YotaDriver
New member
You're re****ed. The spoiler is designed to grab the air flowing over the top of the car and redirect it down across the rear window. It's not a possibility, it's a fact.
Get a spoiler!!
- Thread starter mf2kta
- Start date
You're re****ed. The spoiler is designed to grab the air flowing over the top of the car and redirect it down across the rear window. It's not a possibility, it's a fact.
NorthernRyan
New member
Man I feel bad for the OP you guys are rough 
. Well maybe I can try to be a little nicer and slightly more scientific about it. Thought of a picture I took a year and a half ago after going down cut trails in -40.
<a href="http://s1183.photobucket.com/albums/x477/engryan/car/?action=view¤t=IMGP0135.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x477/engryan/car/IMGP0135.jpg" border="0" alt="Effect of Backdraft"></a>
Now I was hoping to see a difference in coverage but I would say not really. There is only a difference left to right and that's only due to more compact snow being in the middle of the road and me driving on the right side...Now if only someone had a similar shot with a spoiler.
Theoretically if the spoiler is higher then the roof line which one person stated it can make a difference up front. An air pocket is created between the top of the spoiler and the initial flow contact with the crest of the windshield/roof. So, could it effect the sunroof noise, hell yes. I've played with small wind tunnels on a few projects back at school and was always surprised how little of a difference changed flow patterns ahead of the change. Could it change the feel of the vehicle...again theoretically that air pocket would cushion the wind from hitting the roof moving the vehicle less, by how much, meh I don't have a clue. Though I would lean to the brick down the road comment but a slight change along with the placebo effect who knows. It would change behind the vehicle turbulence a whole lot I would bet but given some people say it doesn't I would guess it does just not that well to the effect of cleaning the window.
Being a mining engineer I had to take one fluid dynamics coarse, one water specific coarse for pumps and flow through pipes and one air specific course in regards to ventilation shafts and drifts (tunnels). So am I talking out of my ass...probably but maybe less so than some on here. And lighten up, I'm guessing most of your 4runners are working, mines still sitting out front with a blown rear diff. 
. Well maybe I can try to be a little nicer and slightly more scientific about it. Thought of a picture I took a year and a half ago after going down cut trails in -40.<a href="http://s1183.photobucket.com/albums/x477/engryan/car/?action=view¤t=IMGP0135.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x477/engryan/car/IMGP0135.jpg" border="0" alt="Effect of Backdraft"></a>
Now I was hoping to see a difference in coverage but I would say not really. There is only a difference left to right and that's only due to more compact snow being in the middle of the road and me driving on the right side...Now if only someone had a similar shot with a spoiler.
Theoretically if the spoiler is higher then the roof line which one person stated it can make a difference up front. An air pocket is created between the top of the spoiler and the initial flow contact with the crest of the windshield/roof. So, could it effect the sunroof noise, hell yes. I've played with small wind tunnels on a few projects back at school and was always surprised how little of a difference changed flow patterns ahead of the change. Could it change the feel of the vehicle...again theoretically that air pocket would cushion the wind from hitting the roof moving the vehicle less, by how much, meh I don't have a clue. Though I would lean to the brick down the road comment but a slight change along with the placebo effect who knows. It would change behind the vehicle turbulence a whole lot I would bet but given some people say it doesn't I would guess it does just not that well to the effect of cleaning the window.
Being a mining engineer I had to take one fluid dynamics coarse, one water specific coarse for pumps and flow through pipes and one air specific course in regards to ventilation shafts and drifts (tunnels). So am I talking out of my ass...probably but maybe less so than some on here.
And lighten up, I'm guessing most of your 4runners are working, mines still sitting out front with a blown rear diff. 
Pepedog11
New member
I have to say I believe my spoiler does keep the rear windshield cleaner when its raining. The faster I am moving the better it works. Before I had the 2008 runner, I had a grand cheerokee (no spoiler) and had to use the rear wiper way more than i use it now. If I had not cleaned the window at the last fillup, I could take pic and show the wind line from the spoiler.
