Scion xA aero mods

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi,

A quick update: I added a bit more duct tape to seal the hood joint with the top of the headlights. This tank is looking very good: ~370 miles with ~1/4 tank left = ~490 miles on the tank (!!!) = ~49mpg! Woohooo! That is simply amazing...these front end aero mods have added ~65-70 miles per tank, and they will have added ~5mpg to my pre-mod best!

[Edit: This is on my regular commute, so it is a round trip -- all the downhills are uphills in the other direction; and traffic is hardly ideal. There is no way I could do any pulse + glide...]

My lifetime average is 37+mpg -- and this tank looks like it will be 10-12mpg better than that. I'm still flabbergasted...

My working theory is that covering the fog lights has smoothed the air flow coming off the sides of the chin spoiler; possibly helping air to flow out an around the front wheels?

I want to make a pan for the rear undercarriage behind the axle -- ideally, this could be structural, and the new space would add a fair amount of volume to this car's Achilles Heel -- storage space. Both the rear bumper fascia and part of the metal frame hang down an form sharp edges across the air flow.

[echomodder]

NeilBlanchard Do you have a scangauge? Just wondering what the water temp got to? I've been thinking of doing so aero mods to my echo but am wondering if that will cause the cooling fan to kick on more taking all the saved gas from the mod?

[NeilBlanchard]

Hello,

I do not have a Scangauge -- yet. The coolant did not get too hot -- the electric fan only ever comes on when I'm stuck in traffic. The red warning light never came on.

My mileage has improved with these mods -- so, the answer to your question is the mods save gas; and the car does not overheat. It was nearly 100F yesterday, and all was fine.

Mechanically, the Echo is very similar to the xA (and the xB and the Spectrum). Are the grill openings similar? (Post some pictures.) Try blocking only the top of the grill with one strip of duct tape (and seal the edge of the hood), and see how it goes.

[NoCO2]

I did similarly to my Camry recently and have yet to see any gains from it, but my last tank was an oddball because I drove in the rain for about half of it unfortunately so less is to be expected. However, as of right now with my lower grill blocks (upper is going to be tricky to cover because of it's shape) I haven't noticed the fans kicking in more (I would hear them, one makes a sound like a frog) and my temps haven't moved at all (and I'm actually very low on coolant right now, which reminds me I need to fill it up). It will be interesting, once I put the partial belly pan in to bridge the gap from the bumper to the chassis, if the heat builds up in any exponential fashion or if there are any real aero gains made.

That should be your next move though, once you're sure everything is ok where it is with the grill blocks, made a panel to cover the underside of the front of the car to seal the gap that is usually between where the radiator is and the bottom of the bumper.

[NeilBlanchard]

Hello,

Originally Posted by NoCO2

That should be your next move though, once you're sure everything is ok where it is with the grill blocks, made a panel to cover the underside of the front of the car to seal the gap that is usually between where the radiator is and the bottom of the bumper.

Actually, on the xA there is already a couple of plastic panels extending back to below the radiator -- there are some holes in it, and the two pieces move around a bit. This would concentrate the air flow through the radiator, and if anything, it will improve the cooling.

Another aero mod I want to do is to improve the air intake for the ventilation system. It is pretty anemic and a lot of warm air leaks into it from under the hood -- but now I've got the hood taped shut!

[NeilBlanchard]

G'Day,

Well, I filled the tank today:

458.8 miles (a new high)
9.882 gallons ($4.04.9/gallon = $40.01)
46.4mpg -- a new high as well, but less than I'd hoped...there was about 15-18 miles of stop and go traffic on Rt. 3/93/95, and on Rt 117 -- very thick. There were a few accidents along the way, so I'll see how things go on the next tank. Things are trending in the right direction!

I may try (partially) covering the slot just above the bumper...

[digitaldissent]

dude 46 is great! you got me beat

don't you just hate it when you know your getting awesome MPG then you get stuck someplace and you are all "oh noes!" this is going to hurt

[NeilBlanchard]

Hello,

A further modification test; I've filled in a pretty deep inset between the A-pillar and the windshield:


I'll see how these go...

[MetroMPG]

You mean you filled the rain channels on the sides of the windshield?

The 1995+ Metro doesn't have any A pillar rain channels, or drip rails. Good for aero, bad when it rains (water streams freely into the side windows even if they're just cracked open a little).

[Cd]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

You mean you filled the rain channels on the sides of the windshield?

The 1995+ Metro doesn't have any A pillar rain channels, or drip rails. Good for aero, bad when it rains (water streams freely into the side windows even if they're just cracked open a little).

I've wondered about that area of my Civic.

As you can see, the air slams right into those cannels causing a lot of drag ( I assume )



Now I know why they are designed like that . Thanks for clearing that up Metro !

Congratulations on your progress Neil ! You have some cool stickers BTW.