A Spoiler For Better MPG's?

[Chris.m]

So a while ago I came across this;

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2008/11 ... ler-d.html

Basically its a spoiler that "fixes" the vaccum left behind our boxy trucks.

Granted, the reasonable response would be: " If it really worked, wouldn't this be a massive success in an aftermarket/OEM application"
Maybe licensing fees are high? Either that or its total BS.

Anyway, Some guy in a Mazda 626 built one and put it on the back of his boxy car and claims to have improved his mileage by 12%. His also doesn't look as horrible as you'd think.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthread.p ... 13476.html

Heres a cut-out pic of the spoiler;



And heres a top-of-the-line MS paint mockup



Its not my pathy, as it turns out I never take profile pictures.


So now I have some ideas for a new weekend project. I figure foamboard + Fiberglass = MPG savings

[sicwitit]

there are a bizzilion things to do to a pathfinder to help get better gas mileage. Aerodynamics can play a huge roll in helping or hurting the end results. and unless your are always traveling at highway speeds, I'd focus on things that are going to help your driving style the most.

BTW, Nissan actually added a rear wing to the pathfinder in its later years of the R50 series to help out in the aero department. The wings wern't offered in the states, but if you search ebay hard enough, they pop up everynow and again.

[Towncivilian]

I had a rear wing and now I don't (door was replaced by myself). It seems useless to me, I notice no difference in mileage between when it was on and when it was off. Switching to 93 octane provided a small but, consistent increase in MPG.

[QX4ME]

I remember somewhere I read the spoiler is mainly for getting rid of dust being accumulated on the rear glass. If that is the case, I think it relates to the aero / vaccum which sucks dust onto the glass? Maybe it improves MPG in theory but very small amount?

By the way, I did notice that in 2002 I saw most QX4 had this spoiler. I happened to find one QX4 with spoiler but the window sticker didn't say it has it. I bought that one, thinking I saved a bit extra...

[Towncivilian]

I think you're right. My glass hatch seems to be that it is getting dirtier quicker than "normal" when I had the spoiler on, but perhaps I'm just noticing it more (placebo) because I've read that before.

I lost the spoiler because I picked the wrong door at the junkyard.

[Chris.m]

I was under the impression too that the OEM spoiler was just to clear the back window as it is just a flat wind delfector.

Whereas the spoiler design I had found earlier seems alot more engineered. Since not all spoilers are created equally, I was proposing that this new design may be more efficient and/or designed for a different purpose - aerodynmaics instead of window clearing ability.

Right now, no auto manufacturer that I can think of uses a spoiler design similar to the ones that were available with the Pathfinder/Qx4 (correct me if I'm wrong). I think that speaks largely of their design.

[QX4ME]

Yes, mine/ours spoiler is like a 45 degree piece. Most newer spoilers are horizontal pieces. Even my 00 RX300 spoiler is a horizontal one, and all newer RXs are horizontal. Only one year, 1999 RX300 is just like QX4/Pathinder, also 45 degree piece.

If there is no significant effect on MPG, I will take it off. It does not look very good, well integrated piece.

[Buzzman]

My own thoughts on this are: unless you drive almost 100% highway miles, a spoiler won't make a hill of beans of difference in your MPG.
Even then, I doubt a small change in airflow will result in any significant changes given the size, shape, and weight of our trucks.
As discussed many times before, the three biggest contributors to better mileage are: driving style, weight reduction, and keeping your vehicle properly maintained.
For example, reducing your highway cruising speed will give you noticeably better MPG's.
Gimmicks like spoilers, or those famous e-bay electronic devices (resistors), claiming 20% better mileage and 10% more horsepower, are total BS.
My $.02

[SBK03SE]

n00b question here, I need my rear seats, I enjoy having a spare tire and i like my roof rack. Is there anything else I can take off?

[asnorton44]

Running boards.

[Chris.m]

n00b question here, I need my rear seats, I enjoy having a spare tire and i like my roof rack. Is there anything else I can take off?

This guy covered all the bases with his Acura TL, it should give you some ideas

http://tl.acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=610974

[QX4ME]

Local Nissan dealer said the glass hatch hinge with no spoiler attachment is about $60 each. Courtesy Parts price is a little lower maybe $40 each. However, I found the Armada uses the same part number, only $20 each, from Courtesy Parts too.

[Chris.m]

Good find,

At first I thought that this was a case of the hinges sharing the first set of numbers, but followed by some defining number(s). After looking over some pictures, they do look very similar.

I wonder if there was an easy way to find shared, cheaper parts like the Altima? MAF

[Towncivilian]

I don't think there's an easy way to find out which parts interchange between vehicles/models. The MAF you're thinking of is one for a Maxima.