CPE Intercooler & Active Grille Shutter Removal

[Tucker417]

Just wrapped up installing the CPE Intercooler. Install took less than 30 minutes. The grille shutters are easily removed by pushing the tabs in on one side and sliding them out, leaving the motor intact and plugged in.

The CPE Intercooler is 3/4” taller than the OEM, much thicker, and has cast end tanks.

Fit and finish was top notch. If this is on your mod list, do it.

Note: Removal of grille shutters is not needed for the install. I chose to do this for improved air flow to the Intercooler at all times. It seems like mine are closed 90% of the time.

Sponsored

 

[Fordified1]

Just wrapped up installing the CPE Intercooler. Install took less than 30 minutes. The grille shutters are easily removed by pushing the tabs in on one side and sliding them out, leaving the motor intact and plugged in.

The CPE Intercooler is 3/4” taller than the OEM, much thicker, and has cast end tanks.

Fit and finish was top notch. If this is on your mod list, do it.

Note: Removal of grille shutters is not needed for the install. I chose to do this for improved air flow to the Intercooler at all times. It seems like mine are closed 90% of the time.

I took my shutter assembly completely off when I installed my new bumper. Just unplugged and removed. Doesn’t throw any codes. I don’t know of any downside to this. Curious of educated opinions though.

 

[Tucker417]

I took my shutter assembly completely off when I installed my new bumper. Just unplugged and removed. Doesn’t throw any codes. I don’t know of any downside to this. Curious of educated opinions though.

I’ve read from others that it does not throw a check engine light but will send an error notification over to the ford pass app. Not 100% on this but that’s why I left it in tact. It also helps direct the air to the Intercooler.

 

[WheresMyBronco]

I took my shutter assembly completely off when I installed my new bumper. Just unplugged and removed. Doesn’t throw any codes. I don’t know of any downside to this. Curious of educated opinions though.

From my understanding, the shutters:

• Help your engine get up to temp faster
• Keep your engine warm longer after you turn it off
• Increase aerodynamics a bit at certain speeds

Don't think many people here care about aerodynamics, but the faster warm up time/longer cool down time are pretty nice. I think the longer cool down period also increases the engine life expectancy by preventing all the different components from cooling off too quickly or at different rates.

 

[Tucker417]

From my understanding, the shutters:

• Help your engine get up to temp faster
• Keep your engine warm longer after you turn it off
• Increase aerodynamics a bit at certain speeds

Don't think many people here care about aerodynamics, but the faster warm up time/longer cool down time are pretty nice. I think the longer cool down period also increases the engine life expectancy by preventing all the different components from cooling off too quickly or at different rates.

Keeping it warm longer after shutting it off? The shutters are only going to make a difference when the vehicle is in motion. Not sure how they relate to keeping the engine warm longer when it’s off.

Helping get to operating temp faster, I can see this yes as it is restricting airflow to the radiator while the shutters are closed.

Some have claimed an increase in mpg once removed. Myself like many others could care less yes lol.

 

[Ducati1098]

From my understanding, the shutters:

• Help your engine get up to temp faster
• Keep your engine warm longer after you turn it off
• Increase aerodynamics a bit at certain speeds

Don't think many people here care about aerodynamics, but the faster warm up time/longer cool down time are pretty nice. I think the longer cool down period also increases the engine life expectancy by preventing all the different components from cooling off too quickly or at different rates.

They also help keep condensation down. Older ecoboost F150's had issues with that so Ford blocked off a large part of the intercooler because it was causing misfires.

 

[GI_Jo_Nathan]

I’ve read from others that it does not throw a check engine light but will send an error notification over to the ford pass app. Not 100% on this but that’s why I left it in tact. It also helps direct the air to the Intercooler.

I have both my intercooler and radiator Grill shutters removed. No codes and nothing on fordpass.

 

[Fordified1]

They also help keep condensation down. Older ecoboost F150's had issues with that so Ford blocked off a large part of the intercooler because it was causing misfires.

To be clear. Condensation inside the intake enough to cause mis-fire? I assume this would be at low rpm part throttle?
Water injected into the intake tract used to be a thing for high performance turbo applications way back in the day, before everyone started using intercoolers, to help prevent detonation.

 

[Ducati1098]

To be clear. Condensation inside the intake enough to cause mis-fire? I assume this would be at low rpm part throttle?
Water injected into the intake tract used to be a thing for high performance turbo applications way back in the day, before everyone started using intercoolers, to help prevent detonation.

Yes. With the F150 it was mid-higher rpm with high load, so more WOT.

Water injection is still a thing, but that’s a very fine mist, what was happening to the ecoboost was more than a mist lol

I haven’t seen any instances of the Bronco having a problem even with people removing the shutters, so I don’t really expect this would be an issue.

 

[Fordified1]

Yes. With the F150 it was mid-higher rpm with high load, so more WOT.

Water injection is still a thing, but that’s a very fine mist, what was happening to the ecoboost was more than a mist lol

I haven’t seen any instances of the Bronco having a problem even with people removing the shutters, so I don’t really expect this would be an issue.

Maybe the water was pooling in the bottom of the intercooler until high flow situation siphoned it out fast enough to cause the mis-fire. I wonder how close anyone got to hydraulicing an engine because of that, or if it was even known why one blew the head off or bent a rod lol.

 

[Ducati1098]

Maybe the water was pooling in the bottom of the intercooler until high flow situation siphoned it out fast enough to cause the mis-fire. I wonder how close anyone got to hydraulicing an engine because of that, or if it was even known why one blew the head off or bent a rod lol.

Yeah I think that’s exactly what was happening. I’m not sure how much water was making it into the cylinders or if it would ever be enough to hydrolock the engine. I think it was probably just enough to cause a misfire, realistically it probably didn’t take too much

Sponsored