Engine Temp Food for Thought

[5.0L96Exp]

Well it was bound to happen sooner or later. That fancy plastic skirt on the front of the truck, the one with the fog lights recessed inside, finally bit the dust. I was out mudding and a log ran across the road and ripped one side of the plastic skirt clear off, taking a fog light with it. Anyhow, I ripped the rest of it off, and removed the black plastic "air scoop" that feeds air onto the rad. I also moved the license plate off to one side instead of in the middle. The temp gage now reads just above C, it used to be right smack dab in the middle. not sure what this translates to in degrees but I was surprised at how much of a difference it made. Now I have an excuse to make a skid plate.

 

[Green98XLT]

Wait.... so your saying that it runs cooler without the lower valance?

 

[5.0L96Exp]

Ya.. All that aerodynamic plastic designed to focus the air on the rad doesn’t seem to do much. I think the biggest change was a result of moving the license plate from the center off to one side. Plus now that the fog lights are gone I have a lot more space to navigate tricky slopes.. And it looks mean.