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Old Jan 5, 2022 | 04:54 AM
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Front plate question

Is it okay to remove the front plate on a 2015 f150 King Ranch and replace it with a grill instead? ​​​​​​​The parts guy in the dealer said it would restrict airflow to the intercooler. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Here's the grill​​​​​​​:​​​​​​​APS Premium Stainless Steel Polished Chrome 8x6 Horizontal Billet Grille Insert Compatible with Ford F-150 2015-2017 Lower Bumper N19-S31366F https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07819M8SV/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_BE5A476DAC2KJHMVV281​​​​ ​​​
 
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Old Jan 5, 2022 | 08:31 AM
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A mesh/bar piece is going to allow at least as much air to pass through it than a solid license plate.
 
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Old Jan 5, 2022 | 10:12 AM
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Originally Posted by scott91370
A mesh/bar piece is going to allow at least as much air to pass through it than a solid license plate.
Thanks Scott, I'm thinking even more air will pass through.
 
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Old Jan 5, 2022 | 10:29 AM
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Not sure just how much difference it made as far as air flow - but because my truck lives mainly on dirt roads I wanted to protect all those expensive pieces behind the grill. I've had a couple radiators (on other vehicles) with holes poked through them with rocks/gravel thrown up by passing vehicles. So - I moved my license plate off to the side to get maximum air flow, and put steel mesh behind ALL the grille openings. As you can see, it filters out bugs also! This was done when the truck was new 5-1/2 years ago and I've not noticed any problems caused by the mesh.

 
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Old Jan 5, 2022 | 01:57 PM
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Originally Posted by fixit5561
Is it okay to remove the front plate on a 2015 f150 King Ranch and replace it with a grill instead? ​​​​​​​The parts guy in the dealer said it would restrict airflow to the intercooler. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Here's the grill​​​​​​​:​​​​​​​APS Premium Stainless Steel Polished Chrome 8x6 Horizontal Billet Grille Insert Compatible with Ford F-150 2015-2017 Lower Bumper N19-S31366F https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07819M8SV...​​
Your parts guy is not to be listened to. Removing the front plate (a solid hunk of plastic) and replacing it with some kind of grille or mesh screen is going to IMPROVE air flow to the intercooler...because that big hunk of plastic that is blocking the air won't be there anymore.

Because we don't have front plates here in my state, I take them off of every vehicle I purchase if it comes with one. They are ugly and in the way. My FIL likes them because he likes vanity plates...and I just kinda shake my head and let him do as he pleases.
 
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Old Jan 6, 2022 | 10:44 AM
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I had a Westin grill guard with winch tray and winch on my 2016 XLT 2.7 EcoBoost F-150 and never noticed a difference.
Intercooler was mostly blocked from front by winch tray. Drove it over 100K like that before I traded it. Pulled a 5000lb travel trailer in triple digit Texas summers. Ran great, power and drivability was great, temps were normal and it never gave me any issues.

 
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Old Jan 6, 2022 | 02:45 PM
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If the license plate is not in the middle, it's a V-8, but if it's not, that means it's an Ecoboost because it would restrict airflow. That was how my dealership quickly identified the Ecoboosts.

I don't know if that's still true nowadays.
 
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Old Jan 6, 2022 | 04:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Wiggums
If the license plate is not in the middle, it's a V-8, but if it's not, that means it's an Ecoboost because it would restrict airflow. That was how my dealership quickly identified the Ecoboosts.

I don't know if that's still true nowadays.
My 2016 and 2018 EcoBoost F-150s both had and have center mount plates.

 
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Old Jan 6, 2022 | 10:44 PM
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2015 and up do not have offset plates on the EcoBoosts.
 
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Old Jan 7, 2022 | 07:16 AM
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Originally Posted by JKBrad
2015 and up do not have offset plates on the EcoBoosts.
I was going to say...my wife's 2019 Ecoboost has a center-mounted plate holder. I want to take it off but she's looking for a vanity plate for it...so...:shrug:
 
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Old Jan 7, 2022 | 08:16 AM
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I’m required to have a front plate here. Everything looks better with no front plate. Never understood personal plates.
 
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Old Jan 7, 2022 | 08:25 AM
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Originally Posted by Wiggums
If the license plate is not in the middle, it's a V-8, but if it's not, that means it's an Ecoboost

Good thing we all know what you mean...
 
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Old Jan 7, 2022 | 11:31 AM
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Originally Posted by Wiggums
If the license plate is not in the middle, it's a V-8, but if it's not, that means it's an Ecoboost because it would restrict airflow. That was how my dealership quickly identified the Ecoboosts.

I don't know if that's still true nowadays.
My 2015 EB has the center-mounted plate, and it's required in this state anyway. I would probably be OK with it being mounted offset. OTOH, if you had a Tesla, you can not mount one without drilling holes in the front of the car. Probably knocks a whole MPG of the e-MPG.
 
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Old Jan 7, 2022 | 05:01 PM
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Originally Posted by GlueGuy
My 2015 EB has the center-mounted plate, and it's required in this state anyway. I would probably be OK with it being mounted offset. OTOH, if you had a Tesla, you can not mount one without drilling holes in the front of the car. Probably knocks a whole MPG of the e-MPG.
Been a while since I was at a Ford dealership. I just remembered the license plate thing, just didn't know it no longer applied after 2015. I see so many cars without front license plates here in California, I suspect Orange County cops go easy on the rich folks, nobody wants to **** them off.
 
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Old Jan 8, 2022 | 10:39 AM
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It is somewhat of a nuisance law in that the cost of enforcement exceeds the intended benefit. However, now with all the toll plazas doing remote billing via license plate readers, you'd think that there is some incentive to make it stick. Maybe the toll plazas need to kick back some revenue to the local police?
 
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