Vortex Generators / Hmmm Airtabs

[FormulaTwo]

So i went ahead and ordered some air tabs, at $2.50 they would be worth testing out.

The company ships them extremely fast.
They send you a little template to help you position them, and they have adhesive on the undersides.

I ordered 5 to put across my roof line in the rear.

First i cleaned the entire area with windex.
Then i cleaned it with Alcohol.
I then heated the airtab adhesive so that it would adhere even further.


On the directions it says to let them stick for around 15 minutes to make sure. Even though you can drive with them on there as soon as installed.
I waited around an hour.

Well that night i parked outside
When i got outside there was the usual dew on my car. It was probably around 50 degrees as I start my 15 mile drive to work.
I get around a mile down the road, look in my rearview and what else but something black flying off the top of my car.

It is funny how the first thing that pops into your head when you realize something has just taken flight off your car is denial.

Did not have time to go back and get it because I was heading to work.
When i make it to work i get out and sure enough there is an airtab missing....

So i tug on the others to see if they are loose also. Each of the remaining tabs slid around in the remaining dew on the roof.



So i wasted $2.50 this week, thats an entire gallon of gas.
I have to find a way to try and restick these things.
We have 3m adhesive tape at my work which is used on vent visors etc...
but i feel like that may be too thick.

[thisisntjared]

weird....

[nonnef]

Originally Posted by FormulaTwo

So i went ahead and ordered some air tabs, at $2.50 they would be worth testing out.

The company ships them extremely fast.
They send you a little template to help you position them, and they have adhesive on the undersides.

I ordered 5 to put across my roof line in the rear.

First i cleaned the entire area with windex.
Then i cleaned it with Alcohol.
I then heated the airtab adhesive so that it would adhere even further.


On the directions it says to let them stick for around 15 minutes to make sure. Even though you can drive with them on there as soon as installed.
I waited around an hour.

Well that night i parked outside
When i got outside there was the usual dew on my car. It was probably around 50 degrees as I start my 15 mile drive to work.
I get around a mile down the road, look in my rearview and what else but something black flying off the top of my car.

It is funny how the first thing that pops into your head when you realize something has just taken flight off your car is denial.

Did not have time to go back and get it because I was heading to work.
When i make it to work i get out and sure enough there is an airtab missing....

So i tug on the others to see if they are loose also. Each of the remaining tabs slid around in the remaining dew on the roof.



So i wasted $2.50 this week, thats an entire gallon of gas.
I have to find a way to try and restick these things.
We have 3m adhesive tape at my work which is used on vent visors etc...
but i feel like that may be too thick.

I've used Gorilla Glue to glue things on the body of cars before. Holds on nice and tight but if you pry it off they tend to pop off without ruining the paint at all.
I emailed them about it out of curiosity, and they said it was because the glue could "foam out" on the clearcoat but it couldn't actually attach to it.

I'd put a few drops somewhere to test it on your paint first, anyhow(just in case). Good Luck!

[red91sit]

hmm that's very peculiar they fell off that quickly! If i were you I'd contact the air-tab company, they seem like a real consumer focused company, I'm sure they will either send you a new one, or atleast recommend a great way to attach them

[JanGeo]

Hey I wanted to test them on my xB which as you know is a big square box with lots of turbulance in the rear - you would not believe the dirt that piles up back there. So what kinds of polish have you been using on the roof? Sounds like maybe you should have heated the painted surface after you cleaned it with alcohol. I think if I were to add them to my roof line I would attach them to the rear hatch in the gap between the roof and the hatch by hooking them on the leading edge of the hatch. Next time used a clean tissue with some Acetone on it to prep the surface. Maybe safety string the back ends together too and then some really sticky clean packing tape over the leading edges. You may have to compound the painted surface to break through the glaze to get them to stick better, mask off the area with tape first and bust the shine on the paint a little - you should be able to polish it back up if it you don't keep them on.

[MetroMPG]

Silly question: how are you going to determine if they work / don't work? (Assuming you can keep them stuck on the car )

[FormulaTwo]

Good question Metro, I need to order a supermid. I am going off of my tank to tank info for now. Its hard to keep up with all the things my car needs. I still need a 5 wire o2 (mine is shot), the EGR box, and an alignment so i dont kill the Potenza's.

With all I have done to the car lately I have somewhat expected a FE gain, but my averages seem to be leveling off, Maybe due to outside temps.

Thanks for the info on the gorilla glue Nonnef, I may try that. Is it more like super glue, or a silicone type of glue?
I have also thought about tapeing the leading edges like Jangeo said, because the edge did not sit as flush as i would have thought. Which could lead to more of them flying off.


I will let you know how these turn out and post some pictures.
I also need to post pics of the LED brake lights since i havent done that.

[zpiloto]

Originally Posted by FormulaTwo

Good question Metro, I need to order a supermid. I am going off of my tank to tank info for now. Its hard to keep up with all the things my car needs. I still need a 5 wire o2 (mine is shot), the EGR box, and an alignment so i dont kill the Potenza's.

With all I have done to the car lately I have somewhat expected a FE gain, but my averages seem to be leveling off, Maybe due to outside temps.

Your throwing your money at the wrong things. I know there expensive but fix the O2 sensor that will give you a better FE increase (10-15%) then air tab and LLR tires combined not to mention that the environment will thank you to.

[FormulaTwo]

Originally Posted by zpiloto

Your throwing your money at the wrong things. I know there expensive but fix the O2 sensor that will give you a better FE increase (10-15%) then air tab and LLR tires combined not to mention that the environment will thank you to.

Agreed, although the tires i did not have a choice. Considering the ones I had went completely bald due to my crappy alignment. So now the alignment is my #1 priority.

The EGR box I have to go pick up about an hour from here, but havent yet.

The o2 sensor will soon follow. If I see a 10 to 15% increase off of the O2 sensor then I will be amazed. Im pretty sure the car is not going into lean burn since the ECU is seeing the o2 error, and adjusting the fuel for safety.

If any of you guys know of places to get deals on 5 wire o2's, let me know. I am going for NGk most likely, i hear bosch are crap.

[CO ZX2]

Originally Posted by FormulaTwo

Agreed, although the tires i did not have a choice. Considering the ones I had went completely bald due to my crappy alignment. So now the alignment is my #1 priority.

The EGR box I have to go pick up about an hour from here, but havent yet.

The o2 sensor will soon follow. If I see a 10 to 15% increase off of the O2 sensor then I will be amazed. Im pretty sure the car is not going into lean burn since the ECU is seeing the o2 error, and adjusting the fuel for safety.

If any of you guys know of places to get deals on 5 wire o2's, let me know. I am going for NGk most likely, i hear bosch are crap.

I had this site saved. You might find what you need here.They have NGK.
http://www.bmotorsports.com/shop/pro...0f0bb2bad73acc