Air deflector

topo4u2 · May 7, 2005

Here is a curious question. Has anyone removed that plastic air deflector thats underneath the front bumper that hangs kinda low. The manual says its ok to remove for rough country but to replace for cooling. I took mine off my old 95 K1500 but not sure about my 2005 Z71?

WyRam · May 7, 2005

Here is a curious question. Has anyone removed that plastic air deflector thats underneath the front bumper that hangs kinda low. The manual says its ok to remove for rough country but to replace for cooling. I took mine off my old 95 K1500 but not sure about my 2005 Z71?

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Ditched mine as soon as it came home.......don't even know it's missing.

sonjaab · May 7, 2005

TOP.........I shouldn't hurt anything..................

I have mine removed because I didn't want to notch/cut it for

my snowplow mount installation.

No overheat problems with my 01 either...................geo

topo4u2 · May 7, 2005

Hey Wyram,

How long has yours been off? By the responses I may be pulling mine this weekend. I think it would give the truck a bit of a higher look in the front for sure, not to mention that it sure could get scraped on a curb. It can always go back when and if you sell. Thanks for the replies so far.

redvett · May 7, 2005

Removing the air dam will hurt fuel economy not cooling. 1500's for 05 have a lower dam added on to help fuel economy.

MS3DALE · May 7, 2005

I added the extension to my '04 and didn't see any increase in mileage,so then I took it off,the truck looks like it sets higher without it anyway.

redvett · May 7, 2005

I added the extension to my '04 and didn't see any increase in mileage,so then I took it off,the truck looks like it sets higher without it anyway.

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You may have sold your self short on the air dam. I have the 05 with the towhook cups on my 05 along with the only mod and that is electric fans and i get 17 city and on my weekly trip 300mi upnorth my average is 21 round trip. I have 3:73's with 265 16 Bridgestones. Gained 1 mpg city & 1.4 hwy.

WyRam · May 7, 2005

TOP.........I shouldn't hurt anything..................

I have mine removed because I didn't want to notch/cut it for

my snowplow mount installation.

No overheat problems with my 01 either...................geo

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I run mine on the 600 mile trip home and took it off,it looks much better and mileage is fine.Just made another round trip to Billings MT (about 200 miles) with a truckload of people to see Larry the Cable Guy and got 17.3 running 70 to 72 mph plus 35 minutes idling getting out of the parkinglot.Not bad with 4.10 gears in a 4x4!

topo4u2 · May 7, 2005

Looks like I will be ripping her off tonight. Im not sure how GM figures you will get better mileage with it on to be honest. Some engineers figured so I suppose? Like some have said, it sure makes the cosmetic of the truck improved and I just came back from the grocery store and noticed two trucks with it off. Majority wins... remove.

redvett · May 7, 2005

Looks like I will be ripping her off tonight. Im not sure how GM figures you will get better mileage with it on to be honest. Some engineers figured so I suppose? Like some have said, it sure makes the cosmetic of the truck improved and I just came back from the grocery store and noticed two trucks with it off. Majority wins... remove.

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Just look at any race car or truck NASCAR and you will see that they have a very low air dam. Any air that gets under the vehicle costs drag. In other words is gas mileage & performance.

WyRam · May 7, 2005

Looks like I will be ripping her off tonight. Im not sure how GM figures you will get better mileage with it on to be honest. Some engineers figured so I suppose? Like some have said, it sure makes the cosmetic of the truck improved and I just came back from the grocery store and noticed two trucks with it off. Majority wins... remove.

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Just look at any race car or truck NASCAR and you will see that they have a very low air dam. Any air that gets under the vehicle costs drag. In other words is gas mileage & performance.

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We're not running 180mph.I would dare to say in real world testing that it makes less than .5 mpg difference if any and it looks like he11.

redvett · May 7, 2005

Looks like I will be ripping her off tonight. Im not sure how GM figures you will get better mileage with it on to be honest. Some engineers figured so I suppose? Like some have said, it sure makes the cosmetic of the truck improved and I just came back from the grocery store and noticed two trucks with it off. Majority wins... remove.

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Just look at any race car or truck NASCAR and you will see that they have a very low air dam. Any air that gets under the vehicle costs drag. In other words is gas mileage & performance.

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We're not running 180mph.I would dare to say in real world testing that it makes less than .5 mpg difference if any and it looks like he11.

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You dont have to be going 50 mph to have wind drag. Every little thing helps like keeping the tailgate up and a tonneau cover on the box.

topo4u2 · May 8, 2005

I kinda think that the air dam spoiler would make things worse? Since it sorta blocks the wind rather than deflecting it. With it gone you would think that the wind would be able to pass right through the underside. Oh well, it does not matter much. Its gone from my truck but put in a safe place.

Thanks to all who replied on this one.