I agree. Consider the unsealed hood, and the existing seam between the fender and the front of the door. These vents would be a very minor addition even just considering those.
No overheating issues. Especially with the 4K Tow Package intercooler bits fitted onto the Lobo.
What does the intercooler have to do with overheating? It just reduces intake air temperatures, thus improving power. I wasn't aware that the tow package had different intercooler parts from a standard Ecoboost. I know that it has a larger capacity radiator, larger cooling fan, and an added air-to-oil transmission cooler.
Ford carries at least 3 products from Air Design on the official Ford Accessories menu - front lip spoiler, rear tailgate spoiler, and the open side vents. Yes, all 3 add cosmetic appeal - but all 3 also have a measurable function however dinky.
You are right - I misspoke. The air to air intercooler unit is the same across all tow packages.
Can you post a link to the kind of microscope you use?
Take a flashlight and look back behind the windshield fluid reservoir to the backside of the vent. After only 300 miles on the closed vent I have some dust back there. The dust travels from the front/grille to the rear of bay.Not my cup of coffee but to each their own. I would be more concerned with the introduction of sand, since the OP lives in the desert, into the fenders. Sand clogs drain holes really well . Here I wouldn't want another source for the yellow pollen of death to get under the hood. As to lower under hood temps I doubt much air flow will happen past all of the stuff under the hood to get to the vent. If engine compartment heat was migrating to that area then it would be heating the door seals .
I could see 5 degree drop on an Ecoboost in a desert environment. And anyone who's ever driven in the desert on a 120 degree day knows how important it is. Maybe 2-3 degrees drop on a Hybrid on the hotter days.
5F decrease in underhood temps is overly optimistic. These vents are about 2 square inches each, or 4 square inches total. That is 0.0277 square feet. Guestimating, the Maverick currently has around 5 square feet of vent space out of the bottom of the engine bay and back of the engine bay at the transmission tunnel. So adding these vent will increase the ventilation capacity by 0.554%. That is not enough air flow to make a measurable difference in under hood temps.
This is why I have a set of the Air Designs for sale and went with my own semi-functional stockers. The ADs are just too big.
I’ll take an additional half a percent improvement
Although I think it closer to 2.23% improvement.
Yep, mass adds downforce.
