Help me out here

British Bulldog · Nov 12, 2021

so I have to ask……I don’t doubt Chrysler have good engineers.
So what is the purpose of -
1. Active grill shutter delete.
2. Leveling a truck, ours in particular.
3. Changing out coolant thermostat ( or is it linked to the shutter delete)

Please do not assume I am being antagonistic here. I really want to know, because I don’t!
I have a four month old truck and not about to do any of this just yet!

Thanks a bunch!

b8ascrub · Nov 12, 2021

1) during the pandemic they ran low on parts. Many 2021’s did not have the active shutter installed. This lowers at 35mph and helps with gas mileage, located behind the front bumper and helps with drag.

2) leveling the truck is more about appearance. When you tow a trailer or camper the rear is going to sag about 2” and thus making the truck level. If you level the truck and then add a trailer you might be adding air bags later to reduce the new sag!

3) Haven’t looked into that yet!!

British Bulldog · Nov 12, 2021

I actually meant the active grill shutter. I understand some also have a dam or foil underneath the bumper. Am I correct on this?

G-Ride990 · Nov 12, 2021

1 & 3 Are about lowering coolant operating temperatures.

2 Is mostly for looks but nicer leveling struts make the truck ride better too.

British Bulldog · Nov 12, 2021

Thank you! Short and sweet answer. Appreciated.

G-Ride990 · Nov 12, 2021

I just realized I skipped over the reason I leveled my truck. haha

I leveled mine to fit big tires on it too.

b8ascrub · Nov 12, 2021

G-Ride990 said:
I just realized I skipped over the reason I leveled my truck. haha

I leveled mine to fit big tires on it too.

it’s the only way I was able to get my 35”s in!!

b8ascrub · Nov 12, 2021

British Bulldog said:
I actually meant the active grill shutter. I understand some also have a dam or foil underneath the bumper. Am I correct on this?

Yeah, I was thinking about the active dam thing on the 2021’s

TestPilot57 · Nov 12, 2021

Lower coolant temp = more power, as the air is denser, and fuel requires oxygen to burn. However, mfrs are raising engine temps, as it allows more complete burn, lowering emissions and making the enviromentals and CAFE happy.

Removing the active grill shutters and putting in a lower temp thermostat lower the coolant temp. I put a 185° thermostat in my 2015 - nothing noticeable other than lower coolant temps... But I'm not a drag strip runner.

FWIW, my Porsche runs at 175°...

JC4041 · Nov 12, 2021

Keep in mind, this is also the same engineers that come up with this......

British Bulldog · Nov 12, 2021

Thanks gents. Now I know too!
I still don’t think I am going to play around with my vehicle just yet! It runs really well as so far, no mechanical, electrical or other defects ( not counting the paint but that’s another story and post!)

GTyankee · Nov 13, 2021

My 2016 Ram came with a stationary air dam below my chrome bumper

I understand that newer ones may have a movable air dam below the chrome bumper

Elvira · Nov 13, 2021

Active grill shutters were in theory to help bring engine to operating temp faster, with the thermostat also set higher than usual, this also help with efficiency of getting the engine to operating temp. It is a performance idea that people remove or disable this set up and change thermostat to lower temp and at times add electric fans as opposed to the mechanical fan, cooler engines run better and create a touch more HP. If the system works properly, there is no benefit to the average person to remove or disable. Aesthetics is the main idea of levelling your truck, whether you lower the rear or raise the front, it is a desired look instead of the rake. The rake is an idea they had to help with increasing fuel mileage and drag, but i believe it is a low increase if any. I raised the front on mine to level, but i went this route to increase road clearance in the winter and off road, but I do like the look of it level too.

Docwagon1776 · Nov 13, 2021

Reference coolant temps, there's a lot of mythology and BS that circulates around it, often due to the confusion on intake tract temperatures and engine temperatures.

Absolute best power is achieved with a cool intake for a dense air charge and a warm motor for both complete burn and for less energy from combustion being absorbed as heat.

It's almost certainly not going to be a difference you can feel, but it's one you can measure on a dyno.

***

Rake is just about payload and tow ratings. Starting the butt up higher lets the truck squat under load without the headlights searching for enemy aircraft instead of illuminating the roads, too much weight being shifted away from the steering tires, allowing better weight distribution for braking, etc. If you aren't going to tow/haul heavy it's a cosmetic choice.

JayLeonard · Nov 13, 2021

Starting the butt up higher lets the truck squat under load without the headlights searching for enemy aircraft instead of illuminating the roads,

Now that's funny!

British Bulldog · Nov 13, 2021

Yes, that is funny! And true……..

JoeCo · Nov 13, 2021

I always thought the level part meant more to level the overall appearance of the truck, from the factory having some rake (front end lower than back), eliminating the rake. As mentioned earlier I know some people will also do it just for bigger tire clearance.

Maybe I'm missing something but if you raise the front end, thus raising the headlights (and hopefully aiming them back down!) and then put weight in the rear, making the front raise again, how is that helping headlights be level while towing/hauling? Seems like they'd end up around the same place as a non leveled truck once a load was added to the rear, unless the person didn't re-aim their headlights after the level, in which case my theory tells me the headlights would just be even higher than if you never leveled the truck at all.

I don't really tow anything though, and am on little sleep today. So if my brain is deceiving me, let me know.

British Bulldog · Nov 13, 2021

Interesting point. Wonder why trucks in general don’t have either auto adjusting headlights on at least a little switch you can lower them with. I know I had vehicles in the past that had a switch with three positions to adjust. Can’t remember what make tho now……..

JoeCo · Nov 13, 2021

British Bulldog said:
Interesting point. Wonder why trucks in general don’t have either auto adjusting headlights on at least a little switch you can lower them with. I know I had vehicles in the past that had a switch with three positions to adjust. Can’t remember what make tho now……..

Funny you should mention that, an old boss (still friend) I used to have had a tundra (probably a 2010 ish, with the cool back window that goes down) and it had a switch to raise or lower the headlights for this exact scenario. I thought back then what a good idea that was, and thought it would catch on with the other truck brands but it never did. I'll have to ask him if the new tundras still have that.

On the same note, I remember seeing a range rover on top gear from somewhere around 2008-2013 (guessing) where they were showing the center screen and how the driver could only see nav or radio etc, but from the passenger seat the passenger could be watching a movie on the same screen, just depending on your viewing angle for what you would see. I thought that would be a popular thing as well but I never saw it again until the grand wagoneer just recently.

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