Mustang Side air curtains question.

[Youngmustang]

So I know the mustang has side air curtains by the fog lights that channel air around the car. But my car has pieces of foam where the slit should be. They seem to be a little hard to pull out so I didn't want to take them out are they suppose to be like that. This may be a stupid question but I was curious.

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[Ponykix]

Just went outside and checked mine. No foam. And for good measure I was able to put one hand through back and one hand through front and confirm opening all the way through. I would say it is part of packaging the PDI missed. I would pull it out..

 

[89Trooper]

I would pull it out, too. Should look like this:

 

[Youngmustang]

Thanks guys appreciate it.

 

[Free Agent]

They were still in mine. I saw them when I washed the car the other day but I should have put 2 and 2 together. Just pulled them out. They have a piece of sticky two sided taped securing them as well.

Ah my first weight reduction mod. ;) All of 1 ounce or so.

Somebody on the site should make this a sticky. I'd bet there are a lot of people running around with the foam pieces still in that the dealer didn't remove during PDI.

 

[Rv-Junke]

Oh smack, I need to go check mine!

 

[Clink]

I thought this was an Ecoboost only item? These are part of the active grill shutters right?

Troop were yours in the car and you just pulled them out?

http://www.edmunds.com/car-news/act...re-latest-way-to-improve-fuel-efficiency.html

http://gas2.org/2014/03/03/2015-ford-mustang-gets-grille-shutters-improve-mpgs/

 

[Youngmustang]

I thought this was an Ecoboost only item? These are part of the active grill shutters right?

Troop were yours in the car and you just pulled them out?

http://www.edmunds.com/car-news/act...re-latest-way-to-improve-fuel-efficiency.html

http://gas2.org/2014/03/03/2015-ford-mustang-gets-grille-shutters-improve-mpgs/

As far as I know all mustangs have this. Its only the ecoboost that have active grill shutters in the grill. Im talking about the slits near the fog lamps that allow air to flow around the car. And the foam is right in front of the wheel well and being the fog light area.

"This “air-curtain” concept funnels air from the fascia into a tall narrow slit just ahead of the front tires. This high-pressure air helps keep the flow around the car attached to the side of the car instead of slowing and becoming turbulent...This feature is standard on all Mustangs."
http://wot.motortrend.com/1402_2015_ford_mustang_goes_all_in_on_aero_engineering.html

 

[Clink]

I guess I just thought these openings were a part of the Ecoboost only.

Sure all grilles have the opening but it's plugged up on GT's and open on EB's because it compliments the active grille shutters.

At least that's the way I understood it...it sounds like all the EB's who posted have them removed and the few GT's had them plugged.

Why I asked Trooper to confirm since he didn't mention having to remove them. I can't imagine a dealer removing these during PDI?

 

[89Trooper]

Why I asked Trooper to confirm since he didn't mention having to remove them. I can't imagine a dealer removing these during PDI?

No... I didn't have to remove them.

When I went to pick up the car, it was one of the first things I looked at because I only had ever seen the openings on videos, and couldn't tell how wide the openings were.

I'm looking for a video about them right now... I believe all cars should have them open.

The active shutter system, the way I understood it, was on EcoBoosts only and in the grille.

Got to about 18:18 in this video: [ame]

It's an EcoBoost, but he doesn't say anything about it being a shutter system... it's just for better aerodynamics, which we would want on our GTs, too.

 

[Clink]

No... I didn't have to remove them.

When I went to pick up the car, it was one of the first things I looked at because I only had every seen the openings on videos, and couldn't tell how wide the openings were.

I'm looking for a video about them right now... I believe all cars should have them open.

The active shutter system, the way I understood it, was on EcoBoosts only and in the grille.

Affirmative, thanks guys.

 

[tsunami]

In another thread, a Ford Technical video shows a wind tunnel test where smoke is pouring through the air slot. No mention was made about it not being used in some models. The narrator explains why it is used to smooth out air flow in the wheel well.

 

[milo4753]

The slots are part of the aero package along with extractor vents on the hood. I know there's a video out there somewhere with a Ford engineer going over all the particulars.:ford:

 

[bigdaddyspank]

Side Air Curtains

If you have the 20 inch wheel option, the side air curtain slots are blocked. This is because the 20 inch wheel and tires included in the package are wider than on all the other models with the 18 and 19 inch wheels. They extend past the openings therefore would actually block the airflow and cause more turbulence. Also you may note that this package also contains the strut tower K bracing that is the same on the PP package. That is because the wider wheel stance stresses the strut towers more and the K brace is needed for extra support. I added the strut tower brace on top just for the looks.

So if you removed them because someone said that's the right thing to do, they just gave you bad advice and now your car has more drag and turbulence at the front wheels. Ford Engineers are pretty thorough and way smarter than us wrench heads. They have a reason for everything they do. There is a reason for the foam blocks, and it's not because someone forgot to remove them....put them back

 

[Mustang1260]

The operative term being TWO SIDED TAPE is used to secure them. I'd sure as heck be checking with Ford (Ford Customer Service could probably track this down quickly) before removing. There is NO reason for securing with double sided tape if it is a throw away item to be removed during PDI. (doesn't mean some dealership yahoos doing PDI do not remove when maybe they shouldn't)

BUT if there is a reason I'd track it down.....

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