Roof bars removal mpg/wind noise

[S60r]

Hi,

About to be 6 up with bikes & luggage on a summer trip with the family.

I just recently took off the roof rails that came with my van and reinstalled the Ford pop up rails. They work well but even in folded down position wind noise is apparent at motorway speeds.

If I remove it again for the week, will I have to seal the holes? Any ideas if so? I was thinking of leaving the 8mm bolts in the holes. Would taking the rack off save some mpg do you think? It's a 6/700 mile round trip.

Cheers

[moley551]

I removed my roof rack for trip to Essex, I covered the holes with a piece of tape to keep out water and dirt also to prevent any whistles at speed.

[Alar]

Those originals are so flush with roof... What kind of a fuel save you are excpecting?

[ake]

Hi,

About to be 6 up with bikes & luggage on a summer trip with the family.

I just recently took off the roof rails that came with my van and reinstalled the Ford pop up rails. They work well but even in folded down position wind noise is apparent at motorway speeds.

If I remove it again for the week, will I have to seal the holes? Any ideas if so? I was thinking of leaving the 8mm bolts in the holes. Would taking the rack off save some mpg do you think? It's a 6/700 mile round trip.

Cheers

Put the bolts back in with a smear of grease on them

[seikokid]

get a set of specific plastic plugs from ford to seal the holes with
I get no noise with my ford fold down bars

[S60r]

Thanks gents... I think i'll take a photo of mine tomorrow and post them up.... especially after alar's & seikokid's comments. Mine are curved... especially the front one... so even when folded down they are protruding. Maybe mine aren't set up correctly.

I think i will go with your advice Ake. Makes sense to me....Thanks.

[Alar]

I hardly belive that this adds noticeable fuel consumption...

[S60r]

Yes Alar, I agree yours look very snug. Mine are way higher off the roof than that. I will post a picture tomorrow

[S60r]

do mine sit too high? can I alter them?

[seikokid]

are yours genuine ford bars ? they look different

[Treespotter]

I think they are the new ones. They are not as high when upright. Folded down they stick out way more.

Wolter

[S60r]

Yes ford part numbers on them but defo stick up too much... I'll take them off for the trip I think. It's remapped now, so I don't want to waste any gained MPG's on a roof rack I won't use on the journey.

[cabezota311]

Are those bars Ford original part? where can you find them online?
Thanks!