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Wagon rear = dust magnet

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  • Wagon rear = dust magnet

    Jeez, the back of these wagons attracts dust like crazy. The slightest bit of dirt road and it's all over the back window. I've had lots of station wagons and never had this problem. Is it the sloping window? I think I'd prefer a more conventional shape rear (also to get back more useful shaped inside space) like they had on the Octavia I.
    2008 Skoda Octavia Elegance TDI 4x4 wagon
    Bluefin 132Kw/385Nm, Racechips Response Control, Haldex Performance controller, H&R anti roll bars, Koni FSD shocks, SuperPro control arms & ball joints, subframe & gearshift mods, Full Dynamat interior, Polk Audio sound, Columbus, Bluetooth, MDI, parking sensors, camera. BBS SR 18x8" w/ 225/40xR18. 3M Crystalline tint.

  • #2
    My two civics, GolfIV, Outback and Octavia have attracted dirt to the rear window in a similar manner - seems pretty normal to me.
    Brilliant Silver Octavia Scout 2010

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    • #3
      Originally posted by wfdTamar View Post
      I've had lots of station wagons and never had this problem.

      I find that surprising. What are some of the other wagons that do not have dust problems on the back window. I have never found one yet that doesn't.
      My Škoda photos here

      Flickr : Blog

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      • #4
        Its caused by the way the air rolls back after passing over the roof similar to the action of air across an aircraft wing

        Back years ago people used to fit a diffuser ( for want of a better word) that directed air down across the rear and it seemed to help a bit.

        May depend on how often you clean it as to how obvious it becomes. LOL


        Also a very good reason why you shouldnt travel with the taildoor up or the window open as it will suck the exhaust fumes into the car with sometimes dire results.
        2021 Kamiq LE 110 , Moon White, BV cameras F & B
        Mamba Ebike to replace Tiguan

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        • #5
          Every car I have had has been a hatch or wagon and all have suffered the same problem.

          Yes it's annoying and the first thing that makes me think "jeez, car needs a bath!" but at least we have a back wiper to give us some clear view.

          If it's just dry dust I generally just blow it down with an air compressor or lightly fan it off (for want of a better word) with a towel.
          *****CURRENTLY FOR SALE***** See Sale thread
          Candy White MY12.5 Octavia VRS TSI DSG wagon.
          Black Plasti Dipped wheels, grille surround, roof rails and badges. Lowered 20mm, torque arm insert.

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          • #6
            My Mazda 3 seems to be worse in this respect than my Octavia wagon
            2012.1 Skoda Octavia VRS DSG Wagon - Carbonio cold air intake and pipe - HPA Motorsports BBK 355mm rotors 6 pot calipers
            APR Stage II ECU - APR 3" exhaust down pipe & high flow catalyst
            APR/HP Roll bars - Eibach springs and Bilstien shocks
            Supaloy lower control arms - Enkei 18*8 Wheels

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            • #7
              This is not the best picture in the world but it should explain things (I hope)



              On a car shape there is a vortex created in that area behind the taillights. As the car moves forward the air in that area actually rotates clockwise in this case and sucks the road grime from behind the car and the air coming under the car back up onto the rear of the vehicle. On a car shape this is the obviously the taillight area of a wagon shape this is the whole rear of the vehicle. As mentioned above driving a wagon with the tailgate or rear window open is a really bad idea.
              For those interested in racing this is the area you need to get into to get a tow or draft the vehicle in front. If you can get into this area you can actually feel your vehicle being sucked forward into the rear of the vehicle in front (don't try it on the road please).
              My Škoda photos here

              Flickr : Blog

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              • #8
                The vertical lip at the top of the tailgate certainly doesn't help, as it stalls the air against the rear glass. Polish the rear window with Rainex and the dust build-up is reduced as it can't 'grip' onto the glass as well.

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                • #9
                  It is nothing more than a result of vehicle design. There is an area of lower pressure that bubbles along behind the car.

                  In the past various "tricks" have been used. For those old enough, you will remember the roof line deflectors fitted to station wagons to direct air over the rear windscreen. Mercedes Benz even re-designed their tail light lenses with deep grooves because they found the smooth tail light lenses were dirtying up too easily.

