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2016 Air Dam Discussion.

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by j102, Nov 25, 2015.

  1. Nov 25, 2015 at 7:49 PM
    #1
    j102

    j102 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Are you going to keep the air dam or are you planning to remove it? Does it really help the MPG?
    The Off Road model, which comes without the air dam, has the same MPG as the SR5 model with the air dam. It looks like the air dam doesn't help the MPG at all.
     
  2. Nov 25, 2015 at 8:30 PM
    #2
    tubesock

    tubesock Well-Known Member

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    The EPA fuel economy estimates do not break down by trim. Only by engine, transmission, and drive line. All trucks/trims with V6/Auto/4x4 are classified as having the same fuel economy. Go dig up the fuel economy thread and see if you notice any difference between the TRD-OR trucks and all the other 4x4's. It's also important to consider that the stock tires are more aggressive on the OR models and that's going to have a bigger impact than the air dam.

    The air dam must help fuel economy, otherwise Toyota wouldn't bother to build it and stick it on there. Exactly how much it helps is difficult to estimate because the effect is going to be small, since it is a relatively minor aerodynamic adjustment, and there are many other factors that influence fuel economy. That said, if it does help fuel economy by a few percent on the highway you may as well use it if you've got one on there already.
     
    CusterFan and 0uTkAsT like this.
  3. Nov 25, 2015 at 8:34 PM
    #3
    Tacogram

    Tacogram Well-Known Member

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    Removed
     
  4. Nov 25, 2015 at 8:45 PM
    #4
    pngo121

    pngo121 Well-Known Member

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    took mine off right when i pulled into my garage and never looked back. better fuel economy or not. that thing is ugly.
     
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  5. Nov 25, 2015 at 8:46 PM
    #5
    pngo121

    pngo121 Well-Known Member

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    will be interesting to see results of an actual owner. :thumbsup:
     
    File IFR likes this.
  6. Nov 25, 2015 at 8:48 PM
    #6
    Z50king

    Z50king DCLBOR4X4FTW

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    Stock and loving it
    but what about when the engine 'breaks in'? People are hoping to gain +5mpg once the engine 'breaks in'

    magical mysteries of 'breaking in'
     
  7. Nov 25, 2015 at 9:02 PM
    #7
    2016spicytaco

    2016spicytaco Spicy Kitty

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    Air dam are ugly. Disappointed with the non functional skewp as well. Truck looks much like a truck without the air dam

    20151110_170728.jpg
     
  8. Nov 26, 2015 at 3:52 AM
    #8
    busticator

    busticator Well-Known Member

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    So on my 4th tank of gas my MPG jumped from 20.3-20.4 on the first three tanks (it was consistent for all of them) to 21.5. I'm also driving harder now since I'm up over 1k (the manual requests you drive easy for first 1k).

    I'm not so sure in my case I have crested the magical hill of break in. I think I just found some gas that my tacoma likes. the change was immediate with the change in gas. I'll experiment to see if it is the gas by going to a few places, but it takes me about 1.5-2 weeks to drain a tank so it will be a while.

    I still believe most of the break in phenomenons described are people getting used to their rides. I could be wrong though and maybe I'll learn something new here. I've driven two GM vehicles from brand new off the lot to 160+ k and never noticed break in changes (other than the interiors lol), so I am only going on my experience.
     
    0uTkAsT likes this.
  9. Nov 26, 2015 at 3:55 AM
    #9
    busticator

    busticator Well-Known Member

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    On to the topic of the air dam.

    I would tend to think it HELPs gas mileage. I don't think Toyota engineers add worthless stuff on the truck just for fun, and they used empirical wind tunnel measurements since this was a new design. That type of analysis is going to be more controlled than any test someone here comes up with driving back and forth to work.

    The more relevant question is HOW MUCH does it improve?
     
  10. Nov 26, 2015 at 4:00 AM
    #10
    judgeman6970

    judgeman6970 Well-Known Member

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    Hard to believe it would help more than .25-.50 mpg??
     
