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Everything you need to know to measure and install a spoiler on your truck, car, van or whatever you feel needs a spoiler.  Click the photos to enlarge and be sure to scroll all the way down to see a collection of FAILED SPOILERS, lol

Things You’ll Need for this project:

• Tape measure
• Masking tape
• Pen or permanent marker
• Drill
• Drill bits
• 3/8 ratchet and sockets
• Screwdriver, both Phillips and flathead.

Step 1

First use the masking tape to cover the rear of the trunk onto which you will be installing the spoiler. This is to protect the paint as well as using for measurements.

Step 2

Using the tape measure, find the center of the trunk. Three points make a line, so mark the center of the trunk in three spots down the center of the vehicle and connect the dots to make a line. This will be the primary measuring point.

Step 3

Measure the spoiler that you’re going to install. Some spoilers have three mounting points, while others have just two. Either way, the measurements will be the same. Measure the width of the mounting holes on the wing.

Step 4

Take the measurement you just made on the wing and divide it in two. That is the center of the spoiler. Take the new divided measurement and mark from the center line on the trunk out. Use the pen or marker to put a spot on the trunk where the holes will be. Do this to both sides, using the same three-dots-for-a-line process.

Step 5

Place the wing on the vehicle and take a step back. Make sure the spoiler appears centered on the vehicle. You haven’t drilled any holes yet, so make sure this is exactly where you want the spoiler to be, because this is your last chance to get it right before drilling.

Step 6

Generally there are two mounting holes per side on a spoiler. Measure the difference between the two holes, divide it by two, and mark that point on the outer lines that you’ve marked on the trunk. Then mark the two holes on each corner.

Step 7

Set the wing back on the trunk, this time try to place each end of the spoiler so that the mounting holes are as close as possible to the holes you’ve marked on the trunk. Step back again and confirm this is exactly where you want the spoiler. Make any adjustments if needed.

Step 8

Use a small drill bit to drill the holes that you’ve marked. If there is a wire for a third brake light, mark where that hole needs to be and drill it out as well.

Step 9

Use progressively larger drill bits until you find one that is one size larger than the screw used to mount the spoiler to the trunk. Sometimes it’s a screw, sometimes it’s a bolt, so be prepared for both options.

Step 10

With a friend helping you hold the spoiler in place, start attaching the screws in from the bottom of the trunk into the spoiler. Loosely fit the screws until all of them are set.

Step 11

Close the trunk and make sure everything is lined up and straight. Remove the tape. If the spoiler needs minor adjustments, it may be possible to open up the holes that mount the spoiler, but it depends on the width of the base. Once it it set perfectly, have a friend hold it still, then tighten down the spoiler to the trunk.

Always make sure to measure twice, drill once. If you’re not sure of your measurements, step back and take a break, then come back and check again. Always be sure your measurements are accurate before you make that first hole.

How will you know if you installed your spoiler correctly?  Please view the photos below, if your new spoiler install looks anything like these, you probably did it wrong! lol  SPOILER FAIL

Make sure you also check out How to sand, prime and paint fiberglass spoilers

 1- Use public transportation. It’s time to ride the bus again and to take the metro. If you hate public transportation you can ride your bike to work or even walk.

2- Carpool. Find coworkers who live close to you. Offer to give 10$ per week of gas money. This will cost you less than going to work by yourself and give you someone to talk to while heading at the office. You can even use carpooling to do your groceries and other routine shopping.

3- Combine errands and walk between stops. Try to do your groceries and find a pharmacy close by (walking distance ?) I believe now Wal-Mart actually combines both type of stores! With the new concepts of supermalls where all the big retailers rent space right beside each other it would be smart to drive to one place and stay there for all your purchases.

4- Drive slower. The faster you drive the more gas you are burning. If you drive over 55 miles per hour your gas consumption per extra mile is greater than below that speed. A rapid acceleration is a big gas-burner too, I know it’s fun to drive fast, especially after that red light but is it worth the extra cost? Cruise control on the highway is another great way to lower your long distance travel bill.

 5- Keep your tires well-inflated. Inflated tires help you get better gas mileage by reducing the friction tires can create on the road. This is probably the oldest trick in the book.

 6- Keep your vehicle light. Remove any unnecessary weight from the car. The more load you carry the heavier it is and then it only costs more to move around. Also try to remove anything that can create drag with your car. (eg: bike racks or ski racks)

7- Parking in shadow will reduce the evaporation of gasoline from your tank, as sitting in the hot sun speeds up that process. Parking in the shade also keeps it cooler inside, and you will need less A/C to cool off when you get back in.

8- Turn off your engine if you are going to be idling. Millions of gallons of fuel are wasted each day from idling, we all do it and it’s actually almost unconscious. The other day I dropped off a friend who just needed to walk in and send a later to the post office, without realizing it I idled for 5 minutes. If you look at it on a larger scale, a few hundred thousand people idling every day we can save a lot of gas consumption right there.

9- Warm your engine first, specifically for the folks living in the northern hemisphere, try not to drive a lot with a cold engine. Not only this is bad for your car, cold engines do not run efficiently. This is actually written in most cars manufacturer manuals who reads those anyways, but you should!).

10- Buy a high mileage car like a MINI or a Toyota PRIUS hybrid cars, or better yet move closer to where you work.

Hopefully this will help you reduce the gallon/mile ration you have right now. If you want to make a profit out of the skyrocketing commodity price, invest in buying stocks from oil companies or any utility company. For some reason I cannot explain, they always make more money when the price of their product goes up (which they have no control over). As for me, I am going to start using my bike more often, it’s free and on top of that it combines getting from point A to B while keeping fit!