Road debris protection for intercooler

[AgerNymph]

Used some plastic gutter guard installed in front of the intercooler to protect from road debris. Nothing fancy. Cut to size, folded and inserted behind grille. Used zip ties to hold in place. I had to repair once because of bird damage.

To clarify the bird damage was to the plastic mesh, not the intercooler One hit a corner and broke a zip tie.

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[Exranger]

Nice idea!

 

[dlhort1955]

Great idea. If it ever warms up around here I will have to do that. Thank you.

 

[olddevildog]

Interesting idea. I will have to consider doing that myself. Thanks!

 

[Tim d]

Used some plastic gutter guard installed in front of the inner cooler to protect from road debris. Nothing fancy. Cut to size, folded and inserted behind grille. Used zip ties to hold in place. I had to repair once because of bird damage.

If that's in front of the intercooler doesn't that defeat the purpose of it? Am I not seeing this correctly?

 

[Haroldb007]

Good idea, I did a very similar thing for those reasons.

 

[todd92]

I own 5 Ecoboost Ford's and never had an intercooler damaged from road debris, but whatever. You're also reducing the airflow through the intercooler.

 

[WNYEscapee]

I've had the same concern. Especially since during winter I tend to sometimes plow through a fair amount of snow. I'd thought of this idea, have plenty of this mesh in the basement too. I was hopeful that someone would have produced something a little more fitted and rigid, but this looks like it should work just fine.

 

[Grand Nat.]

Despite of what you might think that little bit of mesh will increase the temperature of the engine. The purpose of the intercooler is to keep the air charge as cool as possible and keep the cylinder temperatures down to support boost.

 

[Darklyter]

On my old Dakota I used the metal version of that.. was originally intended to use as 'mesh rain gutter protectors'. Same install- zip tied to the back of the grill.
It's harder for me to do this on this truck with the grill but I'll get it eventually..

 

[Mox4615]

I own 5 Ecoboost Ford's and never had an intercooler damaged from road debris, but whatever. You're also reducing the airflow through the intercooler.

I’d be surprised if it really made that much of a difference especially at cruising or highway speeds. Just my opinion obviously. That piece of mesh still has pretty decent size holes in it. Now if he was using window screen or something I could see that being more of an issue.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Used some plastic gutter guard installed in front of the intercooler to protect from road debris. Nothing fancy. Cut to size, folded and inserted behind grille. Used zip ties to hold in place. I had to repair once because of bird damage.

To clarify the bird damage was to the plastic mesh, not the intercooler One hit a corner and broke a zip tie.

The bird pulled a "zippietiedie"!!!!

 

[Montana]

I’d be surprised if it really made that much of a difference especially at cruising or highway speeds. Just my opinion obviously. That piece of mesh still has pretty decent size holes in it. Now if he was using window screen or something I could see that being more of an issue.

It's a surprising amount. The bigger the mesh the easier it is on the temps.

I was pretty shocked to learn how much of a difference the mesh in front of my PC fans made. The wrong kind basically makes fans pointless.

The one OP shared is reasonable and a great solution without sacrificing in temps but that red one likely increases temps. Without monitoring software we'd never know until it's too late. The longer that fluid runs hotter the shorter the lifespan.

Honestly though I feel like they don't do this because it's just a cost cutting thing. They'd rather replace a radiator than spend the extra pennies for protection from the factory.

 

[ychuck46]

I own 5 Ecoboost Ford's and never had an intercooler damaged from road debris, but whatever. You're also reducing the airflow through the intercooler.

My concern as well. It is open for a reason.

 

[dogtruck]

The mesh (as posted) may in fact deflect some cooling airflow.....but a lot less than some of the aux lights and led light bars our fellow drivers have installed to much acclaim.

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