Intercooler Grille
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 45
From: Timbuk3, MI
IMO the official verdict's still out on the topic of lower bumper grilles and F-150s with the EcoBoost.
There's a large population that have installed a grille and not had any issues and/or ill side-affects. Some points:
There's a large population that have installed a grille and not had any issues and/or ill side-affects. Some points:
- the amount of open, unrestricted air flow isn't affected that much. *Usually <20%.
. - a grille will prevent/minimize debris from damaging the intercooler.
. - today the majority of the EcoBoost issues pertain to intercooler moisture build-up.
. - FoMoCo now (as of 2014) installs a grille (albeit fairly open) on all models, all engine selections.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 1
I have one of these from Boost Bars 
as well as a DBugScreen installed in front of the radiator and intercooler and I've had no issues yet. Granted, it's the middle of the winter in North Dakota, but with the Torque app on my phone, I haven't seen air intake temperatures any higher than ambient even when driving the truck hard.
as well as a DBugScreen installed in front of the radiator and intercooler and I've had no issues yet. Granted, it's the middle of the winter in North Dakota, but with the Torque app on my phone, I haven't seen air intake temperatures any higher than ambient even when driving the truck hard.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 6,757
Likes: 5
From: Corvallis, OR
I got this one off Amazon, $35 shipped and it looks great.
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Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 40,006
Likes: 1,517
From: Maine, Virginia
IMO the official verdict's still out on the topic of lower bumper grilles and F-150s with the EcoBoost.
There's a large population that have installed a grille and not had any issues and/or ill side-affects. Some points:
There's a large population that have installed a grille and not had any issues and/or ill side-affects. Some points:
- the amount of open, unrestricted air flow isn't affected that much. *Usually <20%.
. - a grille will prevent/minimize debris from damaging the intercooler.
. - today the majority of the EcoBoost issues pertain to intercooler moisture build-up.
. - FoMoCo now (as of 2014) installs a grille (albeit fairly open) on all models, all engine selections.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,474
Likes: 24
From: ME
A stock intercooler is only $171.31 @ tascaparts so it's not exactly big bucks. But the main reason I run a lower grill is because the big hole in the bumper is ugly.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton, AB.
Price one out in Canada. We don't get that good a deal. It's probably close to double that price. Plus Alberta and Saskatchewan is the land of cracked windshields from rock strikes.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 40,006
Likes: 1,517
From: Maine, Virginia
35K on my truck and not one rock or debris ding inside the big opening in the bumper. I'm not saying that it can't happen but clearly Ford isn't concerned about the slim chance of intercooler damage.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 6,757
Likes: 5
From: Corvallis, OR
Ford might not be, but I am. I also hadn't gotten a rock chip on a windshield until about 3 weeks after getting the new F-150. I saw one pic of a rock damaged intercooler off an Ecoboost, considered that rock damage isn't covered under warranty, and slapped on a grill. It looks better than the gaping hole too, IMO.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 577
Likes: 0
From: Lebanon TN
Ford put a huge black plastic plate across over 50% of my air charge cooler because of the water in the turbo issue. It is designed to make the air charge cooler less effective; therefore reducing misfires.
In other words, I don't think you guys are going to hurt anything by adding bars, grilles or bull bars to the opening in the bumper in front of the air charge cooler.
In other words, I don't think you guys are going to hurt anything by adding bars, grilles or bull bars to the opening in the bumper in front of the air charge cooler.
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
I got this one off Amazon, $35 shipped and it looks great.
Fits 2009-2013 Ford F150 Pikcup Bumper Black Billet Grille Grill Insert : Amazon.com : Automotive
Fits 2009-2013 Ford F150 Pikcup Bumper Black Billet Grille Grill Insert : Amazon.com : Automotive