Plastic piece underneath front of car keeps scraping
#1
Instructor
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Plastic piece underneath front of car keeps scraping
Anyone else having this problem? If so, what have you done about this? OK, everytime I back out of my driveway (slowly) the front of my car, the low plastic piece in the front under the car, keeps scraping the ground. I have had many cars and this has never happened in this driveway. This plastic piece just seems really low. If I go extreamly slow and let my car just idle and creep out of the bottom of the driveway, it usually does not scrape. Is this plastic piece necessary? Why is it so damn low to the ground? Any advice would be helpful. Thanks!
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#2
Racer
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i dont even have a new tl but im guessing its there to proctect the bottom form scratching..my dads M3 has on so it dont scratch the paint on the bottom bumper even though you cant see it
#5
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by 6mtV6
That low plastic piece is the air dam. Our TL is a bottom breather and the air dam is neccessary to push the air up.
A few of us scraped our air dam also.
A few of us scraped our air dam also.
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whatever you do, don't take that piece off
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#6
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It is there to deflect some of the air and keep it from going underneath the car. Air flowing under the car creates drag. Drag reduces gas mileage. And also, air going underneath at high speed can reduce aerodynamic downforce. In other words, it can create lift. A car is shaped kinda like a wing. Flat on the bottom and rounded on the top. And if you know how a wing works, well you don't really want that.
I would just leave it alone. Mine drags too if I back straight out of my driveway. I try to turn the wheels as sharply as I can and back out at more of an angle. Also slow way down at dips and speed bumps.
I would just leave it alone. Mine drags too if I back straight out of my driveway. I try to turn the wheels as sharply as I can and back out at more of an angle. Also slow way down at dips and speed bumps.
#7
As you back down a hill or over the bump or whatever, if you try to angle the car so as to drop the tires off one at a time, it will lower your chances of scraping by decreasing the approach/departure angle.
I do it all the time when driving over objects in my truck. I hope it help you out.
I do it all the time when driving over objects in my truck. I hope it help you out.
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#8
Originally Posted by 6mtV6
That low plastic piece is the air dam. Our TL is a bottom breather and the air dam is neccessary to push the air up.
A few of us scraped our air dam also.
A few of us scraped our air dam also.
So try not to break it, make sure it is in place, and if you do break it, get it replaced as soon as possible.
It's #29 in the picture below, and is under $10 at your dealer.
Click here for the Parts List
![](http://www.acuraoemparts.com/delray/jsp/catimgs/14sep401_b46.gif)
#12
It is there to deflect some of the air and keep it from going underneath the car. Air flowing under the car creates drag. Drag reduces gas mileage. And also, air going underneath at high speed can reduce aerodynamic downforce. In other words, it can create lift. A car is shaped kinda like a wing. Flat on the bottom and rounded on the top. And if you know how a wing works, well you don't really want that.
I would just leave it alone. Mine drags too if I back straight out of my driveway. I try to turn the wheels as sharply as I can and back out at more of an angle. Also slow way down at dips and speed bumps.
I would just leave it alone. Mine drags too if I back straight out of my driveway. I try to turn the wheels as sharply as I can and back out at more of an angle. Also slow way down at dips and speed bumps.
#13
Burning Brakes
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It's not there to reduce drag or any other aerodynamic purpose,
this isn't an F1 car...it is only to deflect air up into the rad to increase cooling as the grille opening is very small. I wouldn't remove it...I've scraped it on my driveway, not a big deal as long it isn't my painted bumper....leave it here.
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#14
Team Owner
Ok i understand what everyone is saying about the plastic piece deflecting air for cooling purposes but our cars are not fast enough to create lift for takeoff. In order for the TL to fly you would have to reach 250+mph. I have been running with out that plastic piece for over a year now and have had no issues with cooling or the car taking flight and to be honest i have not seen a loss in fuel mileage either. It is really nice not to have that thing draging anymore. if you are worried about cooling then route a brake duct pipe to the engine bay. almost every car that i have ever oned has had that little plastic piece and i have removed it on all of them. I also think its and eye sore if you dont have the A-Spec front lip.
It's not going to take flight but you are getting more lift and less air through the radiator for sure. The factory temp guage is buffered so it would take a significant temperature swing to get it to move out of the normal range so don't use this as proof that it does not run warmer.
You want very little air going under the car and at a high velocity to create low pressure while you have high pressure air over the top to help with downforce. They work together to keep the car stable at high speed. Again, you might not notice it but the car will lose some high speed stability and the front especially will become lighter at high speeds. It's not all or nothing, take flight or be 100% stable. IMO this is choosing looks over function.
#15
Moderator
iTrader: (3)
I scrape that damn thing every time I back out or pull into my driveway. I just get used to it.
#16
I wonder if there is an easy way to really test this theory. I would like to see what difference it really makes. The car feels no different with or with out that plastic piece from a highway driving point and i dont feel the engine getting heat soaked. So if someone can come up with a way to test this i woul dbe willing to test it.
#19
Team Owner
I wonder if there is an easy way to really test this theory. I would like to see what difference it really makes. The car feels no different with or with out that plastic piece from a highway driving point and i dont feel the engine getting heat soaked. So if someone can come up with a way to test this i woul dbe willing to test it.
Every car is different but I remember some of my friends with F-bodies actually ended up nearly overheating the car on the freeway with it removed. Tl probably isn't as drastic since it does have a grill and doesn't totally rely on the bottom feed.
I ended up running a longer one on my GN because it would start getting a little light at the track near 135mph and I was on the brakes HARD to make the turnout, but it has the aerodynamics of a brick. It did however make a very small difference in stability on the big end. Again, different cars so who knows how much of a difference it makes on the TL.
#22
King of NYC
iTrader: (6)
As said it is there for aerodynamics and cooling. My car is lowered and driving in the NY area I scrape it every single day. It is durable for sure, I have slammed pavement into it before and it's still attached. NY sux! I've seen it hang off and rip off other cars. Ours is made with abuse in mind. When I crawl over a sidewalk into a driveway you NEED this. It will tell you how close you are to scraping your bumper, lol. I know if I need to backup and try a different approach. Without it you would destroy that bumper with no warning.
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