Front Air Dam Provides Air Flow to the Engine?

[graves_7]

Stumbled across this in the manual today. I've always heard the front air dam was there for aerodynamics to help with MPG"s, but according to the manual it provides air flow to the engine???

 

 

[MNDaveC]

Presumably creates a low pressure area under the truck, sucking air out of engine bay.

[DanMan_S]

Stumbled across this in the manual today. I've always heard the front air dam was there for aerodynamics to help with MPG"s, but according to the manual it provides air flow to the engine???

 

 

 

The aerodynamics of the truck body itself also affects how air enters the engine bay.

[fondupot]

I think a handful of guys have been running their trucks without the air damn for a while, without issue of overheating.

[graves_7]

Yeah. I took mine off of my 2010 Sierra and now my 2014 without issue. I just thought I would mention it...everyone seems to talk about how removing it decreases MPG, but have never heard anyone inform someone that it changes airflow to the engine.

[Shimmy Bang Bang]

I think it is more or less just a little C.Y.A by GM.

[f8l vnm]

Well on the bottom feeder cars like the corvette , these air dams are vital. I don't think on the trucks it affects much but they do work

[Last C5]

Yeah. I took mine off of my 2010 Sierra and now my 2014 without issue. I just thought I would mention it...everyone seems to talk about how removing it decreases MPG, but have never heard anyone inform someone that it changes airflow to the engine.

I read that too, so when I removed mine I made an identicle 400 mile trip that I had made before and compared the mpg. No difference.

[MikeNH]

Just covering their backsides. Took mine off the first weekend I had it, 73000 miles ago. Zero issues with overheating.

[Spurshot]

There's a lot of conjecture on the purpose. I have mine.

[redwngr]

It would only make a difference when close to the limits of the cooling system. (which most of the time none of us are near)

[Dr. ice]

Well on the bottom feeder cars like the corvette , these air dams are vital. I don't think on the trucks it affects much but they do work

 

Not vital on the new corvettes either. Mine was removed day 1 on my 2015 C7 z51 since I added a carbon fiber front splitter and side skirts with no adverse effects. Several owners on the c7 forum have done the same.

[f8l vnm]

Interesting because I kept mine on my c6z06 after tuner did cam install.

[thewhitestallion]

I have had mine off for about 1.5 years and about 25k miles and no issues with overheating and I live in Houston so it gets pretty hot and sticky out.

[Jon A]

The air dam is an integral part of the cooling system and very important on many vehicles. This isn't one of them. It'll have no noticeable affect on cooling if removed.