Removing the black air damn/valance under the front bumper

First off, what is the actual correct name for it? Second, will removing it be dangerous or expose underbody components to impact? What about gas mileage? Any thoughts?

 

Searches will find lots of folks remove it because the like the look w/o it, or because it is subject to damage off roading.

No, it doesn't protect anything.

It's there for MPG and it does help. Big hwy driver? Maybe leave it on.

 

From what I've gathered on here, it seems to have a relatively large effect on the MPG - like around 2mpg, which is a lot in terms of %.

People's results do seem to vary, though.

 

I took mine off to go off-roading then put it on for a longer road trip I was taking.

Only reason I put it on was because of what I’ve read on here about MPG. Didn’t really notice a difference though based on the trucks eco app. Although I added bigger tires and got the same MPG as a different road trip with smaller tires (stock vs 265/75/16).

It’s easy enough to take on and off so I don’t mind.

 

Most of my driving is either local or less than 100 miles round trip. once or twice a year I might drive to visit family a few states away.

 

I'm guessing I lost somewhere between 1 and 2 MPG when I took mine off. Yeah, it's a noticeable hit - I think of it this way, when I'm out vacationing, 1-2mpg means 20-40 more miles I can make on a tank. It was easy enough to take off - 11 screws through clip-on nuts (or whatever the right name for them is). Keep thinking about putting it back on, but then I get distracted with other projects.

 

Thank you all for your thoughts. Since I live in Vermont and it is brutally cold and snowy here right now, maybe ill climb under the truck in the summer and take it off to see the effect. thanks again....

 

Yeah, that's part of why I've been lazy about putting it back on here in CO, it got cold, was hard enough to motivate myself to crawl under there to change the oil.

 

Took mine off and noticed -0- difference in gas mileage either around town or on a trip.

 

No, the TRD Off-road models do not come with it. As others have said it's for MPG, not protection.

 

Took mine off as well, no difference in mileage or sound. Truck has factory skid plates, plus it sits pretty high you shouldn't bottom out or scrape it on those parking stall bricks anyways. I noticed a big decrease when I took my tonneau cover off.

 

Speaking of this subject.....anyone with an off road put the valance on to improve MPGs. If so, is it easy to install?

(I do a lot of freeway driving....)

 

I noticed a small MPG drop when I took mine off. Perhaps around 1 MPG. However, the reason I put it back on.......wind noise. It cut down a lot on the wind noise I heard up around the side mirrors and door seals. It just seems quieter with it on.

 

Had to take mine off to mount a snow plow otherwise the installer would have cut the hell out of it. Will try to put it back on when spring comes knocking.

 

Cant tell any difference in my milege...

 

I had a lot more wind noise when I took mine off, plus a decrease in MPG. I could live with the MPG's but couldn't stand the extra wind noise. We did have some extra windy conditions that coincided with me removing the valance but I put it back on anyway. I don't need the extra clearance and hardly notice it when it's on. I admit they do look better removed.

 

I removed mine a while back because I liked the looks of my truck without, but now that I got after market wheels and 285's, and seeing how i lost almost 3mpgs, I might put it back. welp! .

 

I noticed no difference in mpg after removing mine on my current 4x4 truck. Noticed no difference in sound either...

On my previous 3rd gen, 2wd, i tested it... removed it, drove around, put it back on, then removed it again... Noticed absolutely no difference on that trucks fuel economy either.

I wonder why some people see a change and others don't... I still have an air dam... I wish it did help with fuel economy because I'd put it back on during trips over 2 hours...

 

I only notice a difference above 70mph for both noise and fuel economy. For me it's worth 1-2 mpg on long highway trips

 

In this video (1 minute in), the Toyota engineer talks about the air dam and approach angle of the Tacoma.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FutBBbglZvo