Removing the Active Air Dam and the rear wheel shields

[@tmi-america7615]

The wife and I just did a 50 day cross country trip and got 21.8 mpg on our 2021 Sport (XLT) with 3.5L V6 turbo, toneau cover, short bed, and "no longer active" (damaged) air dam thanks to some dip chit who managed to lose a bicycle on the freeway which ended up going under the right front of our truck and taking out the "no longer active" air dam and one of our tires in the process. I ended up driving about 35 days and 10,000 +/- more miles with a zip tied "no longer active" air dam until we could get back from our trip and figure out WTF to do with that "no longer active" air dam. THANKS for the video as the info will come in handy for sure. ;^)

[@dustind292]

Broke the driver side of mine today on a piece of tractor trailer tire flipping under the 2 cars in front of me. Was able to mend it up for the time being with some zip ties (electrician), but it'll all be coming out when I get back home. Thanks for the video.

[@brandonmacon3317]

Never thought about removing the rear shields. Looks really good vs the factory shield thing 💪👍

[@rivertonrentalswy]

The 2021 F150 Active air dam increases fuel economy by 2.4% according to my personal testing. (I'd say with in a tolerance of approx. +/- 0.2%). I decided to test this out myself as I was not able to find any information on this online. My Testing Method: I removed the active air dam (which was very simple to do, remove the 6, 7mm screws holding it on) Ensured truck was fully at operating temperature by driving around. Accelerated to 77 miles per hour on a stretch of highway. Reset fuel mpg readout at 77mph steady cruise (truck in eco mode ) Travelled 5.0 miles down a stretch of highway, braked at a consistent rate and turned around and then accelerated using cruise control back to 77mph. Travelled back (5 miles) to the spot where I had originally reset fuel mpg read out and took note of the mpg read out. End result without air dam: 16.7mpg over those 10 miles. Re-installed the air dam, repeated the EXACT same process as above. End result WITH air dam: 17.1mpg over those 10 miles. Difference with vs without: 0.4mpg at 77mph. % difference at 77mph: 2.4% increased fuel consumption (0.4/16.7*100 = 2.4%) (Tested in 2021 F150 XLT crew cab 6.5’ bed w/ 3.5l ecoboost engine using 91 octane unleaded no ethanol.)

[@farmboyfixes]

Wow. very informative. I travel alot of back roads ( 50 mile speed limit) that take days to see a snow plow. I'm sometimes the first one breaking the trail. Would you know at what speed the air dam deploys?

[@nathanholmes5365]

@@farmboyfixes 40mph and I believe only in eco mode

[@nicholas2932]

exactly what i was looking for... also its about $600 to replace motors and dam if damaged. something like 78k miles till the savings pay for the replacement, and thats at a 1mpg increase. so ya, not missing much and gaining more functionality without it... still seams odd that ford would go through that much trouble for .4mpg gain.... maybe 91 octane makes a difference? grasping at straws....

[@farmboyfixes]

Its over $1000 CAD to replace in Alberta.

[@joelthom3326]

Hey guys, if I remove the whole system, I'm worried about it throwing check engine codes. You didn't experience any issues just removing it or unplugging it? Any tips would be much appreciated, trying to install an aftermarket bumper that can't accommodate the modules. Thanks!

[@je1279]

Thank you for providing the stone guard part numbers. I agree that the factory ones look awful.

[@nicknick2872]

Mine just broke off from hitting a tire tread that was on the highway. I’m just going to take it off like you did. Thanks for the video.

[@farmboyfixes]

You won't be the last person to get theirs damage.

[@szenkman]

Same thing happened today to me... I saw a tire and my first reaction was to run it over! what a surprise I got.

[@josuehv]

2 days ago i broke mine whit a tire too 😢

[@joshchambers7293]

Same... driving at night and hit a blown tire

[@TheJasonVoorhees]

I had the ditch take care of removing the acuator for me 😂

[@Tanks250]

It is a $1,800 replacement cost in Louisiana now...just had mine repaired under warranty last week.

[@farmboyfixes]

OUCH. That's why these trucks are getting so expensive.

[@williadawilliams]

I wish you had set your camera up so we could actually see you removing it. Did you sell yours?

[@farmboyfixes]

It was very tight under it, hense no camera. I still have it, just in case I sell the f150.

