[AT] Airflow calculations of perforated metal for radiator screens

[Brad Loomis]

The 455 diesel lawn tractor I use at work has a pull out screen ahead of
the radiator. I'm not there so I can't measure it. But I will try tomorrow
and report back. It does keep the foxtails, thistle, mustard, and whatever
else I kick up out of the radiator.
Brad

On Thu, Jun 17, 2021 at 5:23 PM Cecil Bearden <crbearden at copper.net> wrote:

> I had to wash the A/C condensor and radiator out on my 2011 Chevy truck
> yesterday before I could make a trip to pick up some auction items.   I
> put the gauges on my a/c system and it showed 35 low and 350 high.
> before I did anything I went to the water hose and got it down to 150
> pretty quickly on the high side.  The amount of bugs was crazy.  I will
> have to remove the radiator and condensor to get them clean as there is
> no room to get anything in the front or behind the fan.   I have one of
> those heavy cowcatcher style grill guards in the front.  This truck has
> about 170K miles and has made 3 trips to Alaska, so it may have more
> bugs than usual, but the bugs and thi8stle seeds are terrible here and
> getting worse.  I want to put a piece of perforated metal behind the
> grill guard to catch the bugs. If it cuts the air down, it can still
> come in between the screening and the grill.  I don't think it will make
> a lot of difference in the amount of air entering the radiator, but
> maybe catch the bugs and fluffy crap in the air...     When we figure
> airflow into a home, we cut the flow through a window in half when a
> screen is used.    I am looking at a peforated metal with holes .188in
> in diameter and offset centers so it gets the most holes per square
> inch.   Does anyone have any experience with this type of screening or
> have a formula to determine if it will cut the airflow too much. I think
> the area behind the grill guard and the grill is wide enough to keep
> from cutting down the air flow.  Traveling down the road at 60mph it may
> deflect some air around the grill instead of through..
>
> I just don't want to have to remove this radiator again.  I have to use
> a stepladder to work on the d&%$^d thing it is so tall.  It is stock for
> that year, but the manufacturers want to see how far the drivers can
> jump to get into a pickup nowdays.  I remember a 63 and 66 chevy 1/2 ton
> pickup we worked out of on the farm every day.  Hauled 20 head of cows
> in a bumper  trailer with no brakes into OKC Stockyards.  Loaded 60
> bushels of wheat to haul to the elevator when the lines were long and
> the grain truck had not returned.  Now, I have a 3/4 ton that I have to
> jump into or pull myself in with the steering wheel and 30 bushels of
> rye in the bed causes it to squat, with twice as much tire under it than
> the old ones had..   It doesn't ride all that much better,  just cooler
> when the A/C works.   OK  rant off.....
>
> Cecil
>
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