2010 Prius Mud Flaps???

Chill dude IT IS a chat room. Don't read the posts if you don't want to.

 

Clearly, you were interested enough to take a look yourself.

It's just harmless chat...it's all good.

 

FYI - as an alternative to the flaps you can install XPEL or 3M paint protection rocker panel kits. You can have the installer wrap into each fender area. Looks great w/o flaps. This is also great protection with the flaps since the kits goes from frt to rear and back behind the rear wheel.
www.clearshieldprotection.com
clearbraj

 

Do you have it on your vehicle? If so, how much did it cost?

Thanks,
Peter

 

Hi TOP KICK, good job on mud flaps. I have Prius III also and it is same color like yours, you have sad that you have clear bra do you liket I am thinking to instal one. Thnak you for you info.

 

Yes I had it installed about 4 weeks after I purchased my IV and I would not have a Prius without a clear bra. I also had one on my black 2007 but not till after I got a few dings on it.

 

Installed my flaps today. Didnt remove the rear tires and it was not really a problem since I have a phillips head driver for my ratchet. Otherwise it would have been more difficult getting the screws straight.

The flaps seem kinda flimsy for costing $116. If anything ever gets hold of them on the road like a stick or something, they will rip right off. Which I guess its better than tearing the rest of the car up. I still think they are not fastened securely enough and may add a couple more screws.

As far as looks go, you dont even notice them.

 

Got mine on today too. I think they will hold just fine. Never had on fall off any of my other vehicles.
Just in time too, got snow low on the mountains this weekend.

 

I have looked at my Prius and also at the pdf instructions kindly listed earlier in this thread. I can see the pre-drilled holes in the front wheel wells, but not in the rear wheel wells. Is there any drilling involved in the installation? I have an offset ratchet with the phillips head, but want to make sure I know what is involved before ordering these. I do not want to drill holes in the metal as I am worried about rusting/corrosion which would not be covered by the warranty. Plus I would be afraid to personally drill a hole in my Prius!

 

The rears screw into the plastic bumper cover and undercover, not into metal. And you don't really need to drill the holes at all, just poke the screws right into the plastic. You can make a pinprick with an awl to make them easier to start if you want, but you can just jam them right through if you've got a good wrist.

 

I should be getting mine in a couple of days based on what others have said here.

Has anyone noticed any change in MPG after the mudflaps are installed?

I'm looking forward to this as my first "mod". Not only will it function to help keep road dirt off my paint, but I think they make the car look sportier, like it's hugging the road a bit more.

 

No detrimental effects. My mileage has gone up after the install due to refining my driving techniques. If they were a problem, I don't think I would have seen the large positive gains in mileage I've seen since the install.

 

I put the car in a test chamber wind tunnel at JPL. We did a quick run at both 30 and 60mph velocities (car suspended by an eye bolt to the center beam of the roof - measuring displacement), and found the mud flaps cause the car to actually move forward. The net result is a positive influence on mileage.

While it isn't directly quantifiable, we estimate a 12% improvement on mileage. That translates to a 6MPG improvement on a daily driver who averages 50MPG!!!!

When we get more lab time, we're going to try the shark fin antenna next...

 

I installed my this weekend and I am down about 1-2 mpg it seems. This could be because of the colder temps we are now having (29F this morning). Hard to tell.

 

Seriously? That's awesome!

 

Thank you! Makes me feel a lot better. Will be ordering them.

 

I sincerely hope you are joking. I call 100% BS. You are out of your mind if you think you are going to see a 12% improvement on gas mileage by adding mudflaps to your car.

Further, I call BS on the validity of your wind tunnel tests. Our cars are not suspended by their roofs when we drive on the roads.

... (SARCASM) Can't wait to see the 30% MPG improvement from adding the shark fin antenna. How many MPG did your radio add? (/SARCASM)

 

Furthermore if you use this method, you won't have to take your tires off.

 

Just got the raw data on the shark fin antenna tests. The scenario was similar - car suspended by an eye-bolt approximately 4" above the ground.

We chose a BMW shark fin antenna - hypothesis being BMW is known for speed, and probably have a solid design.

At no time did we test signal strength or antenna performance. So buyer beware...

Initial data puts the aerodynamic shark fin as a net+ in mileage - though nowhere near the increase that mud flaps add.

We do calculate a 1.467% increase - which should be good enough for 3/4 of a mile/gallon.

Interestingly, the antenna had the added benefit of 3.1416% vertical stability (measured at 90MPH).

Next up (as lab time permits), body side moldings.

 

Sarcasm aside, I doubt the radio added anything to the Prius mileage. That test will also require a different lab setup (which would take even more engineering hours to design and setup).

Now that I have the eye-bolt in my roof, the wind tests seem to make the most sense. I'm putting in a pulley system lift in my garage in a few weeks (once the heavy duty parts arrive) - that way I can work on the under-side with ease... Would've come in handy for putting on my mud flaps...