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Car Forum / Toyota / Toyota Cars / August 20082003 Highlander body / mileage question
My 2003 Highlander has what appears to be a spoiler mounted above the rear window AND rooftop carriers (side rails and 2 cross pieces). Is the spoiler functional or decorative? Will its removal improve mileage? Will removal of the cartop rack also improve mileage?  Signature================================================= Franz Fripplfrappl > My 2003 Highlander has what appears to be a spoiler mounted above the > rear window AND rooftop carriers (side rails and 2 cross pieces). [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > ================================================= > Franz Fripplfrappl The spoiler is not functional. Removing it should improve mileage. For any spoiler to have much of a difference, you have to be going about 160 km/hr or more. Taking the roof rack off will also improve mileage and very slightly lower the center of gravity. Taking both off will improve mileage by an estimated 0.01 mpg. Jeff >> My 2003 Highlander has what appears to be a spoiler mounted above the >> rear window AND rooftop carriers (side rails and 2 cross pieces). [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Jeff Thanks. I can figure out how to remove spoiler. How is roof rack removed? The money I save in gas I can use to buy the right tools. Signature================================================= Franz Fripplfrappl > >> My 2003 Highlander has what appears to be a spoiler mounted above the > >> rear window AND rooftop carriers (side rails and 2 cross pieces). [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > ================================================= > Franz Fripplfrappl I doubt you will save much. But, you should be able to see screws or bolts (maybe Torx bolts or ones that require Allen wrenches). >>> My 2003 Highlander has what appears to be a spoiler mounted above the >>> rear window AND rooftop carriers (side rails and 2 cross pieces). [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > Thanks. I can figure out how to remove spoiler. How is roof rack > removed? The money I save in gas I can use to buy the right tools. See my response to Jeff. Removing the spoiler could have a negative effect. Removing it will certainly make the rear of the vehicle dirtier. If Toyota put it there, it's there for a reason. They aren't into adding 'cool stuff' that will detract from mileage. Also, removing it will leave holes in the surface from which it was removed, and may provide a better foothold for rust. Removing the spoiler and the roofrack will probably be imperceptible in terms of fuel economy, probably no more than 1 MPG. >> My 2003 Highlander has what appears to be a spoiler mounted above the >> rear window AND rooftop carriers (side rails and 2 cross pieces). [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > any spoiler to have much of a difference, you have to be going about > 160 km/hr or more. Where the heck did you get this? Any spoiler is functional. Just matters on what the function is. Some are to look cool and often have a negative effect. Toyota does not attach spoilers merely to make cars look cool. If it was a factory spoiler it serves at least the function of helping to reduce drag. In the case of an SUV with a wide, mostly flat rear door, it is also to prevent a vortex from firming at the back of the vehicle, thereby increasing drag, esp when another vehicle is in the vortex (otherwise known as 'drafting'.) Also, keeping the vortex from forming also helps keep the rear window clean. =?iso-2022-jp?q?Hachiroku_=1B$B%O%A%m%=2F=1B=28B?= <Trueno@e86.GTS> wrote in news:pan.2008.08.22.01.42.25.688062@e86.GTS: >>> My 2003 Highlander has what appears to be a spoiler mounted above >>> the rear window AND rooftop carriers (side rails and 2 cross [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Toyota does not attach spoilers merely to make cars look cool. Hachi, speaking as one RWD A-engined Corolla lover to another, Toyota does in fact do just this very thing. See any Celica for proof. > If it > was a factory spoiler it serves at least the function of helping to > reduce drag. Spoilers in ALL cases INCREASE drag. Spoilers are not intended to improve aerodynamics, but to correct for certain defects in same. > In the case of an SUV with a wide, mostly flat rear door, > it is also to prevent a vortex from firming at the back of the > vehicle, thereby increasing drag, esp when another vehicle is in the > vortex (otherwise known as 'drafting'.) Next sentence separated from preceding text for clarity... > Also, keeping the vortex from forming also helps keep the rear window > clean. That last is the actual reason for a specific type of spoiler at the top rear of all cars that have a vertical rear window. SignatureTegger > =?iso-2022-jp?q?Hachiroku_=1B$B%O%A%m%=2F=1B=28B?= <Tru...@e86.GTS> > wrote innews:pan.2008.08.22.01.42.25.688062@e86.GTS: [quoted text clipped - 46 lines] > -- > Tegger That and that it looks bad a.s cool. But, the spoiler adds mass (I bet at least 100 g) and increases drag. That's why the mileage should go up by at least 0.01 mpg. Jeff >My 2003 Highlander has what appears to be a spoiler mounted above the >rear window AND rooftop carriers (side rails and 2 cross pieces). > >Is the spoiler functional or decorative? Will its removal improve >mileage? Will removal of the cartop rack also improve mileage? The spoiler is functional, it keeps the back window cleaner and reduces drag by filling in the partial vacuum at the back of the car as you drive ~25 MPH to freeway speeds. With the spoiler the clean air from the roof goes down the back window, without it the dirt the tires kick up would get sucked into a vortex and deposit on the rear glass. And if the rear window is operable and partly or fully open the dirt and debris would get deposited inside. You can remove it and pick up a fraction of a MPG (no big difference) but you will also see the negative effects. --<< Bruce >>-- |
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