Hood deflectors - worth it?

[rtazz17]

I have one stored waiting for warmer weather before I install it. My questions about it are how much will it affect MPG and can it withstand automated (w/brushes) car washes?

It withstands 80 mph on highway. I imagine it will withstand a car wash.

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[ven34]

Thank you everyone!!! Love this community!

 

[Figmo]

II, too, was unsure about sticking a semi-permanent accessory onto my hood and possibly ruining the paint if/when I ever take it off. So I purchased some 3M Scotchgard bulk film from Amazon, cut about 3 shapes out of it, and applied it to the hood completely underneath the Aeroskin's footprint. If the deflector ever falls off or gets damaged I can just rip it all off with hopefully no evidence left on the hood.

FWIW - the evidence left on the hood is often more a factor of sunlight than the tape that attaches it. Years of sun exposure damages any finish - but uniformly so it’s not noticeable.

Until you take off the deflector one day and see an obvious shading difference between where it was and where it was not.

But I wouldn’t worry about this. It takes years and if the deflector is ever damaged to the point you want to remove it - just replace it with a new one and all sins are cleansed.

 

[SnowBronco]

Well, I broke the windshield in my first Bronco, traded it in with a huge crack running the whole length. Got the Bronco I ordered and had a chip in the first week. Filled the chip and decided to get an aeroskin with my points. Looks ok and I don't know if it's fluke or not but haven't gotten another chip or break since. Most of the bug hits are in the top third of the windshield.... Did get smoked by a rock a couple days ago.. top third passenger side that turned out to be a glancing blow and left a little mark. But no actual chip. So it is what it is. Lol

 

[BostonSasquatch]

I notice most of the answers are from owners who opted for the Ford deflector, so there's no telling if they answer your questions about the Aeroskin. I bought the Ford deflector and installed it myself.

1) Regarding installation: First, place the deflector on the hood and outline its position with washable marker. Once you put it down with the adhesive, you're committed to your position, so make sure it's right. Second, you're using double-sticky-sided adhesive foam strips. They're tricky. I took a utility razor and lifted the plastic wrap to start a peel, as getting a "start" started was difficult. Third: Put the upslope adhesive strips (windshield-side, especially) as close to the edge as possible [see (2), below]. Fourth: Use Four hands to lay it down. Get it right--the first and only time you affix it. (Then wash off your temporary marking outline.)

2) I find that following a carwash, water seems to pool under the deflector a little (see "Third," above). I'm not sure if it's deflecting rocks, but I haven't had any chips since installing it; but I'm careful about my following distance with other vehicles, trucks especially. But I still got plenty of bugs on an August trip through the Midwest, had to use a gentle scrub pad to get them off when refueling.

3) Since "everybody uses them," I guess it works. Not a ringing endorsement, I suppose.

 

[AZ Rider]

Just like the Wrangler, the angle of the windshield is way more vertical then a typical car. Probably will always have chip issues.

 

[BostonSasquatch]

Just like the Wrangler, the angle of the windshield is way more vertical then a typical car. Probably will always have chip issues.

AZ Rider said,
"Just like the Wrangler, the angle of the windshield is way more vertical then a typical car."
"Aerodynamics of a brick," somebody wrote on a post elsewhere.

That brings us to the issue of windshield films, wraps, and treatments. Plenty of threads on those products--I suggest we avoid them here and focus on hood deflectors. The OP was asking about the Aeroskin, after all.

 

[JackTripper]

I have it and my hood doesn't shake around with it. I mainly got it to protect the front of my hood but i think it may keep the window cleaner. I think following too close to people is the worst offense when it comes to rock chips. My bronco has had 2 rock chips in 2800 miles. One on the hood bulge, and one on the rear pass door from a rock bouncing off the flare. Paint seems pretty thin on the bronco.

The paint is actually thicker than that of Toyota. Watch the first two minutes of this video. A guy uses a paint meter to test the thickness and was impressed.

 

[Gassyjack]

Have had the deflecter on for a year. Still stuck to the hood, got it mainly for paint protection on the hood, any deflection for the windshield is a plus. Still get rock chips and windshield now has a 4’ horizontal crack but I’m just going to drive it as the roads are covered with sand and gravel.
Did have to adjust the hood adjustment slightly to remove a little flutter.

 

[JerryC]

It withstands 80 mph on highway. I imagine it will withstand a car wash.

Yeah, but a car wash has spinning fabric strips weighted down with water that MIGHT catch an edge. My car wash has enough air power in the drying portion to flutter hoods, 80mph? I don't know.

Edited to add: The bolt on deflector on my 4Runner seems unfazed. Is tape better than bolts? I'm hoping it is if there is enough of it

 

[AZ Rider]

Besides you also have to worry about Doug and that Emu from the Liberty Mutual commercials.

 

[Jazer]

Since this is a generic topic about deflectors (as far as the subject line) I wanted to toss in my 2 cents for the AVS Lightsheild/Lightsheild Pro deflector. I know there are some other companies offering the same thing/knockoff versions as well.

I highly advise AGAINST this deflector if you have a soft top or even a mesh shade top. It deflects air poorly and causes A LOT of airflow at the roof of the vehicle. My soft top was clicking like crazy at anything over 35... and when I went topless my mesh shade sounded like a wind sail and was flapping so much I thought it was going to rip off. This was NOT an issue at all prior to deflector install. I can normally drive on the highway without much shade movement, and I wouldn't have dared going on the highway after install. I took it off like 2 days later and returned it. AVS was fantastic to deal with but the product is not great. Nevermind the poor fitment of the LED bar (the Pro version is a stiff lightbar and the shield is curved so it doesn't stick down at the edges where the shield curves).