                  Now the solution to rear visibility is a wiper on the rear windscreen. Of course it does not do anything for dirt on the rest of the rear of the vehicle.
                  --

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Swampy View Post
                    The vertical lip at the top of the tailgate certainly doesn't help, as it stalls the air against the rear glass. Polish the rear window with Rainex and the dust build-up is reduced as it can't 'grip' onto the glass as well.
                    That's right. A little spoiler on the rear will actually make it a little worse. You need a downward deflector to cause an air flow across the back of the vehicle and move the lower pressure bubble away from the vehicle.
                    --

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by wai View Post
                      Mercedes Benz even re-designed their tail light lenses with deep grooves because they found the smooth tail light lenses were dirtying up too easily.
                      That was in the first S class sedans in the 1970s from memory.
                      My Škoda photos here

                      Flickr : Blog

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                      • #12
                        I know why the dust is trapped there by the airflow, just saying it's much worse on the Octavia than previous cars. It's either the 'fastback' euro style slope of the window and/or the goo I'm using on the window (Nanolex - fancy overpriced Rainex).

                        If it's the slope I would think they could design a modern version of the old Valiant station wagon style 'diverters' into the mini spoiler at the top of the window, but I s'pose that defeats the purpose of the spoiler.

                        Maybe an opportunity for the aftermarket boys?
                        2008 Skoda Octavia Elegance TDI 4x4 wagon
                        Bluefin 132Kw/385Nm, Racechips Response Control, Haldex Performance controller, H&R anti roll bars, Koni FSD shocks, SuperPro control arms & ball joints, subframe & gearshift mods, Full Dynamat interior, Polk Audio sound, Columbus, Bluetooth, MDI, parking sensors, camera. BBS SR 18x8" w/ 225/40xR18. 3M Crystalline tint.

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by wfdTamar View Post
                          If it's the slope I would think they could design a modern version of the old Valiant station wagon style 'diverters' into the mini spoiler at the top of the window, but I s'pose that defeats the purpose of the spoiler.

                          Maybe an opportunity for the aftermarket boys?
                          I see a whole range of '60's/'70's retro accessories. External windscreen sun visors that howl like banshees over about 45kph, rear window venetian blinds in lieu of tinting. Maybe not. The number of cars I remember seeing with rusted out tail gate bottoms that were fitted with dust diverters leads me to think that they were probably as effective as a Mars Bar in a knife fight. There are plenty of aftermarket diverters for SUV's and proper 4WD's. They may work. I don't know about that, but what I do know is they all look crap.

                          I frequently go to a farm on weekends. Each round trip in and out off the highway is 14 kms on a well maintained dirt road. I'd go in and out 3 or 4 times on a weekend. I could go in and out 20 times and it wouldn't matter. After the first time it looks like I've just crossed the Simpson Desert, but so what? I use a good polish, and Duragloss Aquawax in between polishes, so whether it's a little dirty, or a lot dirty, the paint is protected and it doesn't take much effort to wash it.

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by BottomScratcher View Post
                            The number of cars I remember seeing with rusted out tail gate bottoms that were fitted with dust diverters leads me to think that they were probably as effective as a Mars Bar in a knife fight.
                            Rust was a standard factory fit in cars made in the 1970s. You could find rust somewhere on almost any vehicle within months of it going on the road. Tailgates and doors rusted out because the drainage in them was useless. They would get water inside and it would just sit there bouncing around and keeping the inside of the door damp until finally a rust hole appeared somewhere. The standard thing to do with any 1970s vehicle was to get a drill and drill out the drain holes to a decent size as soon as possible so they would not block up.
                            My Škoda photos here

                            Flickr : Blog

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by K1W1 View Post
                              The standard thing to do with any 1970s vehicle was to get a drill and drill out the drain holes to a decent size as soon as possible so they would not block up.
                              The optional thing to do, which I did on all of my cars, was to pressure spray inside the panels with fish oil - never thought I'd be taking it myself one day, but that's another story. The cars stank for about 3 days, but body rust was never an issue. The only rust related issue I ever had since doing the fish oil thing was having to remove the rear window on an XA Falcon Hardtop. Those huge dished out windows had swimming pools at the bottom corners.

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