Ok, On another car of mine to help in the winter I cover the lower front grill up.

Done this for several years and it helps the Diesel engine warm up both quicker and get hotter.

 

 

 

Noticed on the Fabia that the oil temperature only goes up to mid 80's C in the winter.

During the summer the oil will be at mid 90's C and when being used will go above 100 C.

 

So I thought I would do the same to the Fabia.

Only problem is that my Fabia has a collision avoidance sensor in the middle of the grill.

 

 

But with a piece of Perspex cut to shape, with a hole cut for the sensor, and then painted matt black:-

 

 

and held in place with some cable ties. ( what did I do before there were cable ties ) the results look good:- 

 

 

The engine oil now gets to mid 90's C, the engine warms up quicker and the heater works even better / quicker. Result. 

 

Thanks, AG Falco

 

 

 

Neat solution. And I always wondered what the blob in the centre of the lower grill was about.

 

Team Heko make winter grill covers specifically for the MK3 Fabia along with many other cars  (same company that make most model specific wind deflectors)

The only issue with these covers, is there is no cutout for the front radar so you would most likely get an error showing up on the tft display saying that front assist is unavailable.  This could be solved by cutting out a section of the cover much like @AGFalco has done with his  custom ones.
 

Upper Grill (Pre-Facelift)  https://e-heko.com/en_GB/p/Winter-cover-SKODA-Fabia-III-2015-2018-top/5163

Upper Grill (Facelift)  https://e-heko.com/en_GB/p/Winter-cover-SKODA-Fabia-III-2018-LIF-top/12494

Lower Grill  https://e-heko.com/en_GB/p/Winter-cover-SKODA-Fabia-III-2015-2018-bottom/5159

Yes I has noticed them. I thought I would try this first to see if it works.

To make it fit better it needs bending ( with a heat gun? ) both left to right and top to bottom.

 

Their cover will fit neater but as said I would need to cut a hole in the middle for it to work.

I didn't want to buy one and then scratch / break it before even fitting it at £44.44 inc. delivery.

I am going to try this for this winter and see how it works.

 

Thanks, AG Falco

 

That is my confinement project for tomorrow on the Yeti It will also protect the aircon condensor from stone damage

 

It will stay on until such time as I notice the water or oil temps rising in summer or the cooling fans working more than usual (which is never at all!).

 

It will probable be the aircon that causes me to remove it.

 

 

I might have a go too, like the idea, seem to remember doing it on a mk2 Golf years ago, when I was doing similarly short commutes.

Due to pee down with rain tomorrow though, shoulda done it today.  

Neither of the two I have made are a perfect fit, both have gaps around the edges that will still let some air in .

I made a cardboard template first to help with the shape / size.

 

I do / will remove them when I do the winter / summer tyre swap normally around when the clocks change.

 

The other car's AC condenser has suffered during it's life but the intercooler is to one side.

 

Don't think the Fabia III TSI engine has an intercooler though. 

 

''The charge air is cooled by a charge air cooler, through which coolant flows, located in the intake manifold.''

''Intake manifold with integrated charge air cooler''

 

Thanks, AG Falco

2 hours ago, AGFalco said:

Neither of the two I have made are a perfect fit, both have gaps around the edges that will still let some air in .

I made a cardboard template first to help with the shape / size.

 

I do / will remove them when I do the winter / summer tyre swap normally around when the clocks change.

 

The other car's AC condenser has suffered during it's life but the intercooler is to one side.

 

Don't think the Fabia III TSI engine has an intercooler though. 

 

''The charge air is cooled by a charge air cooler, through which coolant flows, located in the intake manifold.''

''Intake manifold with integrated charge air cooler''

 

Thanks, AG Falco

 

There is actually a small intercooler attached below the main radiator, however this is to cool the coolant which flows through the charge cooler.

22 hours ago, TheFozzy said:

There is actually a small intercooler

 

Yes, noticed this but could not work out where the pipes went to / came from.

Would it be worth blocking up the upper grill instead of the lower one then?

 

Thanks, AG Falco

6 hours ago, AGFalco said:

 

Yes, noticed this but could not work out where the pipes went to / came from.

Would it be worth blocking up the upper grill instead of the lower one then?

 

Thanks, AG Falco

 

The boosted air is cooled by a water cooled intercooler (charge cooler), This almost has it's own cooling system. It has a small electric pump and radiator, located under the main radiator.

 

https://skoda.7zap.com/en/cz/fabia/fab/2016-797/1/121-121020/

 

https://skoda.7zap.com/en/cz/fabia/fab/2016-797/1/121-121021/

 

You are right, you want to limit the airflow to the main rad, but not so much the small one.  The upper grille, will feed most air to main radiator, however I don't think air is separated.

The real issue with Heko products for buyers in the UK is the Postage / Delivery  this year has been more than the product you are buying because the UK left the EU.

It is good when a UK supplier has the product already in stock, maybe old stock.

Not a bad idea. I'd been looking at the Heko for my Octavia. €29,90 each for the upper and lower covers (luckily with free postage to Germany).

 

I also have a short commute.

17 hours ago, Jim H said:

It has a small electric pump and radiator, located under the main radiator.

 

 

Yes I could see a small radiator underneath the main one.

Looks like it cools the turbo as well and being electric it can run after the engine has been turned off.

Thanks for that, makes more sense now.

 

Thanks, AG Falco

Not clever blocking cold air to the charge cooler. This is a bad idea. Why one of our cars as “Active Grill”. Front vents closed on start-up, then opens when cars running at normal temperature.

 

Edited 14 December, 20205 yr by Planetse

I agree, terribe idea for anything with an intercooler or charge cooler.

On 14/12/2020 at 21:02, Planetse said:

Not clever blocking cold air to the charge cooler. This is a bad idea. Why one of our cars as “Active Grill”. Front vents closed on start-up, then opens when cars running at normal temperature.

 

 

I'm not sure about other manufactures, but I know Ford have an active Grille on their cars. My Fiesta has one. It only covers the side intercooler. I've seen it working when switching my air-con on and off on my drive.

 

 

Yes. We have it on our Focus ST. Soon as the cars up to normal running temperature, it opens. But would never run any car with the charge cooler covered over all the time. Crazy to do so.

 

I found taking the cover off mine was a nuisance sometimes, so I tried hooks as were fitted to my Yeti grill cover

and currently am fussing about with some "always in place magnets" so I can just pull the cover off and put it in the boot.

I did find the grill cover helped when fording, helping to keep the bow-wave rolling nicely. You still need to be Sensible though!

The Heko products look great. A more thrifty option is to use Correx board cut to size with a pair of scissors and attached with cable ties. Works on my car.

MK I lower grill cover did not survive a moving animal attack. This also broke the lower grill behind it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So I have replaced the lower grill. Note you don't get the two spars above and below the Lidar Sensor in the middle of the grill when you buy one.

On a good note the Lidar sensor is all good / no damage / still working. Don't know if the Mk I cover offered any extra crash protection to it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The new lower grill is now in place.

I have also made the MK II upper grill cover that fits behind the grill. Can you see it? 

 

 

 

Thanks, AG Falco

My lower Grille has a different style to yours with less open area so I have just blanked off the top grille,

I used zip ties as I had lost the magnets somewhere.

Hardboard painted to match or contrast the car colour makes a good cheap muff.

Edited 6 January, 20215 yr by gumdrop