Windshield Wiper Spoiler "Findings"

[66sprint6]

Im not puttin wings on my wipers lol, they do a GREAT job as they are and I will never reach speeds high enough to need wiper wings what with my little motor puttin down all of 88hp This spoiler is on the hood itself deflecting the air away from the wipers while in the off/down/unused/resting/dormant/hibernating/fetal position
Matt

[66sprint6]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I have tried wiper delete and "filleted" cowl panel filler to no noticeable fe change whatsoever.

BTW I'd wager Tempo and Escort windshield angles are very similar.

They do look similar without havin one to put next to the Escort. I know there is a dead spot around this area of the car, but figured it was worth a try. If it is worthless Ill toss it out. It took me no time at all to put together and I have no pride invested lol so nothin lost. Just wondered what people thought and I am keepin track of the yays and nays so thanks guys!
Matt

[FPO]

You could cut it in 1/2 and see how the other side of the windshield is affected.

[Frank Lee]

I made my cowl filler in halves. I ran it through rain without it, with the whole thing, and with half. Droplet behavior was the same in all cases.

[66sprint6]

Hmm...interesting. Depending on how long the double sided tape holds up, I might give it a while then take it back off and see what happens without it. Next time I think I might put it on with rare earth magnets so I can take it on and off for "testing" lol. Ide also like to know if it contributed at all to the reduction in wind/road noise or if it was all the front spoiler.
Matt

[Frank Lee]

Also ran with and without wipers, with one wiper, etc. It'll be interesting to see if your observations are the same.

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I made my cowl filler in halves. I ran it through rain without it, with the whole thing, and with half. Droplet behavior was the same in all cases.

I actually saw a difference in how droplets deposited on my windshield moved off. With the wipers in their stock positions I had a bigger "bubble" on the lower portion of the windshield. With my current set-up the one blade is set farther down into the well than stock. It almost equals the plane of the hood. With that set up, the bubble was smaller when observing the movement of droplets after a rain. Whether that makes much of a difference overall, I do not know. BTW, this was not a "methodical" test, and I don't know for sure if the result would be repeated in more "methodical" circumstances.

[NeilBlanchard]

Another test might be to put a couple of small leaves or pieces of paper resting on the windshield on the wipers. On my car, leaves get stuck there for an entire drive, or only get blown off in a crosswind. I think that on most vehicles, a majority of the area around the wipers is a stagnant pocket of air. The air simply doesn't flow close to the car in this area.

And any mods you make here will have virtually zero effect. Smooth wheel covers - check. Wheel skirts - check. Kamm back - check. Grill blocks - check. Wheel strakes - check. Belly pans - check. Boattail - check. But wiper deletes and cowlings won't make much of a difference, if any.

[66sprint6]

The old sayin "Results May Vary" comes into play here I guess LOL. I get bored easy and usually fill that boredom with LOUD exhaust, turbo spooling noises, rush of speed or tire smoke so this goin slow, coasting and havin all of 88hp under my right foot thing is a bit different. This site has made me LOVE it tho, I enjoy the hell out of this stupid little econobox Escort and love messin with it in an attempt to stretch the next tank even more. I can see rainy days gettin more interesting from here on as I "test" different setups LOL
Matt

[66sprint6]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Another test might be to put a couple of small leaves or pieces of paper resting on the windshield on the wipers. I think that on most vehicles, a majority of the area around the wipers is a stagnant pocket of air. The air simply doesn't flow close to the car in this area.

And any mods you make here will have virtually zero effect. Smooth wheel covers - check. Wheel skirts - check. Kamm back - check. Grill blocks - check. Wheel strakes - check. Belly pans - check. Boattail - check. But wiper deletes and cowlings won't make much of a difference, if any.

I would love to mock up a sort of windtunnel and play with it but I might try your idea...Ive noticed before on my truck how leaves get stuck and they will flap all around but usually only dislodge entirely when I run the wipers and get them into the airstream...the flapping tho tells me that somethin is goin on down there. I know some cowl induction hoods draw air from this area...hmmm. I need to make up some of those "tuft" test thingies from some yarn or whatever.
Matt