Roof rack mpg question
Roof rack mpg question
Hey all,
So I have the 08 sport and put a Thule roof rack on it with a custom made fairing. The drag is killin me! I was wondering if others with a roof rack experience a major drop in gas mileage. Mines down to 26-31 mpg. Any thoughts?
So I have the 08 sport and put a Thule roof rack on it with a custom made fairing. The drag is killin me! I was wondering if others with a roof rack experience a major drop in gas mileage. Mines down to 26-31 mpg. Any thoughts?
Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 4,295
From: Wandering around.
A) 2008 is actually a first Gen Fit.
B) I get those MPG numbers without a roof rack.
But yes, most people have an MPG drop with racks and fairing on (racks by themselves are minor, the fairing is major). Why wouldn't you?
B) I get those MPG numbers without a roof rack.
But yes, most people have an MPG drop with racks and fairing on (racks by themselves are minor, the fairing is major). Why wouldn't you?
Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 141
From: Irvine, CA
Similar to Goobers, I get that mileage WITHOUT a roof rack on my 2012 Automatic Sport. In my defense, I'm in heavy traffic 80% of the time.
Anyway, with any roof mounted rack, you will notice a decrease in gas mileage, especially on the highway. I have read quite a few articles that the fairing piece will actually make it WORSE. Use the fairing if it stops the whistling, or you like the way it looks, but don't use it if you think it's going to improve your gas mileage.
On my M3, gas mileage on the highway would drop to ~14-16mpg with a roof rack WITHOUT a fairing, and 17-19 without a rack. So yeah, there's a difference.
Anyway, with any roof mounted rack, you will notice a decrease in gas mileage, especially on the highway. I have read quite a few articles that the fairing piece will actually make it WORSE. Use the fairing if it stops the whistling, or you like the way it looks, but don't use it if you think it's going to improve your gas mileage.
On my M3, gas mileage on the highway would drop to ~14-16mpg with a roof rack WITHOUT a fairing, and 17-19 without a rack. So yeah, there's a difference.
Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 97
From: Portland OR
Yeah, any rack will drop your mpgs on the hwy. The bars with oval cross sections are of course more aerodynamic. If you slide the front bar to towards the back as flush as possible with the rear bar, then it helps turning it into a single "wing" and out of the higher pressure air stream a lot. That's assuming you aren't carrying anything. At that point you might as well take em off, cause let's be honest, convenience and looks is the main reason people leave racks on their roof. Around here many people have had their nice racks pryed off (lots of roof damage) and ending up in pawn shops/CL...
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