Spoiler Alert! Does Your Car Really Need A Spoiler? - GoMechanic

If you’ve purchased a car you must have been provided with an option by the dealership to attach a spoiler on your car. No matter what car it is they’ll ask you to get a spoiler fixed. Do you really need it or is it just another way to earn some cash out of you? Read below and find out how spoilers work.

What are Car Spoilers?

A car spoiler is an aerodynamic device that is designed to disrupt or “spoil” undesirable air movement across a vehicle’s body, primarily while driving at higher speeds. Spoilers also manage airflow which reduces drag while increasing stability, which is why they are typically found on performance and sports cars; this is all due to the vehicle manufacturer’s pitch to the consumer. Spoilers were unique parts of racing vehicles prior to their eventual inclusion on average vehicles for both functionality and aesthetics.

Downforce

Before we get into spoilers we need to see what downforce is. It is an aerodynamic force. When you are driving a fast car the aerodynamics of the car creates something called a lift. The lift wants to lift your car up from the rear which is definitely not a good thing. This lift is generated at super high speeds so most passenger cars won’t experience them at all. Downforce is the complete opposite of a lift force. The job of the downforce is to keep the rear sticking to the ground.

Popular Read: Here’s How You Can Detect An Odometer Fraud

The advantage of downforce is that it allows fast cars to corner better. The downforce, however, has a negative effect. Downforce is something that pushes the car down and thus it increases the drag on the car. This drag can reduce the speed of the car. That’s why spoilers and wings need to be made with utmost calculations if they are made for a sports car or a racing car as even a single unit of speed can win or lose the race. 

Wings

People usually call both wings and spoilers the same thing but it’s incorrect. They both have different jobs and different uses. The job of the wing is to create downforce. This downforce allows the car to stay on the ground while cornering and travelling at really fast speeds. Wings are mostly used in high-speed cars. There are other ways to do the job a wing does but using a wing is more efficient and faster. 

Similar Read: LML Adreno and Energy: The Faired, The Naked, The Beauty!

Wing works by manipulating the air going through it. When air passes through a wing it creates two pressure zones, high pressure on top of the wing and low pressure on the bottom(refer to the image in the downforce section). The high-pressure air is what creates the downforce. This all sounds easy enough but it needs to be made almost perfectly as to not have any unnecessary drag on the car. That covers wings and how they create downforce. 

Spoilers 

The spoilers job is to prevent or reduce lift. The lift as we have seen in downforce is the aerodynamic force that wants to lift your car upwards. The spoilers ‘spoil’ the aerodynamic motion and thus switch the high pressure and low-pressure zones. The high pressure which was supposed to lift your car up is now switched and harmlessly moves away from the car. The spoilers do not give your car any extra power. You can increase the weight of the car to prevent lift but this can’t be done for fast cars as increased weight means bad cornering due to more inertia the car has to fight.

Read More: Hero Honda Joy: One Of The Lesser-Known Commuters

Does My Car Need A Spoiler?

Unless you drive cars that are super fast you don’t need a spoiler. Spoilers at low speed do nothing at all and only work at quite high speed. You can start seeing the effects of the spoiler at over 100 kmph and you need to be consistently above this speed to see any difference. Not driving at this speed or above just hampers the aerodynamics of your car if rear spoilers are used and thus are almost useless. So if you are asked if you want to use spoilers on a car you know you won’t be driving at upwards of 100 km/h consistently just say, no thanks. 

Spoiler Uses in Cars

The main purpose of a spoiler in a car is to increase the aerodynamic performance of the vehicle. Spoilers, primarily exterior mounted rear spoilers, such as adding downforce that helps hold the vehicle down to the road while driving at speed leading to better traction, improved handling, and improved braking efficiency. In various vehicle design applications spoilers can be used to reduce drag that can help improve fuel economy.

This is related: Top 10 Leather Seat Cover Options for Your Car

Rear Spoiler in Cars

The rear spoiler in cars are located on the trunk or at the rear edge and is most advanced at high speeds. The main objective of rear spoilers is to try to reduce lift and reduce aerodynamics, by interrupting the rear flow of air. A car rear wing spoiler, is a close cousin to the rear spoiler, is a specific, type of spoiler that typically takes the form of an inverted airfoil like an aircraft wing. A rear wing is different from a flat spoiler is that it typically has a higher downforce level generated from a rear mounted wing generated attachment.

