Chin spoiler helps with cooling, yes/no

I always thought the whole front of the truck looks like...

 

I thought that air dam was to protect the control arms, CV joints and other parts down by where the wheel connects to the truck from mud, snow, rocks, ice, etc. doesn’t taking the air dam off expose these parts to potential damage? Like if you hit a snow drift of something?

 

Probably not. Especially since the OR and Pro come without it from the factory. It’s to protect all those parts you listed from.........well, wind.

 

This looks like shit I’m sorry , someone had to say it

 

No offense, but that is an abomination.

 

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You do know that all you "see" is just the little bit under the plate, not the hole thing, its not like the truck is 2 feet tall.
and really you don't even notice it on the road, or even see the bottom of the truck.
These shots were down low on a slope to see it better.
Even this shot is lower
I bent up the OEM one in the sand dunes so i replaced it.
if you want ugly go look at a jeep gladiator up close.

https://www.google.com/search?q=jee...AUIESgB&biw=1890&bih=941#imgrc=mcnTD9IHfJDlUM:

 

You do know that all you "see" is just the little bit under the plate, not the hole thing, its not like the truck is 2 feet tall.
and really you don't even notice it on the road, or even see the bottom of the truck.:[/QUOTE]


Air dam looks fine to me.

 

For towing purposes, I got a ScanGuage II, and the temps appear to stay within about 4 degrees Celsius. That's under any conditions: driving empty, towing full load, in anything from +35 deg C to -35 deg C, while using AC in heat or all heaters in cold. Whatever that is in Fahrenheit, friggin hot to friggin cold, engine gets cooled just the same with stock towing package. MT

 

What everyone else sees

 

If you painted the tongue portion of the skid flat black no one would even notice it was there .

 

Thing is unless this is tested in a wind tunnel you really don't know the affect. Those tiny little fins on the mirror and lower rear fender have been put there for improved aerodynamics. I would never have thought such small fins would make a difference but apparently they do, so who knows what that skid plate sticking out of the air dam will do. Maybe it helps and maybe it hinders.

 

I took mine off, added a TRD pro skid plate, switched from Exxon to shell and now up to 20 mpg in town

 

I hope you’re right dude. Took mine off today. Looks weird.

 

The only reason to take it off is for looks anyway. I’m leaving mine, like the looks better. I trimmed the edges some though so they wouldn’t rub on my tires.

 

I don’t think they look bad. If mine came with one I would have just left it on. If you wheel to the point where it could get ripped off just wait until nature takes its course.

 

I think the main reason for the chin spoiler is to look modern.

The current F150 and Silverado look like engineers have buttoned everything up on the front into one computer-aided “aero-package” designed for maximal wind-drag management.

The Tacoma, being basically a pre-2005 design, can easily look old to buyers. It’s just a plain ol’ truck. So the chin says “Oh we have aero computers too.”

Then for the TRDOR / Pro they can pull it off as the truck looks higher.

 

That makes sense. After looking more at @AtlasShrugged383 it does look pretty tidy.

 

It’s your “feeling,” so go for it, but I’d personally be shocked if that was actually the reason for Toyota engineers adding it. Minor mpg gains seem much more likely. Maybe we can ask Mike Sweers on IG.

 

I think there is truth in that.