Grill Shutters Over Intercooler(Diesel) WHY?
 

Can someone explain to me why Ford installed shutters over the intercooler on the diesel(and for all I know, the E-boosts too)?
Obviously the cooler the intake charge the better, so what gives?
Lastly, has anyone removed them/ cut 'em off?

Probably for mileage, aerodynamics.

Except it's gotta be like 10" behind the bumper, not to mention the license plate blocking damn near the whole opening to begin with.
Pulling the plate bracket off is how I noticed the friggen shutters
I wanna remove or cut 'em off, but I'm wondering if it'll throw a limit code or something

Search and you'll find *plenty* of info.

In short, aerodynamics, warming up the truck faster, and preventing the CAC condensation issue that plagued the 12th gen trucks. You'll find another set behind your grille, in front of the rad.

You can remove them or unplug them when they're wide open. It'll set a code (if memory serves, it's actually 2 codes per module, total of 4 if you disconnect both), but won't illuminate the CEL. I've never had a dealer care. My grille shutters have been removed and my intercooler shutters are disconnected in the full-open position... I'll probably ditch them as well if/when I replace the intercooler.

...

Yeah I searched but nothing specifically on the dessel

I get the radiator shutters, as they obviously can be useful in cold weather, and I'll leave those alone.
But the IC's are gonna go
Thanks for the tip on waiting til they're wide open, then just popping the connectors

As others already mentioned, it's for aero (FE), period. That's it. Same reason every other mfg'r is doing it. Everyone is looking for fraction improvements in FE.

How do shutters improve FE you ask? By diverting airflow *around* the engine bay vs. through it, when max cooling is not needed (most of the time). One of the highest aero drags on a vehicle is from air passing through the engine bay, so any flow that can diverted around, has a nice effect on FE.

Class dismissed.

Let's be honest here. OEM engineers are limited by a multitude of factors. For one, the OEM IC is garbage to begin with. The fact that they'd block the only air entrance with shutters and the front plate just goes to show they are limited in how they can address these things. Optimally the intercooler would be a thicker core and NOT with plastic endtanks…but again, OEM engineers are limited to what they can optimally do.

Every time I hear about someone wanting to do a winch or something and use the excuse "but the front plate blocks the intercooler anyway".....I want to scream. Just because the plate does, does NOT mean it's good for the intercooler or the truck's performance. I have to figure it's less critical on a diesel than on the ecoboosts due to the PCM's ability to retard timing and cut power to prevent detonation or preignition, but nonetheless.....

upgrade that OEM FMIC, even if you do absolutely nothing else to the truck. Seriously. I may even disable my grille shutters as well.

Are you planning to tune your diesel to the max the mechanicals will hold? Then leave it alone would be my suggestion. Those shutters are there for aerodynamics and it's tested against the needs of the engine.

Yes the 3.0 diesel is treated almost exactly like the 3.5ecoboost from an installation standpoint. Just because the shutters close doesn't mean all intercooler function is stopped. Also the logic of when and how they stay closed varies due to the use of the truck.

not in tow/haul - temps well in range - cruising 65 down the road - shutters close to ease up the aerodynamic loses - which reduced the overall power need to maintain speed. It's made this way - and gets that extra 1-3 mpgs.

In haul mode, temps in range - cruising 65 down the road - and to meet the speed set it's not in 10th because of the load in the truck - RPM's are over ______. shutters wide open. Necessary to keep the engine happy.

If they were to get stuck closed - you'll get a CEL and it will be easy to pin point to open them up.


Leaving them wide open - really only hurts your mpgs - won't affect much else. which is why stuck open sets a code but doesn't set a light.

If tuning your engine out to the Nth degree or modding it somehow - I would then consider also leaving them open because you are exceeding the test parameters.

No argument that the shutters help increase fuel economy, but not a chance in hell it helps b 1-3 mpg. A fraction if a mpg at best. 0.1 or 0.2 mpg would be likely. A 0.1 mpg savings is absolutely worth it to a Ford Engineer.