Front Valance Removal - MPG impact

[redwngr]

A few years ago, when they filled most of the holes where the tow hooks come through, they did it because of fuel economy.

 

I does make a difference.

 

Only you can decide if the difference matters to you.

 

It was nearly 10 years ago, I don't recall how much economy they thought it added, but CAFE numbers were/are huge to the automakers.

[FL335i]

I'm going to pull it off. Try it for a few weeks and go from there. If it's terrible I'll put it back on. I'm also toying with the idea of trimming the large sides down to be straight across the whole truck.

[travalan21]

went oryx hunting and jacked it all up so now I don't care if it stays on or comes off. I have bigger tires and a 2.5 lift and I think on the highway it helps just for the aerodynamics of high speed but off road that thing hits everything. It actually acts like a scoop for random tree/ bush branches and pushed a few sticks up into my bumper and middle plastic area and scratched it up pretty bad so yeah off roading get rid of it highway sure why not couldn't hurt.

[FL335i]

Took it off tonight. All the bolts were rusted. Not sure why these trucks have so many rust issues. Ok rust rant off. Looks good without the valance. But it looks unfinished. Can see all the tabs and shiet down there. My driver side of the valance got ate up good by a curb. In the hipster district of all places. So im trying no valance for a day or two. I do 200 miles dy hwy. see the mpg impact. But this weekend im going to trim the outer bat wings up 3.5". Leaving 2". Leave the center section alone. This way i get a nice finisher piece for looks. And doing this cuts the damaged section out. Win win. Ill post pics Sunday. So pretty much going to be a 2" contoured finisher piece when i get done. I was looking at f150's in our parking lot. Deceiving bumper design. They have a goofy low hanging deal also. Tucked under its overbite.

[FL335i]

Update. 100 mile hwy morning trip. No valance. Id say yes it has an impact on mpg. Not much though. Id say 0.5mpg impact. I dont like seeing all the tabs. Im moving forward wi th my trimming plan. From 5.5" to 2" it goes. Mpg should get better vs none. Im going to keep the contoured part.

[Silverado-Hareek]

I think it looks better off on Sierras. But removing it on Silverados just makes something look "off" (no pun intended). Maybe it's just me.

 

As a Chevy owner, I have to agree. Which is why I haven't removed mine yet. The Sierra looks great without it. The Silverado looks basically like a piece is missing and it seems obviously off to me.

[gbo62280]

Took it off tonight. All the bolts were rusted. Not sure why these trucks have so many rust issues. Ok rust rant off. Looks good without the valance. But it looks unfinished. Can see all the tabs and shiet down there. My driver side of the valance got ate up good by a curb. In the hipster district of all places. So im trying no valance for a day or two. I do 200 miles dy hwy. see the mpg impact. But this weekend im going to trim the outer bat wings up 3.5". Leaving 2". Leave the center section alone. This way i get a nice finisher piece for looks. And doing this cuts the damaged section out. Win win. Ill post pics Sunday. So pretty much going to be a 2" contoured finisher piece when i get done. I was looking at f150's in our parking lot. Deceiving bumper design. They have a goofy low hanging deal also. Tucked under its overbite.

Pics?

[Crooks]

I think I might of lost some mpg with it removed.

 

.

[FlexinChevy]

i took it off the same day i got home from the dealer.. hated the way it made the front end look so low.. looked way better after removal then 2 inch lift in front..

[SouthernSilveradoGuy85]

I think I might of lost some mpg with it removed.

 

.

 

Looks more like a real heavy foot because mine doesn't get that bad unless I hot rod around, even without the valance removed.

 

Or maybe you were being sarcastic and you know that's not what lowered your mpgs lol.

[FlexinChevy]

i average 20 mpg with my truck, my job 50 miles away so i put 100 miles a day on it.. all hwy miles except for about 5-10 miles

[Rewillia]

IMO both trucks (GMC & Chevy) look just fine with the air dam in place.

 

I further suspect that the only ones that really notice the difference are the owners who remove theirs.

 

We (consumers) should also remind ourselves that we were the ones lobbying US auto manufacturers to improve MPG to which that have responded without sacrificing performance, in fact they've improved performance.