[@williadawilliams]

@@farmboyfixes I'm in need of one would you be interested in getting rid of it?

[@OldAndGettingOlder]

That heading edge piece you first took off, what was its purpose? Any idea?

[@fabr6r6]

Supposed to be an air deflector. Worthless

[@jryanez8523]

Where did you buy the rear wheel guards? Thanks in advance 🙏🏼

[@farmboyfixes]

I had to order from Husky website. They were on backorder, so I did have to wait for a month to get them

[@mateomorales677]

did it throw a code wen you removed it

[@farmboyfixes]

no codes were thrown, but Ford tech could see it was not hooked up via diagnostics.

[@sergiorivera8810]

Any advice on unplugging the connection. It’s the hardest step thus far

[@farmboyfixes]

I know, it wasn't easy. If I remember, a yellow tab had to get moved out of position, before it would disconnect.

[@BarryGustafson-im3ru]

Thanks for the info. I didn't know what it was. Hit a snow drift and broke passenger side off, the plastic is not friendly at -34C. I have a 2022 f150 xlt.

[@farmboyfixes]

Put this on a car, not a truck.

[@albertb6152]

I hit a racoon and it broke off. $400 for a new one.

[@bigmooi]

@@albertb6152 This is funny, I hit a racoon and it did not die. 50mph trying to stop from 60mph.... right side broke. I started cursing at it as I knew it would be like a $1000 to fix. I assume they break all the time up where I am at in MN. When I got my 2021 I thought it was kind of cool trying to eek out some more MPG, but I did said it looks kind of flimsy... we did not have much snow the first year. This year however, I could not even drive out of my own driveway in fear of ripping it off with a snow drift... then a racoon gets it... SMH... I think I will go without it, I wish they would sell a plug cover, tape is not great up in the salt belt....

[@mitchwexler9242]

@@albertb6152 same, 2022 F150 lightning

[@zachklopman9046]

what size tires are those?

[@farmboyfixes]

BF Goodrich AT KO2, 275/60R20

[@CoreyJamesGuitars]

My active air dam broke from hitting one of the largest raccoons I’ve ever seen. The truck was only going 50 mph and those electric motors are mounted hard enough that it actually lifted my front bumper assembly on the passenger side. I’m removing it and I’m not putting it back on. What a bullshit scenario, now I have to figure out how tough it is to get to the fasteners to make my front end look straight again. No airbags went off, thank goodness. If this happened in the first year of owning the truck, just imagine how many more times I could break it if I wanted to repair it…

[@farmboyfixes]

Yep. Crazy they put it on a truck.

[@jakqwe1]

That active airdam is $1100 to replace. Our local ford service ordered me a new one after mine stopped going up. Then tried to charge me for it when the new part came in.

[@farmboyfixes]

Up here in Canada its almost $2200. If you ask me, this shouldn't be on a truck, but if Ford gonna put it on, have a switch so it can be turned off/on.

[@jakqwe1]

@@farmboyfixes that’s incredible! I agree. I can see how it should be standard on a 2WD but not fixed to a 4x4 without a way to disable it.

[@JR-sm3sq]

What color is your f150

[@farmboyfixes]

its carbonized grey

[@Hyperious_in_the_air]

I think I'm going to plasma cut a new air dam out of 1/8 stainless scrap I have, just so it doesn't ball itself up again when it's hit by a pebble the size of a pea like the shitty plastic one.

[@BarryGustafson-im3ru]

Just had it replaced 1190.00 installed, under warranty. Will remove later

[@caseymaples19xx]

You can just unplug it also if you dont want it to deploy

[@farmboyfixes]

You could, but it may be hard reach to get to the plug

[@expiredwithnate6687]

i sold mine for $300 to a guy on a forum. i took mine off at 400 miles and i found a guy who actually wanted it since he hit a racoon and smashed his. hard sell tho most people dont want it

[@farmboyfixes]

Mines collecting dust in the garage, as I would have to give it away.

[@adammeade2300]

Was his name Corey James, by chance?

[@jeygi7728]

@@farmboyfixesI want it bro if you still have it lol

[@jerrythor290]

and you just lost yourself 3 mpg

[@egregiousblunder5395]

Bullshit. It's been proven its less than 1 mpg lol.

[@tmi-america7615]

Well drive slower than 120 mph once in a while and you can get the 3 mpg back in no time. LOL.