Date:         Sun, 4 Apr 2004 18:58:56 -0400
Reply-To:     David Brodbeck <gull@GULL.US>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Brodbeck <gull@GULL.US>
Subject:      Re: Spoiler - would it keep the rear glass cleaner?
Comments: To: JordanVw@AOL.COM
In-Reply-To:  <d5.93c8809.2da1d2e4@aol.com>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

On Sun, 4 Apr 2004 JordanVw@AOL.COM wrote:

> well, i imagine it would deflect airflow above window, so less snow/rain/dust
> would get on the rear window..

To reduce dust on the rear window, you want the spoiler to deflect air
*down*.  The idea is to fill in the area of low pressure behind the van
that sucks dust up off the road.  Chevy Blazers had these, some years.

If you do this, however, you risk defeating the special engine monitoring
features of the rear window -- see, VW designed the van so any leaking
fluids would be sucked up onto the rear window, where the driver can
observe them in the rear view mirror and take proper action.


David Brodbeck, N8SRE
'82 Volkswagen Diesel Westfalia
'86 Volvo 240DL wagon