Front Air Dam

[mikedege]

After lifting(Icon coilovers) New tires(275/60r20 Cooper ATP's) and removing air dam. Based on the same 150 mile round trip that I take frequently. I am now seeing a minus 0.6 MPG from stock (was avg 21.8, is avg. 21.2). Next I will be re-calculating once I add my Range AFM delete. But so far, the impact is minimal in my opinion.

 

Mike

[4x4LJB]

Very interesting. I wonder whether the 6" square running boards have a beneficial/detrimental effect on highway gas mileage?

 

Also, whether the extended or crew cab models slip through the air better than the standard cab?

[ZXTOM]

Yes, its only there for MPG.

 

I agree it looks much better with out but i'm leaving it on mine for a while. I tow a toyhauler, so I want to compare MPG towing vs not.

 

I know it might not make any difference but gives me something to do.

[jonny24]

Very interesting. I wonder whether the 6" square running boards have a beneficial/detrimental effect on highway gas mileage?

 

Also, whether the extended or crew cab models slip through the air better than the standard cab?

 

That would actually be pretty interesting to know. Another would be, if the DC/CC does slip through better, is it enough to make up for the extra weight?

 

I can't see running boards helping at all.

[scott19677]

Very interesting. I wonder whether the 6" square running boards have a beneficial/detrimental effect on highway gas mileage?

 

Also, whether the extended or crew cab models slip through the air better than the standard cab?

 

 

I wouldn't think anything hanging off the truck is helpful. Just like tow mirrors for example.

[jrob56]

 

Glad to know you work on the truck design, aerodynamic and cooling teams and have some insight. Since it is crap, can you shed some light on your reasoning behind this being an engineer with hands on experience? Not sure about the Silverado manual and what it says (I should probably go look) but the Colorado says it can mess up with the cooling.

 

On those trucks it creates a low pressure area and helps pull air through the radiator at highway speeds (not just putting around the city). Just because you haven't seen any effect doesn't mean it won't. It most likely was found by engineers testing a full load on the hitch in 105 degree weather pulling up a mountain at 10k feet elevation. Effectively the most extreme situation it was probably found enough to warrant a clause in the manual to cover their butt, so your mall duties won't reveal those conditions that warrant it.

 

Most anyone won't have any issue OP, and I am not sure if the Silverado/Sierra if it is even relevant (someone know if it says it in the manual like the Colorado twins?). But if you want a lesson on how those work check out the F-body's, they can overheat with their lower valence removed (there have been other vehciles the same way). Trucks usually don't see this because their cooling capacities are so large combined with large openings it usually is sufficient. But with MPG's and aero playing such a large role they are trying to close off the front ends as much as possible while still meeting their cooling requirements to increase mpg. This is one reason I wouldn't put a light bar in the lower opening of Colorado, it effectively closes off 1/3 of the cooling almost.

 

Thinking about it for these trucks it probably doesn't matter much. The valence under where the radiator is (the part that would create the low pressure area) is so small most of the valence is by the tires to direct air around and away from them. The Colorado on the other hand has a large valence right under the radiator, combined with much smaller cooling openings than the Colorado it probably isn't there for the same effect. But I didn't design the truck so I wouldn't know for sure, just a hunch.

 

Tyler

 

This is a bad bad analogy, the 4th gen F-bodys and corvettes were bottom feeders for engine air and cooling air for the radiator. There was no grill to draw air from due to the nose and crash bars foam etc. See that big rectangle on the front of your truck right in front of the radiator. Thats where the air for your trucks radiator enters. See that baffling all the way around the grill I had to swap to my new one. That directs your cooling air, no air from under the truck will be getting through there...

 

[Jimmy W]

Looks cheap to me when they are removed,just what I think!

[robvas]

I put mine back on at one point and never saw any MPG gain (2" level)

[Travis Whitmore]

Just yanked mine off the truck yesterday. Must be like 500 nuts holding that thing on.

[sailor9908]

well after the lift, tires, headers and blower I'm lucky to get 14 mpg..... but she sure is one hell of a ride now :-)

[ccdies]

maybe I should I put mine back on, and then maybe get better gas mileage lol,

[sailor9908]

didn't want to go through the hassle of removing mine so I took the dremel to it this weekend and trimmed it up, I think it looks a lot better now, the front end doesn't seem so low anymore. I'll get some pics up soon

[sailor9908]

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Guapoh]

I've heard that the front air dam pushes air up into the radiator and what not to help cool the engine. Is that true? Has anyone who has taken it off noticed a difference in engine temperature?

Removed mine on the first day. Now I am at 30K trouble free miles. I live in central CA with 110 degree days the norm in the summer.

 

If it cools the truck, it's only measurable in the laboratory.

[Brianx220]

Let me just say, It would be stupid if not idiotic for a truck like this (So far in tech) to overheat because the air dam was removed. I just want to take it off because its the lowest part of this truck and it literally hits everything when off-road. Im having to pop it back in place after a fun drive to San Luis Pass here in Texas and frankly its annoying.Id say forget the 1MPG the air dam saves you and take it off. It makes life easier when driving off-road. My truck is not lifted at all so its stock and it hits curbs like a car. Its a truck so let it be a truck.