It also didn't do anything for protecting the windshield. I actually noticed a few things fly directly at my windshield where normally they didn't in that manner. I think it just causes chaotic airflow and doesn't have any appropriate design or testing. It was designed for the light, not for helping with the air. It's probably doable for a hard top, but again if you go topless with a mesh shade top... good luck, lol.

 

[Headsong]

Since this is a generic topic about deflectors, not just the Ford one I wanted to toss in my 2 cents for the AVS Lightsheild/Lightsheild Pro deflector. I know there are some other companies offering the same thing/knockoff versions as well.

I highly advise AGAINST this deflector if you have a soft top or even a mesh shade top. It deflects air poorly and causes A LOT of airflow at the roof of the vehicle. My soft top was clicking like crazy at anything over 35... and when I went topless my mesh shade sounded like a wind sail and was flapping so much I thought it was going to rip off. This was NOT an issue at all prior to deflector install. I can normally drive on the highway without much shade movement, and I wouldn't have dared going on the highway after install. I took it off like 2 days later and returned it. AVS was fantastic to deal with but the product is not great. Nevermind the poor fitment of the LED bar (the Pro version is a stiff lightbar and the shield is curved so it doesn't stick down at the edges where the shield curves).

It also didn't do anything for protecting the windshield. I actually noticed a few things fly directly at my windshield where normally they didn't in that manner. I think it just causes chaotic airflow and doesn't have any appropriate design or testing. It was designed for the light, not for helping with the air. It's probably doable for a hard top, but again if you go topless with a mesh shade top... good luck, lol.

Interesting. I have no trouble top down, but since you mention it, I do get some serious flapping in front of driver when top is up. Never thought about the deflector being the cause..... Maybe so.

 

[lapazleo]

I notice most of the answers are from owners who opted for the Ford deflector, so there's no telling if they answer your questions about the Aeroskin. I bought the Ford deflector and installed it myself.

1) Regarding installation: First, place the deflector on the hood and outline its position with washable marker. Once you put it down with the adhesive, you're committed to your position, so make sure it's right. Second, you're using double-sticky-sided adhesive foam strips. They're tricky. I took a utility razor and lifted the plastic wrap to start a peel, as getting a "start" started was difficult. Third: Put the upslope adhesive strips (windshield-side, especially) as close to the edge as possible [see (2), below]. Fourth: Use Four hands to lay it down. Get it right--the first and only time you affix it. (Then wash off your temporary marking outline.)

2) I find that following a carwash, water seems to pool under the deflector a little (see "Third," above). I'm not sure if it's deflecting rocks, but I haven't had any chips since installing it; but I'm careful about my following distance with other vehicles, trucks especially. But I still got plenty of bugs on an August trip through the Midwest, had to use a gentle scrub pad to get them off when refueling.

3) Since "everybody uses them," I guess it works. Not a ringing endorsement, I suppose.

Both deflectors sold by Ford are manufactured by Aeroskin. So the op's questions are answered.

 

[toddf125]

I notice most of the answers are from owners who opted for the Ford deflector, so there's no telling if they answer your questions about the Aeroskin. I bought the Ford deflector and installed it myself.

1) Regarding installation: First, place the deflector on the hood and outline its position with washable marker. Once you put it down with the adhesive, you're committed to your position, so make sure it's right. Second, you're using double-sticky-sided adhesive foam strips. They're tricky. I took a utility razor and lifted the plastic wrap to start a peel, as getting a "start" started was difficult. Third: Put the upslope adhesive strips (windshield-side, especially) as close to the edge as possible [see (2), below]. Fourth: Use Four hands to lay it down. Get it right--the first and only time you affix it. (Then wash off your temporary marking outline.)

2) I find that following a carwash, water seems to pool under the deflector a little (see "Third," above). I'm not sure if it's deflecting rocks, but I haven't had any chips since installing it; but I'm careful about my following distance with other vehicles, trucks especially. But I still got plenty of bugs on an August trip through the Midwest, had to use a gentle scrub pad to get

I notice most of the answers are from owners who opted for the Ford deflector, so there's no telling if they answer your questions about the Aeroskin. I bought the Ford deflector and installed it myself.

1) Regarding installation: First, place the deflector on the hood and outline its position with washable marker. Once you put it down with the adhesive, you're committed to your position, so make sure it's right. Second, you're using double-sticky-sided adhesive foam strips. They're tricky. I took a utility razor and lifted the plastic wrap to start a peel, as getting a "start" started was difficult. Third: Put the upslope adhesive strips (windshield-side, especially) as close to the edge as possible [see (2), below]. Fourth: Use Four hands to lay it down. Get it right--the first and only time you affix it. (Then wash off your temporary marking outline.)

2) I find that following a carwash, water seems to pool under the deflector a little (see "Third," above). I'm not sure if it's deflecting rocks, but I haven't had any chips since installing it; but I'm careful about my following distance with other vehicles, trucks especially. But I still got plenty of bugs on an August trip through the Midwest, had to use a gentle scrub pad to get them off when refueling.

3) Since "everybody uses them," I guess it works. Not a ringing endorsement, I suppose.

Well, if you take notice, the Ford hood protector IS the aero skin from bushwacker. Says it right on the box and in the directions. Just saying

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