Universal Rear Spoiler

A universal rear spoiler is an aftermarket part whose design is meant to generally fit many models of cars to supplement the aesthetics and functionality of your vehicle. Universal rear spoilers often require some modification or alterations to the car in order to install, but provide an affordable way for car owners to supplement their vehicle for aesthetics and functionality. A rear spoiler can enhance the aerodynamics of a car when installed properly, however this all depends on the selection of the spoiler, as well as the position of it.

What Are The Use of Spoiler In Car?

• Aerodynamic Advantages: By disrupting airflow to minimize drag and lift, a car spoiler can help improve aerodynamic efficiency.
• Stability Improvements: At higher speeds (particularly 100 km/h plus), a rear spoiler can help to deliver on a car’s stability by reducing lift on a car, this is one the major use of spoiler in car.
• Increased Downforce: Rear wing spoilers generate downforce, making them an integral component to sports and performance cars regarding cornering capabilities and braking performance. 
• Reduced Fuel Consumption (at times): An effective design, a spoiler can be used to lessen aerodynamic drag that can help improve fuel efficiency when traveling at highway speeds.
• Universal Fit Options: A universal rear wing spoiler can be similar or exact installation on many different vehicle models to help improve both performance and functional appearance.

Types of Spoilers

There are many types of spoilers that are included in automotive design. Types of spoilers include the following:

• Front Spoilers (Air Dams) – Forward from the front bumper and blocks air from going under the car.
• Rear Spoilers – Spoilers that are attached to the trunk or hatch and manage the air at the back.
• Roof Spoilers – Spoilers that are placed at the very top rear of hatchbacks and SUVs. 
• Lip Spoilers – The smallest and provide mild aerodynamic benefits only for aesthetic enhancement.
• Wing Spoilers – Spoilers that are elevated and are very adjustable, and are seen on performance and race cars.

Also Read this, The Essential Equipment Every Luxury Car Workshop Should Have: Don’t Settle for Less

Disadvantages of Spoiler in Car

While spoilers are good for performance and aesthetics, they also have disadvantages. The main disadvantage is that the weight adds to the overall weight of the car. While it is negligible, it can decrease fuel efficiency. Poorly installed aftermarket spoilers can also negatively impact a car’s balance and handling. Additional skepticism about spoilers can be inefficiencies based on how they add to the total height of the car (which can impact rear visibility- on some models). and so on.

This is interesting! Car Polish vs Wax – Differences Explained!

Conclusion

Although car spoilers can provide real aerodynamic advantages—like handling, stability, or reducing lift—the benefits can only be seen consistently at higher speeds—notably over 100 km/h. For the average driver, common driving conditions on roads around town or highways, a spoiler will only produce aesthetic value. In addition, spoilers that are poorly designed or installed can impair a car’s handling and efficiency. So, before you get caught up agreeing to a dealership add-on consider how you drive. If you’re not burning rubber at the track, chances are your car does not actually need a spoiler.

FAQs

1. What does a spoiler do to a car?

A spoiler assists in controlling the airflow around the car, especially at high speeds. Changes in air, can result in changes in drag (air resistance) and affect stability.

2. Is a car spoiler legal in India?

Yes, spoilers are legal in India, but they must adhere to size and safety regulations. Extremely large or sharp spoilers may not comply with regulations.

3. What is a spoiler vs. a wing?

A spoiler is integrated as part of the car and is meant to reduce air drag. A wing, is like a small airplane wing that accelerates the car and pushes down on it and only works at speed. Though they’ll look similar, they serve quite different functions.

4. What is the purpose of a rear spoiler on a car?

A rear spoiler is designed to increase the level to which the car stays grounded at speed therefore increasing the level of stability. Although rear spoilers do help with looks and style, they also assist with speed and handling.

5. Is a rear spoiler necessary?

For normal driving, you do not need rear spoilers. For performance, sports cars, and high-speed applications… yes, rear spoilers assist with stability especially if the car cannot remain in contact with the earth.

6. Does a rear spoiler affect car speed?

A rear spoiler does not drastically alter a car’s speed although it can improve it a little and assist with fuel mileage where drag is reduced. In-fact in some conditions, performance, reverse. A poorly designed spoiler can even be worse for performance than not having one.