Cover for the turn signal/fog light gap

[RedDevil]

Hi, I wonder why Honda made a cavity in the front bumper under the turning signals and besides the fog lights. It just has a garnish in it with a gap above and below it.
Does not look very aerodynamic to me, just a bit strange.

I would like to make a clear plastic cover flush with the bumper and rim the gap with some black plastic support structure and hold the clear bit onto it with a couple of screws for easy access. I might even line that with some led strip. Think it would look cool and reduce drag as well.

Has anyone done that before?
Am I right in thinking this would reduce drag or am I just blind for the excellence of Honda's optimal bumper design?

[Cobb]

I dont think it makes too much of a difference. They changed it on the 12, but it only netted 1mpg.

Now blocking off the upper grill, yeah, that makes a bit of difference reducing turburlance over the top of the hood and between the lamps.

[RedDevil]

Maybe I'll just do it because I want to. Just want to make sure the change does not cause any unforeseen problems.

I better not block both grills, right? I blocked the lower one to protect the AC radiator from stone chips. I lost 2 radiators on my 85 Civic to that, a headlight and the windscreen on my Almera and already had bonnet damage on the Insight within the first week of ownership. Also the upper grille is the easy way to get cold air for my planned regulated temp air intake. So for me I stay with the lower blocking. It seems to work too as I got good mpg under bad conditions.

[Cobb]

All but an 1/8 is blocked of both grills. I left the drivers side edge uncovered as it seems that is where the internal plumbing is to get fresh air to the engine intake. Inthe summer I run the ac, so air is sucked through it and it stays 180 or so. In the winter I use the heater vs wearing a jacket and it stays 180.

I guess for testing purposes you can use some painters tape to cover the gap and see if you get any changes in mpg.

[RedDevil]

Another way to go about it is to leave the upper grill open but make sure that on the inside the only way out for the air is the engines air intake. It is already quite closed up so maybe this is feasible. You then have the benefit of knowing that no more air flows inside than you really need.

I hate painters tape. Too much damage. But maybe I am just too clumsy. If it were Bart proof they might have named it IT Developer tape or such.