If the roof rack could make a big difference to the economy, i'd be inclined to remove it, otherwise i'd try putting some sealer round the fittings on the outside to stop the leakage. BTW, the roof rack is a fairly small one with 4 mounting brackets, two cylindrical bars across from side to side and a small ladder bracket.
If it's just an empty rack I wouldn't think the drag would make a big difference at reasonable speeds. Loaded - clearly much more.
I would also guess that trying to seal the fittings without dismantling may not be 100% effective either, so if you are removing it, do the job properly.
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Thanks for the replies!.
I would have already tried just taking it off, but was concerned about how much of a faff removing it would be, in particular i was thinking about all the interior roof trim and the clips. But having done some research, the trim clips look easy enough. I just wondered if anyone had worked out MPG with and without a roof rack, just to get an idea.
GB, as a 'pure water' window cleaner i don't use ladders, just the telescopic poles, so i don't actually need it for work. But due to various 'home improvement' projects over the next few years, it may well be useful to have. So i will have a look at the rack to see if the cross bars are removable, otherwise i may well look into the prices of the type you describe.
Andrew, yes you are probably right re the sealing, i just wasn't looking forward to what i thought could be an akward job getting the interior trim and rack off, but am a little more confident now that it shouldn't be too difficult.
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bbd, does your roof rack making any whistling noises as you drive? My old roof bars on a previous car were square jobbies that were very annoying on the move above a certain speed.
I've got aero roof bars kept permanently attached to the Forester for work. They are tear shaped and are superb in comparison, absolutely silent. I know the car isn't exactly aerodynamic but I have noticed no extra drag since putting them on (I forget that they are on) where the square ones were terrible.
There are plenty of companies out there that make aerodynamic roof rack systems for vans, incorporating aids like rear rollers built into the back for sliding heavy ladders onto the roof.
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bbd, does your roof rack making any whistling noises as you drive? My old roof bars on a previous car were square jobbies that were very annoying on the move above a certain speed.
I've got aero roof bars kept permanently attached to the Forester for work. They are tear shaped and are superb in comparison, absolutely silent. I know the car isn't exactly aerodynamic but I have noticed no extra drag since putting them on (I forget that they are on) where the square ones were terrible.
There are plenty of companies out there that make aerodynamic roof rack systems for vans, incorporating aids like rear rollers built into the back for sliding heavy ladders onto the roof.
Not that i am aware of, even when i drove it up from North West England to my home in North East Scotland. But the engine is quite vocal, to the point where i will at some point look at some kind of soundproofing!.
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Why not leave the rack on, stick fins to it and add go-faster stripes?
Even if it doesn't improve your MPG it'll make a style icon out of your van. ;0)
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I remember Mythbusters on Sky doing an experiment to see whether certain myths were real regarding drag and mpg.
roof racks were the same as having windows open, the mpg was not affected enough to cause concern. ie, their was no difference in fuel consumption with either, only that some makers of roof racks were noisy
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I used to get 56 to 58 mpg on french trips without a roof rack and about 50 mpg with a roof box on. Skoda Octavia 1.9 tdi driven normally up to speed limits over 1500 mile trips
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Thanks Bazza that is what i was looking for.
Seems that, given the speed i am driving at (50-60mph max with nothing on the rack), there would be negligible difference.
Today i discovered that there may be more water coming in than i thought, the carpeting behind the drivers seat sopping wet!. So, assuming my water tank hasn't started leaking, looks like i will need to get the roof rack off as a matter of urgency, if only to properly seal up the fittings!.
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I remember Mythbusters on Sky doing an experiment to see whether certain myths were real regarding drag and mpg.
roof racks were the same as having windows open, the mpg was not affected enough to cause concern. ie, their was no difference in fuel consumption with either, only that some makers of roof racks were noisy
Noise = drag = energy wasted = lower mpg.
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I remember Mythbusters on Sky doing an experiment to see whether certain myths were real regarding drag and mpg.
roof racks were the same as having windows open, the mpg was not affected enough to cause concern. ie, their was no difference in fuel consumption with either, only that some makers of roof racks were noisy
Well having the windows open over 50mph is worse than having the air conditioning on.
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I remember Mythbusters on Sky doing an experiment to see whether certain myths were real regarding drag and mpg.
roof racks were the same as having windows open, the mpg was not affected enough to cause concern. ie, their was no difference in fuel consumption with either, only that some makers of roof racks were noisy
Well having the windows open over 50mph is worse than having the air conditioning on.
No need to explain to me, Common sense tells you its wrong depending on speed, but I didn`t do the tests, just explained what they did.
last car I used a roof rack on was a Marina, because the rack was so noisy I bought hatchbacks or estates afterwards!
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BBD, I don't know what floorpan the Caddy is based on but VAG group are notorious for rain water leaks through the door cards. I've seen it on Polos, Fabias, Roomsters, Golfs, Octavias ( mine). So worth checking the base of the doors for wetness, the issue is with the seal/gasket. Worth checking before you go to town on the roof rack mountings.
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BBD, I don't know what floorpan the Caddy is based on but VAG group are notorious for rain water leaks through the door cards. I've seen it on Polos, Fabias, Roomsters, Golfs, Octavias ( mine). So worth checking the base of the doors for wetness, the issue is with the seal/gasket. Worth checking before you go to town on the roof rack mountings.
That cannot be true. German cars are te eparagon of reliability and high quality. The Car Magazines tell me so...
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BBD, I don't know what floorpan the Caddy is based on but VAG group are notorious for rain water leaks through the door cards. I've seen it on Polos, Fabias, Roomsters, Golfs, Octavias ( mine). So worth checking the base of the doors for wetness, the issue is with the seal/gasket. Worth checking before you go to town on the roof rack mountings.
From the B pillar forward the caddy is identical to the touran, so i'm guessing it would be, at least in part, the same as the golf.
I will check the doors, but as i have experienced some drops of water from somewhere around the sunvisor mount, i know that at least some water is getting in from the roof area. I can't see how those drops could be coming from anywhere other than the roof rack.
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