Translucidus
X-TRAIL LEGEND
Date Registered: 05-2010
Location: Adelaide
TOTAL POSTS: 599
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Front Wheel Air Dams
I've improved the Fuel Consumption on my T31 X-Trail in L/100Kms by a value of about 1 ie from say 9L/100Kms to 8L/100Kms (on the same trip, several times, before and after fitting, from Adelaide to Port Augusta) by fitting small "Air Dams" in front of the front wheels.
The improvement generally can be from 5% to 10% depending on conditions.
These basically are attached to the front wheel well lining at the front and extend down about 65mm - shaped to match the cars general profile.
This is a well proven method of improving the aerodynamics, particularly at higher speeds; you see them on most cars now and they work by:
1/- Preventing some air from entering the wheel well, where there is much turbulance (The lower below the centre line of the wheel the better). Also prevents some air from flowing under the car in the area of the suspension parts etc that can cause a lot of drag.
The X-Trail already has small air dams in front of each rear wheel to tidy up airflow there. I have matched these front ones to the lower front profile of the car so as to blend in styling wise; at the same time being quite functional.
2/- Reducing DRAG by reducing the virtual frontal area somewhat (because some air is not being spread out to the sides by the wheels).
They also stop some water spraying forward then back onto windscreen when going through puddles.
They also improve stability in sidewinds.
They don't affect entry angle much at all so no worries there.
Overall Appearance:
Left Side Closeup:
View of Fasteners (from Holden; their generic larger plastic fasteners as on VN/VT/VY's etc)
Drill an 8mm (could be 10mm, experiment) hole and press in bolt to secure - easy.
Template - View for RHS shown - reverse for LH Side.
Mounting hole locations are shown and the line of the underside of car also.
NB The bottom of the plastic is shown at the top of this picture:
Material used is 1.5mm black hobby plastic from a plastics shop - smooth one side and mottled the other and of a material that can be softened and thereby shaped, with a heat gun.
The only shaping was after mounting, to better mold to the shapes of the wheel well (you can see this in the close up of the fasteners etc by moulding to the shape of the wheel well the gap at the top that could collect mud/stones is closed up); not so much the general curve, although heating does take some stress out of the plastic. When it has cooled it goes back to being strong but in the new shape.
Enjoy
Last edited by Translucidus, 15/Jul/2010, 2:45 pm
--- 2007 X-Trail T31 ST-L
Xy going vertical at Bendleby Station . . .
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15/Jul/2010, 1:22 pm
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Mr Xtrail
X-TRAIL FANATIC
Date Registered: 12-2008
Location: Sydney
TOTAL POSTS: 394
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Re: Front Wheel Air Dams
These front mud flaps were standard on my diesel T31.
The standard ones are alot smaller though - Ill try and get a pic
--- 2008 T31 TL DCI 6 Speed Manual X-Trail (x-1083)
with JAOS Strut Bar, K&N filter, Mats, Rubber Boot Liner, Tints, Cargo Barrier, Towbar, glove box light, dashmat, Geo ATS 225/60/17 & now with babyseat
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19/Jul/2010, 4:48 pm
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cooch t31
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 06-2008
Location: Blue Mountains, NSW
TOTAL POSTS: 5966
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Re: Front Wheel Air Dams
Thats right, the diesel comes standard with them, front and back. The petrol models only come with them on the back.
As Samuel said, they are much smaller though.
--- Tony X-891c
HERE is my D22 Navara
HERE is my old 2008 T31, ST Series1
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19/Jul/2010, 5:40 pm
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cooch t31
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 06-2008
Location: Blue Mountains, NSW
TOTAL POSTS: 5966
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Re: Front Wheel Air Dams
I think that the front ones are part of the black arch mould that runs around the underside of the fender.
Either that or its part of the underside splash guard that runs from the front bumper to the front of the wheel on either corner.
They are tiny though, only around 100mm long x 50mm high.
Tony
--- Tony X-891c
HERE is my D22 Navara
HERE is my old 2008 T31, ST Series1
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20/Jul/2010, 5:35 am
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rescue1
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 01-2009
TOTAL POSTS: 1384
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Re: Front Wheel Air Dams
I'll have a look tonight and see if they are on Phillipa's exy, if they are they don't stop the water going forward....
--- Alan & Phillipa
2008 X-Trail TL White Diamond
Plumpton NSW
Our Mods
X-1112 (C)
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20/Jul/2010, 12:14 pm
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cooch t31
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 06-2008
Location: Blue Mountains, NSW
TOTAL POSTS: 5966
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Re: Front Wheel Air Dams
The 2 on the rear of my Xy have broken off due to the Aussie bush. I can't really see why the bothered on the X Trail, for the size that they are they are just there for looks IMO.
--- Tony X-891c
HERE is my D22 Navara
HERE is my old 2008 T31, ST Series1
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21/Jul/2010, 6:48 am
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