Front mesh grill to protect radiators - DIY install

[carsly]

But Rivian has no radiator.

check your vehicle or parts diagrams, it most definitely has a radiator. that battery pack doesn’t magically cool when it gets toasty. Where do you think the active shutters lead to exactly?

Here is a replacement front radiator on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/1876974251...yxEo%2FHCKAAf5htFiTG|ampid:PL_CLK|clp:2332490

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[AFineOldWine]

Regardless of an add on mesh, at some point, the radiator should be cleaned.

Does anyone have recommendations on a decent way to do that? With the dfrunk and shutters, it doesn't sound as easy as on an ICE.

 

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Regardless of an add on mesh, at some point, the radiator should be cleaned.

Does anyone have recommendations on a decent way to do that? With the drunk and shutters, it doesn't sound as easy as on an ICE.

Do what I do for everything: Leaf blower.

#Cunningham’s_Law should work out here

 

[carsly]

Do what I do for everything: Leaf blower.

#Cunningham’s_Law should work out here

that’s the rub, shutters are closed when parked unless DC FC

 

[Robot Overlord]

I've seen the gunk and crud that accumulates in the radiator grills of my ICE vehicles and it's not pleasant (or easy to clean). When I saw this radiator grill from EVbase I figured I'd give it a shot. Installation takes maybe 2 minutes (could probably be done in 30 seconds honestly) and it should keep debris out of the radiator area.



You could make a case that with active grill shutters less junk should get in there, and I'm inclined to agree. However, when junk does get in there how do you know? The grill shutters seem to be closed when parked. Maybe rip at a fast charger to force the grill shutters to open and then try to hit it with a leaf blower or hose? Feels like a bad idea.

Here is a direct product link (non-referral): Grille Mesh Insert for Rivian R1T/ R1S Radiator Protective Mesh Grille Panel Bug & Debris Protector

You can use my handle as your discount code if you're so inclined. It should knock off 20-30%.

Not sure why the r1t would need this...please clarify. Thanks.

Simple answer is to prevent a catastrophic radiator failure. We’ve had one! While I was deployed to Afghanistan in 2012, my wife took our three young kids to a scouting camp out WAY out there in western TX. As they left she was following another driver, who was traveling too fast on a gravel road. She didn’t know where she was going and didn’t want to be left far behind the dust cloud and miss a turn. A small rock hit our 2007 Honda Pilot radiator. The AC cut out, temperature quickly spiked, but my wife didn’t realize why. She continued to follow the other driver not wanting to be left far behind or lost in the desert. She rolled up to the meeting location on a paved road where the engine seized. The small rock missed the radiator framing ring by about 1/8”. Had it hit the frame instead of the fins, maybe we wouldn’t have lost the engine. Thankfully the USAA adjuster we dealt with knew where she was driving and said he would have continued driving if he’d been in my wife’s shoes. They paid to replace the engine and covered the towing that was over 200 miles back to El Paso. Ever since then I’ve installed some sort of wire mesh on all our vehicles. I’m getting the EV Base screen for my R1T. Our radiators are there to cool the HV batteries - a very expensive item to replace if not covered under warranty.

 

[carsly]

Simple answer is to prevent a catastrophic radiator failure. We’ve had one! While I was deployed to Afghanistan in 2012, my wife took our three young kids to a scouting camp out WAY out there in western TX. As they left she was following another driver, who was traveling too fast on a gravel road. She didn’t know where she was going and didn’t want to be left far behind the dust cloud and miss a turn. A small rock hit our 2007 Honda Pilot radiator. The AC cut out, temperature quickly spiked, but my wife didn’t realize why. She continued to follow the other driver not wanting to be left far behind or lost in the desert. She rolled up to the meeting location on a paved road the the engine seized. The small rock missed the radiator framing ring by about 1/8”. Had it hit the frame instead of the fins, maybe we won’t have most the engine. Thankfully the USAA adjuster we dealt with knew where she was driving and said he would have continued driving if he’d been in my wife’s shoes. They paid to replace the engine and covered the towing that was over 200 miles back to El Paso. Ever since then I’ve installed some sort of wire mesh on all our vehicles. I’m getting the EV Base screen for my R1T. Our radiators are there to cool the HV batteries - a very expensive item to replace if not covered under warranty.

wow! glad her and the kids were okay.

Thank you for your service.

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