Splash guards (Mudflaps), warm weather and dust.

[GrySql]

To give some balance to the weather on this forum, it's warm and dry here in SoCal. We're in a dad-gummed drought while half of you are freezing to death.

I've owned this FFH for over a year and after spending 30 years in a big city fire department I learned to keep my tools clean, so I wash it a lot.

Looks better too.

 

The back of the car always seemed to have a lot of dust buildup from the aerodynamic shape of the car creating a small vacuum in the back of the car (I don't have the trunk spoiler).

I'd like to discuss the OEM quality splash guards and the difference they seem to make with the dust buildup on the back of the car.

A few months ago I purchased and installed the OEM Splash Guards, front and rear. They really do work well keeping the wheel splash debris off the sides of the car.

I got used to the funky look real fast too, now I like it.

But the unusual after affect of installing them is the back of the car stays a lot cleaner from road dust buildup.

I wonder if the guards create a turbulence under and around the bottom of the car or wheels that disrupts the normal vacuum at the back.

 

I notice this because every time the trunk opens I used to put a dusty fingerprint on the paint, not so much now.

With the under-body streamlining I think the splash guards now work to defeat this rear dusting effect, it's a positive thing for me.

Thoughts?

 

[hybridbear]

There are a couple of engineers on the C-Max Hybrid Forum who have done aerodynamic testing/enhancements to their C-Maxes. I posted your question in this thread. It's a very interesting read if you're interested in aerodynamics. The FFH is much more streamlined than the C-Max, so there's probably less opportunity for enhancements, but perhaps mudflaps will help...

[acdii]

I wonder if they would help reduce the amount of snow that packs on the back end. It covers the camera in no time flat.

 

 

While you are dry and warm we have mountains of snow to go along with the COLD here. It is also destroying the roads, there are stretches of road that are buckling, which makes driving, interesting, but doesn't knock the dang blasted snow off the back end either.

 

BTW if you think the dusting is bad on the Fusion, you should see the back of the Flex. It gets so bad that not even the rear wiper can get it cleared.

[hybridbear]

We have roads that are buckling too from the extreme cold. When we get a warmer day the roads smooth out.

[GrySql]

There are a couple of engineers on the C-Max Hybrid Forum who have done aerodynamic testing/enhancements to their C-Maxes. I posted your question in this thread. It's a very interesting read if you're interested in aerodynamics. The FFH is much more streamlined than the C-Max, so there's probably less opportunity for enhancements, but perhaps mudflaps will help...

Boy, those guys are an inquisitive bunch, just like us. They are filming the C-Max airflow with tufts, amazing.

Thank you for posting my question over there.

[GrySql]

I wonder if they would help reduce the amount of snow that packs on the back end. It covers the camera in no time flat.

 

 

While you are dry and warm we have mountains of snow to go along with the COLD here. It is also destroying the roads, there are stretches of road that are buckling, which makes driving, interesting, but doesn't knock the dang blasted snow off the back end either.

 

BTW if you think the dusting is bad on the Fusion, you should see the back of the Flex. It gets so bad that not even the rear wiper can get it cleared.

Sounds pretty bad and I commiserate with all of you. I'll bet the Splash Guards work fairly well as Snow Flaps too.

 

The Flex sounds like it needs a rear roof spoiler and the Splash Guards.

http://www.bmcextremecustoms.net/2020foflupro.html

http://accessories.ford.com/rear-spoiler-primed-9483.html

[acdii]

We have roads that are buckling too from the extreme cold. When we get a warmer day the roads smooth out.

Something tells me though that a few of these roads wont stay together long enough for the warmer weather, the plows will kick the crap out of them.

 

Sounds pretty bad and I commiserate with all of you. I'll bet the Splash Guards work fairly well as Snow Flaps too.

 

The Flex sounds like it needs a rear roof spoiler and the Splash Guards.

http://www.bmcextremecustoms.net/2020foflupro.html

http://accessories.ford.com/rear-spoiler-primed-9483.html

I had a spoiler on the Explorer I had, it helped a little, but not enough, back end still got cruddy in a few days of driving. It was quite different from those linked, it directed air down across the glass. It did help when it was raining as it blew the water down the glass.

