Bug shield

[daily double]

I had a piece of screen door between the grill and a/c radiator on my 08 6.4 and never had any problems, but as I was looking around for a new one for my 6.7 I'm seeing people say don't do it. They seem to think it will cause overheating. Has anybody heard of this ?

[VermontWayne]

Originally Posted by daily double

I had a piece of screen door between the grill and a/c radiator on my 08 6.4 and never had any problems, but as I was looking around for a new one for my 6.7 I'm seeing people say don't do it. They seem to think it will cause overheating. Has anybody heard of this ?

I don't know about the overheating, though I image that if a piece of very fine mesh screen without breathing room were attached to the radiator, overheating may occur.

But does anyone know of a high quality, aluminum framed screen assembly made with sturdy construction and attachment hardware that would complement the front end of a 2011-2013 Super Duty. If some one made one I think it would be a big seller at a price point up to $250-$300. Perhaps some handy entreprenuer will see this and design and develop and sell such a product. I'd buy one if it was of sufficient quality and durable enough to withstand the winds and bug matter that makes the front of my truck look like a splatter diagram during the summer months.

[bukhntr]

I have had a bug and rock screen on my truck for the past 15 years. It is made by FIA, a canadian company. Comes with stickon snaps that attach to the front grill and is made of some kind of fiber cloth with a little larger holes than window screen.

I have been amazed at how long it has lasted. I have made 3 trips to Alaska and back and have driven over 200K miles with it on.

I bought it on line and just did a search and found one at realtruck.com for under $50.00.

It certainly protects the radiators from bugs, rocks, birds, and other debris.

[JohnD333]

I had a piece or residential bug screen in front of my 08 6.4 radiators for 30k miles. I have had the same type in front of my 6.7 radiators for 20k miles. Never an overheat problem in Florida heat or West Virginia mountains towing 16k. You would be amazed how many bugs it catches. They dry up and drop off over time rather than being pushed deeper and deeper into the radiator. Can't say how it would be in the Rockies, but since it is held in place with baby pins, it would be quick to remove.

[Dr.Evil]

Not sure if FIA makes their bug screens & winter fronts for the new '11-'13 trucks yet but I've run them on my old '96 PSD since I got it home from the dealer with about 20 miles on it. That's 16-1/2 years and over 300,400 miles. The winterfront gets run all winter and when it comes off in the spring the bug shield goes on.

I ran fiberglass window screen for many years with my old gas trucks but the FIA screen is much better. I do have to replace a plastic PSA snap on the grill every couple of years but the screen & winterfront still look brand new. I wouldn't run window screen held on with safety pins on a $60,000 truck.