Ford falcon FG x

[cram_it_frog]

I was looking at the new Ford FG x today and one thing hit me right away

The front grill is so big and it will be a major bug collector and I have see so many cars end up replaceing the radiator just because of bug damage

I know Holden have on on sale any idea if Ford offer one

[LoudPipes]

I just use the old bushies trick.

When travelling I always have some shade cloth with ties attached to it stored in the boot.

It not the greatest piece of workmanship but when fitted inside the grill you can’t see it and as a temporary bug catcher in summer when you unexpectedly come across a swamp of locus while driving in the north west of NSW it is great.

I pull up, attach it and I’m off again.

It saves overheating as I can pull it out and shake or brush it down easily and it definitely saves a lot of the cleaning required later to remove bugs from the radiator and other cooling cores.

I know it’s not what you’re after but I prefer it to some of the permanent solutions such as the one Holden sells.

I should add, I attach this to my C Class Merc, as far as I know they don't sell a factory screen.

[cram_it_frog]

thanks yes thanks I have been in two locust plague s and they fill the front of your car
Even a road trip in the outback at night covers the front of the car

what a radiator guy said it is the acid from the dead insects that destroys the radiator so even if you clean the front you always leave a little acid on the car


but the FG X grill is just so big you would need to leave some thing on all the time if you travel in the outback

[LoudPipes]

A permanent screen doesn’t stop everything going through so some insect residue will get on the cores plus all those small bugs will slip pass.

I guess it depends on how bad the area you live in is.

I grow up in the country NSW and Locus are the only bad thing and they were seasonal.

Other bugs are around all year and worse when night driving and it depends on how dirty the car gets and if you are willing to wash down the car regularly.

I used to hose as I would also have to clean the bonnet and windscreen and to be honest I was lazy and often left the shade cloth and in the early days plastic flyscreen behind the grill for months at a time.

I’ve only seen the screen Holden sells on one car and it looked ordinary, just my opinion but I’d rather not have it.

[XR Martin]

Worst part about it is the unpainted plastic gets stained by the bug juice.

[Bushbasher]

Easiest effective fix I've found is a nice piece of shaped fiberglass flywire held in place by the front undertray screws and then fixed in place under the bonnet by bonnet latch and whatever screws and clips are there like the snorkel screws etc. It can be installed and removed in a matter of minutes with a screwdriver as necessary.

[NTF6]

Originally Posted by cram_it_frog

I was looking at the new Ford FG x today and one thing hit me right away

The front grill is so big and it will be a major bug collector and I have see so many cars end up replaceing the radiator just because of bug damage

I know Holden have on on sale any idea if Ford offer one

Surely that would only be because they didn't clean the bugs out later, I would be more concerned about overheating but even now days cars don't really overheat anymore unless there are other serious issues.

[SensationFG8]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Worst part about it is the unpainted plastic gets stained by the bug juice.

With a bit of time (a lot) you can clean that up with some polish

[HULK_I6T]

I dont think a locusts problem is unique to fgx falcon

It happens to all cars..

[danzvtil]

My work utes all had a piece of FIBREGLASS insect screen placed over the front bumper and grille, bulldog clipped to the bottom of the bumper where the under engine cover is and folded over the top of the grille, and clipped to the plastic shroud on top of the radiator. Bonnet would shut over the top for a neatish look, and would stay on the car for the term of the 2yr lease with all the country kays I used to do.
Incidently, Cram it, the thickest ive ever seen them is on the way to Broken Hill between Mildura and Wentworth, I was scraping them off with a shovel and the smell.....

[commodorenutt]

Originally Posted by HULK_I6T

I dont think a locusts problem is unique to fgx falcon

It happens to all cars..

Very true.

On a vintage car tour we were on 10 years ago, we hit locusts between Castlemaine & our overnight stop in Echuca.

In the motel carpark at Echuca, we were all blasting the locusts out of each car with a jet of water from the engine bay side of the radiator.

One guy didn't have to - there were 2 magpies sitting on the headlight bar of his 1929 Vauxhall, plucking the nicely toasted locusts out of the radiator/grille. No effort needed - just let nature take it's course!

[cram_it_frog]

yes i know over heating is a problem

what I was saying was the new grill is just so big

any way that for the feed back

[SensationFG8]

I actually don't think the grill is that much bigger, it's just higher up on the car.

[XR Martin]

Compared to say an EF, yes the grill is much bigger...

[blackf6]

Good joke xr6 Martin ef grille lol

[xr6tjet]

Car bra and you will be just fine, the mesh is very thin which probably will only let bug residue through but should keep the damage away.