  11. Nov 26, 2015 at 5:36 AM
    #11
    jerseymike

    jerseymike Well-Known Member

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    5100's @.85 w/ 1/2" shims in back 265/75/16 tires
    I think this is wrong. fuel economy on DCSB sport and off road (both MT and 4x4) are different on the window sticker. enough so that you pay a gas guzzler tax on the off road but not the sport. I am still getting an off road for the better brakes, locker, bilsteins but I would actually consider adding on the air dam for fuel economy while daily driving and removing if I am going to do serious off roading.
     
  12. Nov 26, 2015 at 5:46 AM
    #12
    TacomaN8

    TacomaN8 Well-Known Member

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    The air dam (and tonneau) Is about managing the airflow around the Tacoma. When that is optimized (in a controlled environment like a wind tunnel) you can achieve both a slight increase in mpg and a quieter cabin. Realistically, none of us drive in a wind tunnel, so removing or adding either really doesn't matter due to so many exterior factors on and off-road.... E.g crosswibds, traffic wind, drafting , air temp , air humidity etc... All these factors affect the air flow (boundary layer) around the Tacoma, none air present in the wind tunnel. It's simple fluid flow.
     
    HanSolo@LongoToyota likes this.
  13. Nov 26, 2015 at 7:30 AM
    #13
    j102

    j102 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I was concerned on how much it would affect MPG, but the more I read about it, the more I believe it would not affect MPG by much, if any.
    The thing is definitely ugly, so I am removing mine and installing the RCI Skid plate.
     
  14. Nov 26, 2015 at 7:33 AM
    #14
    j102

    j102 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    It would be interesting to see OuTkAsT results.
    I will be doing my own testing too. It might not be in perfect scientific conditions, but it is something.
     
    0uTkAsT likes this.
  15. Nov 26, 2015 at 7:37 AM
    #15
    Chasin Tail

    Chasin Tail Well-Known Member

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    took air Dam off, and will be putting a Cap/Canopy on when Leer finally ships it... Should cancel each other out.
     
  16. Nov 26, 2015 at 7:45 AM
    #16
    DakotaTacoma

    DakotaTacoma Well-Known Member

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    3" Downey lift, K and N FIPK, NWOR Try Y header, 31x10.5 BFG KOs
    What gas brand is giving you better mpg?

    All I know is the new 6 cylinder is better than my 1996 4 cylinder that now averages around 16. I see a 2016 in my garage soon. Ill be sad when I sell my '96; but, 20 years is time for a change. :)
     
  17. Nov 26, 2015 at 9:05 AM
    #17
    j102

    j102 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Took the air dam off.

    Before

    ImageUploadedByTapatalk1448557451.389641.jpg

    ImageUploadedByTapatalk1448557497.727951.jpg

    After

    ImageUploadedByTapatalk1448557476.042081.jpg

    ImageUploadedByTapatalk1448557511.278321.jpg

    ImageUploadedByTapatalk1448557523.415326.jpg
     
    bdunna, Scotty61 and busticator like this.
  18. Nov 26, 2015 at 9:09 AM
    #18
    j102

    j102 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Looks much better without it.

    ImageUploadedByTapatalk1448557740.597356.jpg
     
  19. Nov 26, 2015 at 10:42 AM
    #19
    busticator

    busticator Well-Known Member

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    I tried getting gas at a Wawa for the first time. It's a convenience store / chain that's popping up all over the place around me. It was E15 gas as well... they had another pump that had non-ethanol tainted gasoline for $2.69/gal versus the E15 @ $2.15/gal when I got it. I went cheap, haha.
     
  20. Nov 26, 2015 at 10:44 AM
    #20
    busticator

    busticator Well-Known Member

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    Yea, nice looking truck. Agreed it is an improvement in looks. Probably would be moreso for mine, because I have a silver truck and it sticks out like a sore thumb depending on the angle you are approaching the front.
     
    j102[QUOTED][OP] likes this.

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