Scion xA aero mods

[badaz907]

I removed my rear spoiler today and hooked up a vacuum gauge boy ti really help my gas mileage this tank I predict will be 400+ city

[NeilBlanchard]

Hello,

I'm finally uploading a picture of my second set of wheel skirts; this time they are made out of Coroplast, with an 1/8" diameter metal rod inside of the bottom corrugation tube, to stiffen it.

I have since removed the AirTabs, but I may attempt to make some homemade vortex generators.

[whokilledthejams]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Hello,

I'm finally uploading a picture of my second set of wheel skirts; this time they are made out of Coroplast, with an 1/8" diameter metal rod inside of the bottom corrugation tube, to stiffen it.

I have since removed the AirTabs, but I may attempt to make some homemade vortex generators.

Nice! Someone on the scionlife forum recently posted a picture of an xB with a really nice set of fiberglass skirts, and about half the replies had to do with how horrible they thought it looked, while some of us (those that realize that you can improve the shape of an xB) thought it was great.

I'd love to have skirts, but I'm hesitant to use coroplast. I'd actually prefer something a bit more permanent.

Do you have anything other than tape holding them on?

[Xringer]

Very nice looking Skirts! Nice color too!

Too bad about the AirTabs. I was thinking about getting a few to install on the
trailing edge of my OEM belly pan. Maybe smooth the flow under the oil pan..
I may just make some VG tabs out of plastic to try the idea.

You should try duct taping over the holes in your rims. I don't know if there is any MPG change, but my CRV is making less road noise on the highway now and I think that might be a good thing..
I can hear my GPS & car radio better now..

[NeilBlanchard]

Hello,

I could use some Velcro, or some screws (if I didn't mind the holes), or some sort of internal fasteners. But, for me the tape is great, because if I have to change a tire, I can just peel the tape off. In the winter, they have to come off anyway )slush and frozen gook would clog everything up faster than anything!

The tape is flush, it is quite effective, and all I have to to to remove the stickum is use a little Goof-Off and/or alchohol.

Coroplast is lightweight, easy to cut and fold, very durable, and cheap. (I paid $20 for the 4x8 sheet.) The hardest part (by far) was shaving off the back face and the ribs, so I could have the outer face form a flange that is nearly flush. I would make yours out of Coroplast to test their effectiveness, and then to use them as a pattern if you want to make them more permanent.

The line is where I had to bend the full sheet to get it into my car...

[azraelswrd]

Magnets or double sided industrial strength tape are other alternatives to drilless attachments. Can't wait to hear how they affect FE. You do the xA proud!!!

[NeilBlanchard]

Hello,

I'm contemplating revising the current Coroplast skirts to fit like the earlier set I had -- I think the the flush leading edge may be better for FE; despite the tire itself sticking out. There may be air coming out from under the car that is held "in" by the longer skirt?

I have still not beaten my best tankful; which was with the acrylic (shorter) skirts.

Another thing I am trying to figure out, is the effect of the plastic "bulges" on the rocker panels? It looks like they could be taken off -- does anybody have any experience with their affect on the xA?

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi y'all,

More updates -- here's the stock undercarriage of my xA, with all the voids and very rough edges -- the rear bumper fascia and frame are "sails":


Here's the partial belly pan I made out of Coroplast -- I added a bit more Gorilla tape to the left side to lift it up and support it (I looped it through the tow eyelet).



I have the front edge of the Coroplast tucked into the beam suspension, and the back edge is tucked above the bottom edge of the bumper cover. The tape is just to keep it from shifting around. It does move a bit when the beam/rear suspension move, and I'll keep an eye on the tape.

I've added "wedges" to the part of the front of the wheel skirts that stick out, to try to smooth the air flow and to reduce drag:



And last but not least, here is my revised grill blocks; leaving less than 1/3 the areas open. It is still keeping cool enough -- I have seen a small increase in the coolant temperature at slow speeds, but it is not enough to worry about.

[whokilledthejams]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Hi y'all,



I have the front edge of the Coroplast tucked into the beam suspension, and the back edge is tucked above the bottom edge of the bumper cover. The tape is just to keep it from shifting around. It does move a bit when the beam/rear suspension move, and I'll keep an eye on the tape.

How's the coroplast fairing around the muffler? That's the killer for me, is the routing of the exhaust system. I think someday, I might get a shortened exhaust that exits in front of one of the rear wheels, but in the meantime, I'd like to cover up the rear of my xB's belly as you have. If the coroplast doesn't melt for you, you've given me some ideas.

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi,

The Coroplast is bowed down (because it bends under the springs) and it is at least 3-4 inches away from the muffler. I'll go look right now, but I doubt that the heat has done anything to the Coroplast.

[NeilBlanchard]

Holy shewow! I may have broken the 50MPG mark, with 50.33mpg! -- though the caveat is I filled it at a different station, and the ground is not level. I will split the difference with the next tank, I think.

The SGII said ~47.25 which is still near the best I have seen. It read 9.9 gallons, whereas I only pumped >9.3 gallons. Even it comes down to 48-49mpg, I will have set a new high.

[whokilledthejams]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Holy shewow! I may have broken the 50MPG mark, with 50.33mpg! -- though the caveat is I filled it at a different station, and the ground is not level. I will split the difference with the next tank, I think.

The SGII said ~47.25 which is still near the best I have seen. It read 9.9 gallons, whereas I only pumped >9.3 gallons. Even it comes down to 48-49mpg, I will have set a new high.

Good job!

I take it your muffler hasn't melted the coroplast?

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi,

Nope, the Coroplast is fine!

Next, I'm going to cut some Gorilla tape with pinking shears, to make something like ZZtape.

[azraelswrd]

Excellent progress! Just checked out your mileage log... wow, that's a lot of driving in a short period of time.

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi again,

I've modified the Coroplast wheel skirts to be more like the acrylic wheels skirts I first made. For the xA at least, it seems to be better to keep the wheel skirts as flush as possible, and not worry as much about "coverage". The upper part of the wheel opening is way too big and covering it helps a certain amount, but sticking out the lower portion causes some drag that largely offsets the gain of covering the top.

I'll post pictures soon.

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi,

Sorry, no pictures (yet), but I've made two further tweaks:

I've removed the two front mudflaps, that were behind the front wheels (like someone had suggested a long time ago).

I've cut off the trailing piece of the Coroplast that was behind the rear tires (that was left after I cut them up and around the wheels), since it could have been catching the air and causing more drag.

These changes seem to have helped a little bit, though it is hard to tell an absolute quantity because my FE has been dropping in the cooler weather that we have been getting lately. This morning for example, it was in the upper 40's when I left for work.

[i_am_socket]

That is some fantastic progress!! Can't wait to see the pictures

[Daox]

Looks good, and the MPG is a risin!

[Xringer]

I really like that rear undercarriage cover.
I wish there was an easy way to do that on my CRV rear end.

Can't wait to see the cut of the new skirts. After reading your posts,
I'm thinking about putting mine inside the edge of the wheel well,
completely out of the side air flow area.

The price? they will be really short. But I too have WAY too much open
space above my wheels..
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/CRV/M089.jpg
I may try to bow them outward a bit with music wire, if they are going
to be too short to work.

[TELVM]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

That's a very nice diffuser, good work .