Remove the wind diffuser or keep it?

2023 SR5, no lift, 265/70r16 tires. I won’t be able to put a proper skid plate on for a while and that would accent the look if I removed the chin strap. Given that it’s a standard front bumper and no upgraded skid plate, would it look better with or without the air dam?

 

Idk about looking better....depends who's looking at it what they think. With it removed you have better access to removing the engine plate to do oil changes. The negative when I tried my sr5 without it, was 1 mpg less, and more highway wind noise from 45 mph on up.

 

Driving around town or anytime you're going relatively slow the chin spoiler does nothing, but if you drive a lot on the highway at speed, it actually does quite a bit in terms of stability and lower wind noise plus a very tiny fuel efficiency improvement. While it's true that it does lower the front approach angle if you're doing more serious off roading, I'd be more concerned about that step getting caught causing you even greater problems. You can trim it and get it to fit over the TRD front skid if you want to have both. Personally I love mine and don't give a crap what anyone else thinks. For me it's there for a function and it does that, plus, a lot of my driving is on the highway.

 

Mine was gone within the first month, end up, cutting it up and tossing it in the recycle bin

 

I'd get rid of it. If you decide to keep it paint it silver to match the truck.

 

I drive the highway all the time for up to 120 + miles a day. I personally didn't notice a bit of difference. As far as looks, that's up to you whether you like it or not.

 

I drive mostly on the highway. I’m not too concerned about the slight mpg difference but I am about wind noise. Is it drastically louder? Do you think it affects stability at higher speeds by a lot? I usually drive around 70-75 mph going to work.

 

Is there a difference in fuel economy listed by Toyota between an SR5, Sport and Limited which have the air dam and the OR and PRO that doesn't have one?

That should give you an idea how efficient it really is under testing.

 

Weirdly, a Google search claimed better mpg with a Pro and even better than that with an Off Road. Seems it would be the other way around.

 

Take it off for 17 days and then put it back on for 17 days. You can then decide on or off.

 

Why 17 days? Haha

 

Because 16 isn’t enough and 18….Jesus is too long

 

Meh, guess I’ll wait until I can do it right…add the skid plate and bumper I want. I want it look aggressive, not stupid.

 

I'd leave it as-is until it broke and then I'd yank it off in a fit of rage and throw it in the trash. If it ain't broke...

 

I didn’t see any difference whatsoever. No decreasing mileage no decreasing drivability. No decrease in one noise. It’s funny how some talk about the fuel mileage but Toyota has the off-road and the sport both getting the same mileage. One has the chin spoiler one doesn’t

 

I'm one of the few who actually bought mine from the dealer and put it on. I knew I wasn't going to be rock crawling and that most of my off roading was going to be location scouting for my photo shoots, so the wind and an extra mpg plus stability were all bonuses for me. Not for everyone but definitely for me. The problem with answering your question is that it's been five and a half years since I put it on and I'm so used to the way it is now that I can't remember how it was before. What I do know is that driving at the speed limit (70mph here in Ca.) that the truck just tracks and feels damned close to my '88 911 in terms of freeway stability. Of course, that changes when you need to corner hard, which is something I just never do in the truck.

 

Do what you feel and keep both feet on the wheel.

 

I did it. I think I like the aesthetics better. I’ll see if I notice a difference in driving.

 

I don't dispute that taking it off somehow decreases gas mileage slightly, I just don't understand why. Kind of like driving with the tailgate up or down. Damn science, it's so confusing...

 

Well considering my Off Road gets the same est. mileage as yours and didn't come with the chin strap, I think you'll be ok to remove it.