[hybridbear]

From the aerodynamics expert C-Max owner

 

From what I can gather, a dirty tailgate is the penalty for good aerodynamics. Let's review some of what we know.

- Bernouilli's law can be paraphrased to say that air pressure on a surface is inversely related to the speed of that air across the surface. Areas of high speed air flow will generate a vacuum.

- When dealing with tailgate, any vacuum resulting from the air flow will be felt as drag.

- Dust particles borne on the wind will land and stay put only in areas of low air flow. Otherwise, they'd be knocked off.

 

The logical conclusion is that a car designed to minimize air flow-related drag on the back of the car will likely get very dirty.

 

Looking at the tuft test stills, you see a very sharp change in air flow at the edge of the rear window. Air flow on the C-pillar is attached, but that on the window is both low speed and only slightly turbulent, and it's at right-angles to the C-pillar flow - a clean break. The rear window air flow is consistent with weak trailing vortices coming off the C-pillar- the right air flow direction with not a lot of speed - so dirt builds up.

This explains why the Prius is the worst for having a dirty back end...

[GrySql]

Frank on the C-Max Forum seems to know his stuff. My newly renamed Drag Flaps are keeping my car clean, who knew.

I wonder how many mpg's they are costing me? Doesn't matter, I'm not taking them off.

[GrySql]

This link that 'fbov' posted explains a lot.

[neod192]

My mud flaps collect a TON OF SNOW. So much that it almost touches the rear wheels and when I turn, the front wheels rub against it... All this snow ends up on my garage floor.. booo!

[hermans]

That is why God invented the big garage floor squeegee.

 

BTW...Phil saw his shadow about 10 minutes ago.....more snow.

Edited February 2, 2014 by hermans

[hybridbear]

Since we're talking aerodynamics here, check out this video about the FFH aerodynamics. This explains some of what we see with the dirt.

 

[Sleddog]

Great video, it does a good job of explaining same of the aero features.

 

It also explains what those little spoilers in front of the tires do to regulate the air flow. Just think what Adrian Newey (F1's Red Bull Racing's Aero Engineer) could have done with the aero package for the Fusion. The RBR cars are some of the slickest in racing.

Edited February 2, 2014 by Sleddog

[neod192]

That is why God invented the big garage floor squeegee.

 

BTW...Phil saw his shadow about 10 minutes ago.....more snow.

Can you Send me the link to an example?

[corncobs]

Very interesting video thanks for finding and sharing.

[hermans]

Can you Send me the link to an example?

OK....I have the first one pictured...

 

http://www.homedepot.com/b/Floor-Squeegee/N-5yc1vZ1z10xad

 

Just push all the crap out the door.

Edited February 2, 2014 by hermans

[acdii]

I have floor drains in my garage, so it all runs down the drain, after it melts of course. Too bad i park in a car port though.

[tr7driver]

 

A few months ago I purchased and installed the OEM Splash Guards, front and rear. They really do work well keeping the wheel splash debris off the sides of the car.

I got used to the funky look real fast too, now I like it.

But the unusual after affect of installing them is the back of the car stays a lot cleaner from road dust buildup.

I wonder if the guards create a turbulence under and around the bottom of the car or wheels that disrupts the normal vacuum at the back.

Did you have to drill into your car to install them or are they designed to install into existing holes/fasteners on the car?

[GrySql]

Did you have to drill into your car to install them or are they designed to install into existing holes/fasteners on the car?

Remove some existing Push-pins and install.

More info here.

[tr7driver]

GrySql,

 

Thanks for the info. I thought I had seen that thread but couldn't find it. I'll order a set today off ebay.

[tr7driver]

I got the cheap ones from China on Ebay for $25 shipped. it took 'em about 3 weeks to get here and I put them on Sunday. They fit pretty well and all of the holes lined up nicely.

[cortezer]

Anyone have any luck finding and installing a set of splash guards on a 2017?

[devinron]

Have you tried going to your dealer? I know that they offer splash guards.