Considering removing the windshield wipers...

It never rains in Southern California so I am considering removing the windshield wipers primarily because I think the Prius looks cleaner with out them and it provides a bit more visibility in the front and rear.

Are there any aerodynamics to be gained by removing them and thus better gas mileage? They do seem to be shaped efficiently. Perhaps this may cause more harm than good??

Your car will be unsafe and not pass inspection in most states. The Prius is very aerodynamic and the small impact of wipers ( or side view mirrors ) is not noticeable at reasonable speeds.

JeffD

A year back, someone did a scientific study - and showed removing the wipers actually lowered mileage by 3.14%.

Adding mudguards also increased mileage by 2.72% (odd as it may seem)...

That is quite odd, both opposite of what I would have envisioned. I'll try searching for it, but any links to this?? Was this for a Prius or general study?

They also found adding the 'shark fin' antenna will increase mileage (something to do with aero dynamics).

Actually it is the removal of the existing antenna that helps aerodynamics.

JeffD

Actually, it was tested at a wind tunnel (JPL), and shown to increase mileage.

From memory, the mud guards help the most...

In short? Benefit vs. Risk? Just back away from the windshield wipers...

Come on? You never know where you might travel or when you might be in a freak rainstorm. Just keep the wipers.

You could probably do without the rear wiper, but no way would I recommend removing the fronts. If you never ever drive where it rains, you need to get out more.

I don't use my wipers because they lower your mileage while moving to the right (though when returning, they get back 31.4% of the energy lost due to drag)...

But if you live in the Southern hemisphere (No, I don't mean SoCal) the wipers swipe the other way.

tail lights, air bags, seats, headlights, glove box and just about everything on the car decreases mileage. For top mpg I suggest you get 3 friends to PUSH the car for you.

inspection? huh?

Inspection? I've seen people refer it here on occasion and I don't know what you're referring to. I grew up in CA and have lived in WA state for ~9 years (split between two time periods). Theses states don't inspect our cars for safety equipment or anything like that. I suppose one could be ticketed for missing or busted safety equipment, if pulled over.

There are smog tests but that's it. At last check, Priuses are exempt from CA and WA smog tests.

Well, I've removed the wipers from some of my other cars in the past and never had a problem with getting stuck in a freak rainstorm. Now, if I lived in Portland Oregon, I would not be considering this, but I live in So Cal. For a minimum 6 months out of the year I can personally gaurantee no rain.

Really funny response, ha ha ha.

Thanks for the reply rrolff. If it actually reduces mileage than that is certainly not worth it.

No, that is only applicable to toilet flushing... shezz.

You are truly a genius. I don't understand why you don't have more thank yous. rotfl

I knew a guy down in San Diego who removed the fins from his '59 Caddy convertable. (And faired it all in nicely and repainted the yellow paint job). That looked pretty cool, but I didn't find out what it did to mileage. (Caddies of that era actually got better mileage than other GM cars, I mean often as high as 18 -- because they weren't as sloppily assembled.) In SoCal, this was also an era when people were buying perfectly good VWs in order to throw away the original body work so they could replace it with Meyers Manx dune-buggy shells. (which were street-legal) I thought about that myself at the time.

So this is perfectly in line with a long tradition. But, instead of just throwing away the wipers, I think I'd recommend cutting off the roof instead. Make a Prius un-convertable. If it sprinkles, just drive faster. And turn up the Beachboys on the AM radio.

What do they put in the water down there? I'm sorry -- I don't usually comment when I don't have anything to add; however, this truly smacks of a complete and total lack of common sense.