With that being said, On the drive up from UT to AK which I did last Jan, the back of my rig looked same as NorthernRyan in the pic above, but the space between the roof and spoiler filled with ice/snow as well.
With that being said, On the drive up from UT to AK which I did last Jan, the back of my rig looked same as NorthernRyan in the pic above, but the space between the roof and spoiler filled with ice/snow as well.
jdkilroy
New member
ha ha, that's a great pic NorthernRyan !
I think the confusion with these spoilers arises when folks mistake their purpose. I'm quite sure that Toyota never intended the spoilers to have any effect on handling but merely to affect behavior of the eddy currents behind the vehicle with the hopes of decreasing how much crap is deposited on the back window.
I can't speak for the lower profile spoiler; looking at them in parking lots, they seem to be flush with the roof line so I'm not sure how much the air flow is redirected. It is possible that that is why Toyota changed the design of the spoiler to the "humped" style. That hump creates a scoop that is positioned above the roof line by about 2 inches. The air captured in that scoop is directed downward. Its a 90 degree inside curve.
I'm guessing that it is only really effective for highway travel and only for stuff that wont clog up the "intake" as in the photo above.
Personally, I like the cleaner window but I don't like the look of the spoiler and if I hadn't drilled holes to mount it, it would be for sale.
It also hits the kayaks (on the roof racks) when the tail gate is opened and the tailgate alone did not do that. Something to consider before deciding to mount one.
I think the confusion with these spoilers arises when folks mistake their purpose. I'm quite sure that Toyota never intended the spoilers to have any effect on handling but merely to affect behavior of the eddy currents behind the vehicle with the hopes of decreasing how much crap is deposited on the back window.
I can't speak for the lower profile spoiler; looking at them in parking lots, they seem to be flush with the roof line so I'm not sure how much the air flow is redirected. It is possible that that is why Toyota changed the design of the spoiler to the "humped" style. That hump creates a scoop that is positioned above the roof line by about 2 inches. The air captured in that scoop is directed downward. Its a 90 degree inside curve.
I'm guessing that it is only really effective for highway travel and only for stuff that wont clog up the "intake" as in the photo above.
Personally, I like the cleaner window but I don't like the look of the spoiler and if I hadn't drilled holes to mount it, it would be for sale.
It also hits the kayaks (on the roof racks) when the tail gate is opened and the tailgate alone did not do that. Something to consider before deciding to mount one.
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JDSupreme
New member
IMHO I think the spoiler separates the 4runner from your average SUV. I consider it to be a signature feature along with the electric back window. When I first come on here and saw guys taking them off I was like whaaaaaaat. But to each his own. You don't like it? Rip it off its your T4R!
scottm
New member
In the late '80s, the Ford Taurus/Sable was an effort at major improvements in automotive aerodynamics. The final product was going through it's paces on the test track, and drivers noted that one vehicle was significantly more stable in crosswinds at highway speeds. Engineers found the rear quarter windows were not installed flush (windows that came from the company I worked for). A quick engineering change gave a pronounced lip to the trim there, and stability was greatly improved.
I agree it is unlikely to gain downforce from adding this spoiler, but things like stability and drag can be changed significantly by subtle features.
I agree it is unlikely to gain downforce from adding this spoiler, but things like stability and drag can be changed significantly by subtle features.
Jester4kicks
New member
That's pretty much what I'm thinking. My point (and admittedly, it's only a technicality) is that the 90* curve of the spoiler is not capable of completely redirecting air down and back IN against the window. Instead, it simply helps the air traveling over the vehicle get back down behind the vehicle, thus lowering the area that the low-pressure pocket occupies.
montijo505
Senior Member
Someone correct me if I’m mistaken, but you should have no problems with the spoiler and a roof rack.
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