[hawk2100n]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Another possibility is that the overly large stock grill is letting air *back* out* because there is too much pressure and so the air exits through the less effect part of the grill? The earlier Taurus with the small oval upper grill and the large lower grill apparently had air flow out of the upper grill.

But it could also be different ambient air temperature, or the lower drag loaded the engine less, as suggested above.

+1 for drmiller because I suspect the same thing in my civic. Upper grille block is in a suspected area of low pressure from air coming off of the bumper. I think this is possible.