One Windshield Wiper Instead of Two

[Wayneburg]

I once saw a car that was all customized out. Instead of having 2 front windshield wipers it just had one big one that was secured just off center of the windshield. I cant seem to find a picture of an example on the net or I would provide one.

Do you think there would be any benefit to a hypermiler car to have just one big windshield wiper?

Are there weight savings? Power savings? Cost savings in replacement blades?

[Wayneburg]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Wayne, you really need to think about this weight savings thing.

I know... And I haven't even bought my new used car yet.

My thinking is, I might as well figure out the best ways to modify this car and avoid making any huge mistakes when I start up modifications.

But, yeah.. I need help

[i_am_socket]

You'd be surprised how much people will spend to reduce their bicycle weight by a few grams...

[Wayneburg]

I'm into light-weight backpacking. In that sport every bit of unnecessary weight is shaved off of every item. So this is kind of how I'm approaching hypermiling.

[tjts1]

Remove both wipers and store them in the trunk along with the appropriate size wrench. When its about to rain, it takes me all of 3 minutes in install both wipers. This has nothing to do with weight and everything to do with drag. On a small car like the E30, the wipers are worth 1mpg on the highway. You'll also notice your wipers blades last much much longer when they don't accumulate dust through the dry season. We don't get a drop of rain for 7 months a year.

[tjts1]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

How did you determine the 1 mpg gain?

I agree about the blades lasting longer though. Seems like I'm always replacing deteriorated blades that have NEVER been used.

Instant and average MPG displayed by the OBC over many fill ups.

[Big Dave]

Gotta like this. No extra weight at all.

http://www.gravitydb.com/speed/

Change the gearing a bit and what works for speed will work for FE.

[tasdrouille]

Caring about the weight of a windshield wiper on a car is a bit like caring about the weight of the pull tabs on your backpack. Maybe you removed all your pull tabs and use a paper clip you can switch between sliders :P. Anyway, there are lower hanging fruits out there.

1 mpg from no front wipers on a 27 mpg or so car seems a bit far fetched when compared with other aero mods and the results generally obtainned. I'm skeptical too, but i'd be willing to try it out.

[tjts1]

Originally Posted by tasdrouille

1 mpg from no front wipers on a 27 mpg or so car seems a bit far fetched when compared with other aero mods and the results generally obtainned. I'm skeptical too, but i'd be willing to try it out.

Funny, I've never gotten 27mpg. Wost tank ever was 28mpg, best was 35, all highway. Since the majority of my driving is local mix of city and highway with trips between 3-15 miles at a time, my fuel economy is very consistent between 30-32mpg. Its really easy to beat EPA numbers. I'm running 12% taller differential, electric fan and manual steering. If you really want to split hairs, the wipers were worth 1.3 mpg on highway only runs. Obviously this car was designed before BMW discovered the wind tunnel.
http://blocati.de/wp-content/uploads...30-318i-01.jpg

[trikkonceptz]

In the realm of spliting hairs ... then technically running with just 1 wiper would better than 2 at hwy speeds ... and likely safer than none.

Let me get through my other mods this week and perhaps once I get my scangauge I'll do a couple days of running with 1 vs 2 wipers just for ****s ang giggles to help put this to rest ..