Does Rock Guard on Towed Vehicle Block Air Flow to Transmission Cooler

Published 07/31/2024

Question:

I will be flat towing a 2024 Buick Encore GX behind my class C motorhome. Buick requires that the negative battery terminal be disconnected during flat towing. I am concerned that the Demco Sentry rock guard will restrict airflow to my toad causing potential damage to the vehicle’s transmission. There is no reference either way in my vehicle’s owners manual. What does Demco advise?

asked by: Andy

Expert Reply:

Hey Andy, so you don't generally have to worry about restricted air flow to the transmission cooler or transmission of your vehicle when it is being flat towed because since it is not running and powering itself it is not capable of actually creating any heat that would need to be cooled off. All of that stress would be on the tow vehicle instead. But for the Encore GX it is a problem so you can't do it.

If the owners manual does state to disconnect the battery you would need to do that as well.

expert reply by: Jameson C

Andy

7/31/2024

Thanks for the quick response Jameson. What you’re saying rings true from a common sense standpoint. Having said that, are you basing your response on common sense or have you conducted research and/or reached out to technical support/engineers at Demco and/or General Motors? Just trying to gauge the strength of your advice as it would be a very bad day if I damaged the transmission on my wife’s brand new car.

Jameson C.

7/31/2024

@Andy Heat So I did just check the owners manual of your vehicle and it does state that a rock guard would reduce air flow and cause damage to the transmission so I stand corrected!

Andy

7/31/2024

@JamesonC Thanks for clearing that up Jameson.. What is the page number of the owners manual that cautions against rock guards? Thanks again.

Jameson C.

7/31/2024

@Andy I believe it was page 313. Or you can go to the third last page of the owners manual and under the towing section look up the page number for the recreational section.