Active Grille Shutter Operation?

Looked them up. Items #15 and #16 here:


Cheaper than I had expected. I guess if they protect the radiators, that would be a good thing.

Watthour said:

Agreed. That answers a lot of questions, and not just about the cooling.

In case anyone thinks this is new technology, here's a version from 1931 (you can see the shutters are open):

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Those are also under direct control of the Powertrain Control Processor on that model. Some of those in the fleet had no shutters, but the dual-fuel capable units usually did for pulling excessive loads.

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I'm surprised they didn't put shutters on semi-trucks years ago. You always see them in the wintertime with either cardboard or a zip-open cloth/vinyl cover over the radiator/grille. I guess cardboard/vinyl is cheaper.

GM removed the shutters after 2020 or 2021, I can’t remember which. I’d love to add a switch to keep them open for towing. That said, my trans temps are the same towing and not towing. Not towing when it’s 95 degrees out, traverse loaded with 4 of us and stuff for a week, driving 70+mph in the mountain highways we will see between 200-210 degree transmission temps. I’m guessing the shutters and engine cooling are all going full open by then, which is why it doesn’t go over that much for me.

One thing to remember for the trans temps, they will largely follow engine temps. This is because the trans oil goes through the radiator. Engine temps of 210 degrees are normal. Also, adding an external trans radiator will have the negative effect that in winter your trans oil will stay cold. That can be bad over time too.

So they removed shutters in 20 or 21..
And put them back?
My 23 has them.

GMpartsdirect.com shows them for both 2020 and 2021.

Here's 2020:


The 2023's seem to be a bit different:


I'm assuming what we call shutters and what GM call shutters are the same thing. 😁

Shutters are here on everything now. My '20 Traverse has them as well as my '23 Silverado.
My Silverado has a tow package as well as my Traverse, modern computers monitor trans and engine temps and will open / close shutters as needed.
Change that trans fluid every 30k miles especially if towing with a light duty vehicle like the Traverse.

I’ve looked at my neighbor’s closely and it doesn’t have them. Can’t remember if it’s a 2021 or 2022. Maybe I’ll sneak another look though.

vtmecheng said:

I’ve looked at my neighbor’s closely and it doesn’t have them. Can’t remember if it’s a 2021 or 2022. Maybe I’ll sneak another look though.

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Unless they're closed, you may not be able to tell a "shutter" from a "grille."

On our '23 LT the upper shutters were part of the Premium package. Surprised me when I saw that because it means Chevy removed something they used to hit their EPA numbers and they are not mentioning it to consumers.

I have a 23 LT.
If im not mistaken, i have the upper and lower.

rbarrios said:

I have a 23 LT.
If im not mistaken, i have the upper and lower.

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Perhaps you are mistaken (doubtful), but I am not. My 217 CID AWD '23 LT - Cloth (nearly base level) has the small lower and the large upper shutters. It's as obvious as the dumb look on a politician's face. It does have the towing package, and the included HD cooling package. Whether or not that makes any difference, I am unsure.

Interesting, I double checked my '23 LT window sticker and the upper shutters are listed under the Premium package.

Perusing the brochures, active shutters don't show up in the 2018-2022 brochures, but do show up in the 2023 brochure. Yet we KNOW they are on the 2018-2019 models.

So it may be that Chevy is just now making a fuss over them.

Free marketing. Most owners are clueless on functionality or reasons for shutters.
If they didn't have a big impact on fuel economy, they would not be there.
My Silverado has ducted air around the front tires as well as shutters. If I didn't see daylight through the front wheel well, I would not have known.
Possibly the '23 have ducted air around the front tires? Are the louvers under the headlights solid or open? I haven't looked at one myself but on my Silverado the corner vents let air through into the wheel well.

Just looked at ours, it has the upper shutters but no lower ones. '23 LT Leather with Premium and Tow packages.

So:

The 2022 brochure says:
Active aero shutters standard on RS, Premier and High Country, and option on LT Leather, but requires available Active Cruise Control.

The 2023 brochure says:
Active aero shutters - upper and lower are standard on LS, LT Cloth, and LT Leather.
Active aero shutters - upper are standard on RS, Premier and High Country and optional on LT Leather with the LT Premium Package.

Since you only get the uppers on the higher trims, they must need more cooling for some reason????