise etc so I did it for that reason not warm up.

As I garage my car I can't easily test ice melt from the bonnet

TP,

Would you be kind enough to post the ebay link, as I would like to order one as well.

Many thanks.

Regards

TP,

Would you be kind enough to post the ebay link, as I would like to order one as well.

Many thanks.

Regards

No problem;

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...ME:L:OC:GB:3160

As stated above I contacted them first via the contact seller function to enquire about the lower one's availability (product no. 02051), as it had been available but the listing had ended.

http://www.ebay.co.u...O-/330700772428

Regards,

TP

Edited 18 January, 201313 yr by The Plumber

My 1.8TSi has the under bonnet insulation mat as standard.

I doubt that it affects temperature at all, because as soon as you are moving, there's plenty of air flow through the engine compartment anyway.

www.e-heko.com/en/ 23.90 euros plus 13 euro courier delivery. Plus they accept PayPal so no credit card details are required. No, I do not have any connection with the company, but I was pleased with the product and service so think it is worthwhile sharing that knowledge. Regards

Well apparently the Heko winter cover is on it's way from Poland by ups courier, with a scheduled delivery Wednesday (weather permitting).

Wonder if the Monster will appreciate her scarf

TP

My 1.8TSi has the under bonnet insulation mat as standard.

I doubt that it affects temperature at all, because as soon as you are moving, there's plenty of air flow through the engine compartment anyway.

Hummmmmm.....I've the same model as you by the looks of it but there's no insulation mat at all (61 reg). The car was an Skoda Direct vehicle used for display and not demo (so I was told!) and it had about 2,000 miles when I bought it. Wonder if the mat went 'walk-a-abouts' in its brief tour of the showrooms or just wasn't ever there in the first place. Think I'll see if I can order one though just to pander to my hunger sense of inadequacy at the thought of missing out on anything!

Well apparently the Heko winter cover is on it's way from Poland by ups courier, with a scheduled delivery Wednesday (weather permitting).

Wonder if the Monster will appreciate her scarf

TP

Which one have you gone for Tim, top or bottom?

Which one have you gone for Tim, top or bottom?

All being well the bottom grill cover; contacted Heko as they were no longer listing the lower one on ebay and they told me to order the upper one with a note to change it to lower.

Hopefully then that's what I'll get next week :wonder:

Regards as always,

Tim.

Edited 18 January, 201313 yr by The Plumber

I've modified my Russian lower grille cover, I removed the mesh which protects the radiator from stones and debris and replaced it with a piece of acrylic. Then when the weather warms up again the mesh will go back in. The mesh or acylic is held in place by a groved rubber gasket.

Could I ask anyone with a slow-to-warm Yeti how you use the heater? On previous VW group diesel cars, I found everything warmed up a lot quicker to leave the heat levels lowish and fan speed low while the engine coolant warmed up to 90 degrees C, and only then turn the heater up. That way, both the car and I would be warm within 5 miles instead of struggling to 10 or more. Just a suggestion...

Mine rarely if ever moves from 22 degrees (default position) in auto with duel zone off, except in high summer where I might want it a bit cooler. Fan defrost is also little used as I have the heated screen

TP

Mine is normally on 21 degrees, but as I have said, I don't think they are slow.

My lower cover has two holes to enable the cold air sensor to read properly (the other for symmetry), and I normally have the heater on re-circ until the gauge shows 90*C.

It normally warms up fairly quickly in urban traffic, but a slow 50-60 mph uphill run on a dual carriageway warms it up faster.

My lower cover has two holes to enable the cold air sensor to read properly (the other for symmetry), and I normally have the heater on re-circ until the gauge shows 90*C.

It normally warms up fairly quickly in urban traffic, but a slow 50-60 mph uphill run on a dual carriageway warms it up faster.

No holes in my lower cover, and the sensor still works. Temp display on dash same as my outside thermometer :wonder:

No holes in my lower cover, and the sensor still works. Temp display on dash same as my outside thermometer :wonder:

There were no holes in mine either, until I cut them out.

The sensor obviously still works, but it was shielded from outside air and trapped "inside", showing a false, slightly higher reading.

There were no holes in mine either, until I cut them out.

The sensor obviously still works, but it was shielded from outside air and trapped "inside", showing a false, slightly higher reading.

Yeti, can you post a picture showing the holes please?

Fred

Temp display on dash same as my outside thermometer :wonder:

I'm sure you know the sensor for the displayed exterior temperature is behind the right of the lower grille, that's what sends a signal to the dash display.

Yeti, can you post a picture showing the holes please?

Fred

Just for you, I've nipped outside and got down on my knees

The sensor is top left of my "hole", out of a direct blast of air, but big enough to give a more realistic reading. I've got some mesh to put in there tomorrow - as you can see there is already some road debris, hopefully it will stop another stone being lodged in the air con heat exchanger.

Just ordered a bottom cover from Heko.

The link is:

http://cgi.ebay.pl/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230914552780&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

Price with postage is £34.90. I paid via PayPal

No problem;

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...ME:L:OC:GB:3160

As stated above I contacted them first via the contact seller function to enquire about the lower one's availability (product no. 02051), as it had been available but the listing had ended.

http://www.ebay.co.u...O-/330700772428

Regards,

TP

Thanks for this TP. I am away for the next ten days, so unable to order until I get back home. As you will have your order by then, I - and no doubt others - would be interested in what difference it makes on your daily commute.

In the meantime,

Best regards

BD

Hi TP

Sorry you're having hassles with a cool car/ Interesting reading peoples' reactions and 'cures' for this.

However, it isnt something I've been troubled with at all in my 170 diesel - takes 7-9 minutes to warm up, internal climate set at 18 permanently as I'm sure I'm on the change (!!). The ONLY thing that I have noticed, living as some of us do in the hilly region of mid-Wales, is that having reached 90 degrees I then have a long descent where there is very little load at all on the engine.

By the time I reach the bottom of that hill the water temperature has sunk considerably from the 90 degree usual.

I also have a 30 mile commute part of which involves crossing the Brecon Beacons on the A470, often the location for chilling fogs and such like. On the way home, from the top of the pass at the Storey Arms, there is a five mile plus steady descent into the village of Libanus, and it is possible to free-wheel the entire way, and sometimes if there's no traffic, on way beyond Libanus almost into Brecon. There's no load at all on the engine, and the temperature of the water can fall draamatically. (I dont have oil temp as I'm on fixed interval servicing.)

And so I have a question for you, Tim! Do you have a similar topographical experience just prior to getting home after your 35 mile journey, with a long decline to negotiate? Just a thought. And despite living way above 1200 feet on the Eppynt I have never wished I had a heated windscreen - jugful of hot water, followed by immediate wiper activity and that's it. Never seems to get steamed up at all inside. Calm driver!!