What's those vents are for?

[jicko]

Any ideas what are the vents in the right front fenders are for??? [MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION]?

They are only there on the right side.

Right (passenger's) side, fenders in front of the right front tires:

Left (driver's) side, fenders in front of the left front tires:

 

[rigtec]

Hi jicko,

It's where the Throttle body air intake tube gets cool air from. Rgds

 

[Omar RVA]

I'm pretty sure that's so your intake can get some nice fresh air.

OA

EDIT: rigtec beat me to it.

 

[rigtec]

I'm pretty sure that's so your intake can get some nice fresh air.

OA

EDIT: rigtec beat me to it.

Ahhh,

Gotta be quick around here, better luck next time lol!

 

[4OYOTER]

This brings up a good FYI for everybody... Be careful in the mud! It's all to easy to fling muddy water up through those vents...

 

[3wbdriver]

I'm sure that was probably the original design intent, but there is as much air flowing in around the grill opening as there is through those vents. This was brought up back in the winter when someone was afraid snow/ice buildup would affect theirs. It may be possible on the 2010 - 13's that this area is sealed in front, but on my 14 it's not.

 

[Lexusbstrdchild]

I would think it also blows in some air to help cool the brakes.

 

[JohnJerk]

I would think it also blows in some air to help cool the brakes.

Really?

 

[barryhiram]

That's the cold air intake for the TRD Pro Supercharger!

Oops, my bad wrong thread................:hiding:

 

[4Surfin]

someone did a TRD Pro fender liner swap on your rig! that is for the supercharger!

 

[rigtec]

My 3'rd Gen 4R had that vent as well...

Sorry; couldn't resist the temptation to show it off again! ...I sure miss that ole truck

Cheers... :cry2:

 

[Lexusbstrdchild]

Really?

Sarcstic or not can't tell?

 

[Speedy Gomez]

I would think it also blows in some air to help cool the brakes.

Did you know that if you put WD40 on your brake pads you gain 10HP.

 

[Lexusbstrdchild]

Did you know that is you put WD40 on your brake pads you gain 10HP.

No I didn't, I'll be sure to try that. :fish2: On some cars there are vents designed to bring in air from the front air dam to help keep brakes from over heating from going downhill, etc. I didn't say they're designed to eliminate brake fade. Man, you are just on a tear in here aren't you?

 

[96r50]

This brings up a good FYI for everybody... Be careful in the mud! It's all to easy to fling muddy water up through those vents...

It's not an issue. The air box takes air from the very top of the inner fender, way up from those slots.

I'm sure that was probably the original design intent, but there is as much air flowing in around the grill opening as there is through those vents. This was brought up back in the winter when someone was afraid snow/ice buildup would affect theirs. It may be possible on the 2010 - 13's that this area is sealed in front, but on my 14 it's not.

The grille opening (in front of the radiator) doesn't really supply air to the intake, at least not by design and not in large quantities. There are only a few small holes in the inner fender wall that air could pass through to get from the engine compartment into the intake in the inner fender. That air would also be warmer than ambient due to the engine heat so it won't be as powerful/efficient for the engine to use.

I would think it also blows in some air to help cool the brakes.

Brake cooling ducts typically attach to the backside of the brake rotor dust shield in order to shoot the cool air directly on to the hot rotor. The 4Runner rotors are large diameter and more importantly quite thick and internally vented so they already have a lot of heat dissipation capability when used as designed.

 

[Kotrin]

Its actually funny I stumbled across this post after finishing up my ARB Bumper Install. I had to cut these some and they don't go down as far. Though i'll most likely put a 'panty hose' around it to protect it. My father in his excitement cut these lower than my skid plate, but they are still blocked from throwing mud directly into it.

 

[3wbdriver]

The grille opening (in front of the radiator) doesn't really supply air to the intake, at least not by design and not in large quantities. There are only a few small holes in the inner fender wall that air could pass through to get from the engine compartment into the intake in the inner fender. That air would also be warmer than ambient due to the engine heat so it won't be as powerful/efficient for the engine to use.

Really? Have you been down there to LOOK at the area? I did several months ago when it came up on the icing question, and again this morning after reading your reply. There is sheet metal covering roughly 1/4 of the intake area behind those vent slots and you can see the grill looking through them. I'm not saying some air doesn't get to the intake opening through there. I'm saying that even though it may have been originally designed for that purpose it is no longer as important because there is as much flow through the grill IN FRONT OF THE RADIATOR as there is through those openings. I am saying you could close those slots completely and the intake would still get cold air through the grill. The red wire in the 2nd picture is the positive lead running from the winch solenoid box to the battery in FRONT of the radiator. And you can see green from the trees in the background above that wire. No, it ain't pretty and smooth, but yes, it does have airflow.

 

[4OYOTER]

It's not an issue. The air box takes air from the very top of the inner fender, way up from those slots.

It CAN be an issue. I've experienced it first hand in two different Tacomas with the same intake setup. If you fling enough muddy water at just the right angle it WILL make its way up there. It might not be enough to cause any problems, but finding remnants of muddy water in your intake house and air filter can surely be alarming.