OK what is that black plastic piece, under the bumper and which stretches all the way across the bottom front of the truck called? I have a F350. I thought it might be the dam but that doesn't not find the part. I looked thru the Rock Auto body part section but could not find one.I wasn't too worried at first but it's loss actually exposes some rods and other parts plus I think it might affect mileage.Any help is appreciated.

It is the air dam.Routes air from getting under the vehicle, which reduces fuel economy.You can remove it. I seriously doubt you would notice any change in your fuel economy.

Thanks, it's also called the 'air valence' and at $178 it's either gone for good or a junk yard trip is in the cards.

Our older trucks didn't have the front under the bumper air dam. Engineers found air flow under the engine bay wouldn't let hot air escape fast enough and was creating hot running engines when pulling a heavy trailer (example). The air dam helps create low pressures under the engine bay which allows more air flow through the radiator ...over the engine and on out the bottom. This was happening when I was towing for a living. Sooo... we made air dams for our older trucks or bought them from a dealer if our trucks had the same bumpers. Worked great on my 454 GM trucks. No more fried spark plug wires and no more hot starter motor/no crank issues. Never noticed any mpg changes in that type of work. Just a steady 4-6 mpg on those old carbureted BB engines. Newer trucks ?? Truck MFG engineers can give us the skinny on their use today.

You won't notice a significant difference in mileage and the truck will maintian temp fine without it, but they do have a small effect on both. Think helping achieve EPA targets.They are not there to "protect" anything. Hard to keep from ripping them off if you're using a truck off road. But mildly worth while for highway and towing.

What is this called? | Good Sam Community

14 Replies

JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Mar 30, 2020
Our older trucks didn't have the front under the bumper air dam. Engineers found air flow under the engine bay wouldn't let hot air escape fast enough and was creating hot running engines when pulling a heavy trailer (example).

The air dam helps create low pressures under the engine bay which allows more air flow through the radiator ...over the engine and on out the bottom.
This was happening when I was towing for a living. Sooo... we made air dams for our older trucks or bought them from a dealer if our trucks had the same bumpers. Worked great on my 454 GM trucks. No more fried spark plug wires and no more hot starter motor/no crank issues.

Never noticed any mpg changes in that type of work. Just a steady 4-6 mpg on those old carbureted BB engines.

Newer trucks ?? Truck MFG engineers can give us the skinny on their use today.
agesilaus
Explorer III
Mar 30, 2020
Thanks, it's also called the 'air valence' and at $178 it's either gone for good or a junk yard trip is in the cards.
Home_Skillet
Explorer II
Mar 30, 2020
It is the air dam.
Routes air from getting under the vehicle, which reduces fuel economy.
You can remove it. I seriously doubt you would notice any change in your fuel economy.
ShinerBock
Explorer
Mar 30, 2020
It is called a bumper valance.

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What is this called?

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