Question: OEM side strakes (not the optional accessory strakes)

[nytehawk]

I received my license plates today and opened the plastic bag of accessories which contains the front license plate mount. (I've decided not to actually install it until I get pulled over for no front plate, but I wanted to make sure I can when I do. :) )

Also inside this sealed plastic bag of accessories are the four OEM strakes -- not the optional accessory strakes you can purchase, but the black plastic ones that are intended to go underneath the vehicle in front of each tire. Clearly the dealer didn't bother to install them...even though the "install front and rear strakes" item is checked off in the pre-delivery inspection checklist in the service booklet. :rolleye2:

After seeing what the car would look like with the strakes installed, I think I like its appearance better without them. And I also saw the thread from about a year ago where someone mentioned scraping the front strakes and repiv replied about going over speed bumps at an angle, etc. The strakes don't appear likely to provide any sort of aerodynamic advantage -- either by drag reduction or by directing air toward the brakes.

So...would I be doing any harm by not installing these strakes? Does anyone know if they have any functional purpose, or are they intended for aesthetic value only?

[Looter]

:cool: Not really necessary...however, if I am not mistaken....they were designed to channel water away from your tires...Also, they do drag, which in my case is very helpful. My "S" is slammed to the max...both front & rear, and they provide me with an early warning, that I am about to tear into my front lip....

[repiv]

Clearly the dealer didn't bother to install them...even though the "install front and rear strakes" item is checked off in the pre-delivery inspection checklist in the service booklet. :rolleye2:

Clearly, your dealer PDI guy was a lazy sod that had no clue as to the importance of those things. They alter the airflow before it hits the tires. For most people, they don't go fast enough on a regular basis to know the difference, however, some owners have mentioned that at high speed, the car felt a bit twitchy without one or two (after they lost one in a parking lot mishap). They were designed by Honda for a purpose. They are supposed to be there. Leaving them off would be to compromise why they are there in the first place. The choice is yours.
(Did they install your antenna? Why didn't they leave that off? Most people won't know the difference in reception without it, either. :rolleyes: )

[My_yella_s2k]

(Did they install your antenna? Why didn't they leave that off? Most people won't know the difference in reception without it, either. :rolleyes: )

and/or did they take out the spring spacers???

[nytehawk]

Thanks guys for your responses. It's funny you mentioned the spring spacers because after seeing the strakes in the pre-delivery checklist I did look to see if the spring spacers had been removed. It appears they have -- at least assuming their presence would be obvious by looking through the wheel spokes with a flashlight. (And yes, they did install the intenna mast -- go figure! :rolleyes: ) The pre-delivery checklist also mentioned installing "body plugs" -- I wonder if that refers to the front and rear bumer plugs for the towing hardpoints or something else...

It did occur to me that those strakes might have the purpose of deflecting air that would otherwise want to go underneath the tires at high speed and "lift" them -- think hydroplaning, but with air which is much less dense than water. This would explain repiv's comment about some owners experiencing a "twitchiness" at high speed when one or more of the strakes were missing or damaged. (The downside in that case would be a slight increase in the car's overall aerodynamic drag.) Alternately, in case of rain, that air being deflected down and away just in front of the tires might also tend to blow away some amount of standing road water, thereby reducing the probability of actual hydroplaning. In both cases, the front strakes would be much more important than the rears as the front tires have much greater exposure to the oncoming air.

Regardless, the dealer's failure to ensure these strakes were installed causes me to question how many of the other pre-delivery items were actually completed, so I have made a list of the ones I will ask them to perform again.

[My_yella_s2k]

the body plugs are 4 plugs that go on the frame, to keep water n other debris out...
we used to have "fights" w. them in the shop.... wing them around like a frisbee,..... they used to go far :laugh:
thats when the monkeys ran the service dept, and not the manager...
thats all changed now

[wtmohr]

the body plugs are 4 plugs that go on the frame, to keep water n other debris out...
we used to have "fights" w. them in the shop.... wing them around like a frisbee,..... they used to go far :laugh:
thats when the monkeys ran the service dept, and not the manager...
thats all changed now


And which are you? :rofl:

[gomarlins3]

I agree that you should put them on. I damaged one of mine and bought a new one. I wasn't going to drive without them.

[nytehawk]

Thanks again to all for the informative responses!

[nytehawk]

One minor follow-up, for anyone who may care...

I had the opportunity to speak with a Honda factory representative at a recent customer relations event hosted by our local dealer. I asked him about these strakes. He acknowledged that maybe they do something for stability, and said they probably do help a little for blowing standing water out of the way in front of the tires, but his response was that their primary purpose is...fuel economy. I mentioned that I did happen to notice the new Accords have these same strakes or air dams and he said yes even the CR-V has them now. I'm guessing they are not for high-speed stability on the CR-V... ;)

[repiv]

I'm guessing they are not for high-speed stability on the CR-V... ;)
Interpretation of "high speed" may be different for each individual. 60 mph can be "high speed" in terms of aerodynamics. You don't have to get into 3 digit speeds to be considered going at high speed. Airplanes take off at 60 to 70 mph. A small change in a control surface WILL change its stability. I'm quite sure that such strakes will have some affect on the stability of a CRV, even if it's to make the car less "floaty" on the hiway.
An aerodynamically "clean" vehicle not only would save fuel, but I would think that it would be more "stable" in moving air.

[nytehawk]

Good points, good points.

[desmo4]

I found the under body plugs missing, but never bothered to replace them when I lived in CA. When I moved to VA I got a set from a dealer for free and used a bit of silicon glue to prevent them from being lost.

Jonathan