Wiper cover build

[sallen]

Hi there fellow Modders,

I have taken the plunge with my 96 VW Golf MK3 and started a few aero mods. I am getting roughly the manufacturers average of 38mpg (in "wierdy US mpg") from the old school D-turbo motor, so it's time to make that better.

I am starting with the low hanging fruit for FE (service, tyre pressures, light aero mods) and the first aero mod will be my wiper shield. After seeing them on a few newer models as standard, and retrofitted to the Audi Biogas car (see here). I decided to take the plunge.

I helped myself out by buying some low profile wipers (see attached pictures) and re shaping (read "bending") the wiper arms to sit as low as possible.

I then did the usual cardboard mockups, and jigsawed the shape out of an old plastic road sign that has been lying in my street for weeks.

You can see the rough shape in the second pic. I should have it sprayed and mounted this weekend, when the epoxy gluing the two pieces together has set.

Any comments are welcome.

[IsaacCarlson]

you will do well having that deflector/shield. just keep the angle as low as possible to not upset the benefits. i was going to make one too until i realized i could park my wipers a LOT lower and actually have them UNDER the hood. i will try and post pics.

[sallen]

I did look at lowering my park position but it went way too low, getting caught up in metal and rubber ridges under the bonnet.

Good advice on the angle, I will try and set them as low to the wipers as possible (hence the bending of the arms). Hopefully it won't look to shabby and I will see a gain. Tomorrow I'm changing the auxilery drivebelt too, it has been squealing and I'm thinking the friction from that is why I'm getting crap MPG at the mo.

[sallen]

I have attached a photo of the wiper shield in place (although not angled properly yet).

@IsaacCarlson Well done for getting your wipers out the way, I guess lots of folk could do the same if their cars allowed.

[orange4boy]

Good idea. I want to do this on my van but it's not as easy as your seat up.

You might want to have your battery checked and check for a voltage leak at the same time. A dying battery can rob FE by pulling a lot of amps from the engine as it tries to charge it up. A leak drains the battery which the car has to charge up later.

Does it happen when you first start the car and then get better as it warms up? This happened to me. It was the impetus for getting a deep cycle batt and removing the alt altogether.

[gone-ot]

...just make sure the end nearest the windshield "clears" the windshield when you open the hood...alternatively, just make the airdam out of flexable material.

[sallen]

Good tip @Old Tele man, I would second this as I have made mine so that the bonnet clears the end. On this model of Golf it opens at the "nose end". If you have a bonnet with the hinges at the nose end (like a BMW 3 or 5 series) you can get away with just mounting it under the lip.

@orange4boy I have checked my batt, and all is fine, when I came to unbolt the alternator I found it was loose on its mountings and relying on the stock VW spring underneath to tension the belt. I prob could've gotten away with just tightening the belt, but had a new one already. It is amazing the difference it makes, I could feel the engine "wobbling" under acceleration, as if it had a loose engine mount. It must have been the friction from the belt slipping taking its toll on the 75 whole horses this thing makes.

[Big Dave]

Lund used to make a product that did this for Ford pickup. Ford wipers accumulate bug guts and snow.

I've only seen a couple of them. Even I think they look dorky.

[winkosmosis]

I've thought of a disadvantage of a wiper cover. The HVAC intake vents are deprived for their supply of high pressure air.

[sallen]

Forgive me for asking, what is a HVAC intake vent? and why does it need high pressure air?