how much does my roof rack affect my mileage/MPG
 

I'm want to know how much the roof rack affects my FE. I am willing to take it out but I'm not sure how to remove it.
Thanks

Hello,

I'm pretty sure it adds drag. Some pictures would help?

Here's a pic of the official Honda rack. Yup, that takes a couple of mpg. It look like it mounts to the roof drip rail. Probably uses torx of square bit drivers. Here are the assembly instructions. You'll need new roof moldings. Just removing the crossbars will give you most of the gain and will be the least PITA.

http://www.handa-accessories.com/ridgeline/roofrack.pdf

http://www.handa-accessories.com/ridgeline/roofrack.jpg

"How much it will help" depends on lots of things. On my '00 Grand Voyager removing it seemed to be a dependable 1 mpg gain. Usual tanks (no ecodriving) were 18-20, without the rack they're 19-21. YMMV :)

As for how to remove it, mine had five screws on each side -- two in the front and back, one in the middle. The screw heads were "hidden" in the mounts a bit, but they came right out and the rack lifted off. I put the screws back in the holes to kinda' sorta' seal them up, also so I wouldn't lose them when we sell the van.

Darin, one of the big contributors here, has an entry on his web page about just this subject, with his usual very precise, honest appraisal of the specifics:

The Wrath of Racks

where would i find a T-25 torx square bit drivers

The tool section of any auto parts store should carry the torx tips,and driver handle.Just ask the for assistance,and those folks will fix you up.

If the torx bolts are not in too tight, you might be able to find a flat-blade screwdriver tip that will fit and loosen them. At least, that's how I got my Odyssey cross-bars off our van. On the other hand, you could mess up the tip of the screwdriver if you try it, so if you don't mind collecting tools, get the proper tip.

this makes me wonder if removing the roof rack rails on my explorer would make a difference. its never had the cross pieces, just the 2 rails that run the length of the rig. i guess it could help save weight, i know the running boards weighed close to 50 pounds each.

There would be a definite increase in mpg once you remove those roof rack rails. Not that big, but it would definitely help.

FYI, removing the roof rack (including cross bars) from my brother's '05 Pontiac Montana was good for a 2.8% improvement in fuel economy at 55 mph / 88.5 km/h.

In MPG (US), from 32.8 mpg (racks on) to 33.7 mpg (racks off).

This was determined with cruise controlled, bi-directional runs on an empty, straight, level road. (One bi-directional run with racks on; 6 with racks off.)

Of course, the faster you go, the larger the % savings will be.

Pulled the x-bars off Moon Unit today. Should expect a 1-5% increase based on anecdotal evidence presented... so maybe +.2-1.3 mpg...

But I also swapped out wipers for shorter "braceless" Rain-X blades. 50 mpg here we come!

Even if it turns out to gain +0, the thing looks better.