Aftermarket Bumper Effects on Engine Cooling

[evgenyvasenev]

Collision warning comes from the camera behind the rear view mirror. The sensor behind the bumper is for your ACC.

i have the dv8 MTO bumper; in addition to the front “screen vents” there are two very large openings on top of the bumper that together provide plenty of ventilation. I’m at 28k miles with about half of that while running the MTO.

I used their ACC relocation kit, which worked well. Parking sensors remount onto the MTO, and that was no issue, either.

The same with the Fab Four. It has many opening above and below a winch.

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[chtucker]

In the middle of the red area is the sensor used in emergency braking and optional cruise control distancing feature. It blocks the intercooler. I’d worry more about blocking emergency braking with an aftermarket bumper.

Emergency braking is in the windshield, ACC is for cruise control

 

[HBTFD]

From the owner’s manual-

“With a blocked sensor or camera, the system may not function, or performance may reduce”

https://www.fordservicecontent.com/...a&div=f&vFilteringEnabled=False&buildtype=web

 

[NoloBronco]

HEFTYFAB Works great. No issues with blocking anything.

Anymore pics? How far does it stick out from the grill?

 

[Fordified1]

Not over thinking but maybe not completely understanding. That is where the intercooler is located which doesn't actually cool the engine. Instead it cools the intake air that is heated via compression from the turbos. But you are correct, you don't want to completely block off the front of the intercooler and restrict the airflow that passes over it. However, most aftermarket bumpers & skid plates should provide enough vents to this area.

Also, and I will have to dig out my old turbo thermodynamics book for reference, but an opening in front of an intercooler should actually be less than the intercooler surface area. So venting that is smaller than the face of the intercooler is not exactly a bad thing. Just use a bit of common sense and if the venting looks restrictive it probably is.

Side note, Ford already blocked about 1/3 of the intercooler surface area with the plastic sensor housing placed about 2" from the face.

Side note 2, if one has the lux package then you cannot block this area at all. If you do you will need to relocate the acc radar that is housed behind that same piece of plastic.

For those who don’t have Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) you can remove the above pictured rectangular piece of plastic that partially blocks the intercooler. There’s nothing behind it unless you have ACC. I think most aftermarket bumpers have plenty of openings underneath so not to effect charge-air cooling.

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