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jamesshaw89 · 02-15-2012, 09:46 PM

Hi all,

I've been lurking on the forums for a couple years and am just now starting to implement some mods on my Prius. I google'd "signs" and called around until I found 4x8 1/4" coroplast in black for $20 a sheet so I picked up 2 sheets this afternoon.

Mod #1 turned from a grill block into a front air dam. I cut and taped some cardboard into the front bumper and guesstimated an 11" piece would be a good start so I cut (2) 11" pieces with the ribs running from top to bottom so it would bend around the front bumper. I unbolted the license plate and used windex to make sure the bumper was clean for the black duct tape to stick to it. I tried to use a heat gun to get the coroplast hot enough to smoothly bend but it still buckled at the sharp part of the bumper curve. I put the 2 small triangle pieces in the center of the air dam to keep it from bending until I can make a more substantial support later this week.

Other than with the Scan Gauge and driving the same route using cruise control I don't have any good testing methods yet but...

Car was able to reach mid 180's coolant temp @ 55mph where it normally only makes it to 170's and sometimes only 160's.

Trip to school is usually 58mpg and today I got 68 but the temp was 56 vs 30's normally so the extra 20 degrees ambient could have done most of that. my best ever on that trip is 78mpg using no heat and no lights @70 degrees, today I had the heater on 2 and my driving lights on...cruise still set on 55.

Trip home is almost always 54mpg lights and heat on same as tonight cruise set at 55...pulled in the driveway at 58mpg and it was misting rain the whole trip home.

Net gain? with it being warmer today I have no idea.

Wheel skirts(front and rear), belly pan and possibly a boat tail are the mods I'm shooting to get done and tested in the next 8-9 days. I'm going to be making an 1,000 mile round trip next weekend so I'm hoping to really get a good trip average.

So far my normal long highway trip average is right at 52mpg with cruise set at 58mph in 55mph and 68mph in 65mph zones.

OK more tomorrow after I make the rear wheel skirts.

02-15-2012, 09:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
jamesshaw89 EcoModding Lurker Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Dayton Ohio Posts: 26 2007Prius - '07 Toyota Prius Base 90 day: 44.4 mpg (US) 1996s10 - '96 Chevrolet S10 90 day: 20.01 mpg (US) Thanks: 2 Thanked 13 Times in 5 Posts	2007 Prius aero mod journey Hi all, I've been lurking on the forums for a couple years and am just now starting to implement some mods on my Prius. I google'd "signs" and called around until I found 4x8 1/4" coroplast in black for $20 a sheet so I picked up 2 sheets this afternoon. Mod #1 turned from a grill block into a front air dam. I cut and taped some cardboard into the front bumper and guesstimated an 11" piece would be a good start so I cut (2) 11" pieces with the ribs running from top to bottom so it would bend around the front bumper. I unbolted the license plate and used windex to make sure the bumper was clean for the black duct tape to stick to it. I tried to use a heat gun to get the coroplast hot enough to smoothly bend but it still buckled at the sharp part of the bumper curve. I put the 2 small triangle pieces in the center of the air dam to keep it from bending until I can make a more substantial support later this week. Other than with the Scan Gauge and driving the same route using cruise control I don't have any good testing methods yet but... Car was able to reach mid 180's coolant temp @ 55mph where it normally only makes it to 170's and sometimes only 160's. Trip to school is usually 58mpg and today I got 68 but the temp was 56 vs 30's normally so the extra 20 degrees ambient could have done most of that. my best ever on that trip is 78mpg using no heat and no lights @70 degrees, today I had the heater on 2 and my driving lights on...cruise still set on 55. Trip home is almost always 54mpg lights and heat on same as tonight cruise set at 55...pulled in the driveway at 58mpg and it was misting rain the whole trip home. Net gain? with it being warmer today I have no idea. Wheel skirts(front and rear), belly pan and possibly a boat tail are the mods I'm shooting to get done and tested in the next 8-9 days. I'm going to be making an 1,000 mile round trip next weekend so I'm hoping to really get a good trip average. So far my normal long highway trip average is right at 52mpg with cruise set at 58mph in 55mph and 68mph in 65mph zones. OK more tomorrow after I make the rear wheel skirts.