Windsheild Wiper Cowl - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

mldeptula · 04-24-2011, 09:19 PM

Hello I'm new here. I was wondering do you guys think one of those windshield wiper cowls would help reduce drag on my 2002 ford focus zx3 if they make one for the car?

basjoos · 04-24-2011, 10:28 PM

It could help reduce drag slightly by getting the windshield wipers out of the airflow.

JethroBodine · 04-24-2011, 11:21 PM

I've been debating this question for my mods as the wipers are exposed on my Jetta also. I wonder if "parking" the wipers vertically would be another option. I have tried this a couple times on EOffCoasting on rainy days, and it seems to change the flow of water drops up the windshield and there isn't any puddling where the wipers were. Thoughts?

smck · 04-25-2011, 08:42 AM

I just put a set of lower profile Trico blades with an offset on mine. This allowed me to index the wiper arms down a bit and get them further out of the air stream.

Frank Lee · 04-25-2011, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JethroBodine

... Thoughts?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97T4e...eature=related

JethroBodine · 04-26-2011, 12:21 AM

Thanks Frank. I actually laughed VERY hard.

Frank Lee · 04-26-2011, 02:21 PM

Well it's true! That song has been going through my head for two days now.

gone-ot · 04-26-2011, 03:30 PM

...wait! where were the rest of the band, the kazoo, banjo and accordian?

orange4boy · 04-26-2011, 10:10 PM

They reduce drag a bit depending on your windshield angle but they can reduce wind noise a lot. You probably can't measure the difference in drag with mpg's but the wind noise reduction can be nice. If you are driving on those lovely interstates paved with fist size rocks you won't notice either.

JethroBodine · 04-26-2011, 10:48 PM

Just to show I've been paying attention, I have read many posts about the fronts of vehicles don't give nearly the benefits as the back, and usually they are good enough as is( can I have my cookie now?). I was thinking much further down the road AFTER taking care of the rest( under, back, FA, engine,... can I have 2 cookies?) I hadn't gotten to the lowering wind noise thing, but I like it.

mldeptula, You'll probably get to this before I do, so how about some findings?

Ha! Ha! Frank, you deserve it. You posted it

.

It rained today, I parked my wipers verticle and started humming that song. Good thing I was alone

.

P.S. I'm listening to it again, right now.

P.P.S. ... or the Jews-harp, or the bow-saw, or the wash tub bass,...