Deflectors Tech Center

When you care about your automobile, you want to keep it looking its best. However, nothing takes away from your vehicle's great looks like a windshield full of smashed bugs or gouges in your paintjob. Likewise, you want your vehicle to be as comfortable as possible. But, you can't roll down your window without having to put up with a number of obnoxious side-effects. Loud wind, rough turbulence and soaking rain are the primary culprits, but there certainly are others.

Why buy a deflector?

When you care about your automobile, you want to keep it looking its best. However, nothing takes away from your vehicle's great looks like a windshield full of smashed bugs or gouges in your paintjob. Likewise, you want your vehicle to be as comfortable as possible. But, you can't roll down your window without having to put up with a number of obnoxious side-effects. Loud wind, rough turbulence and soaking rain are the primary culprits, but there certainly are others.

Thankfully, you won't have to put up with these common issues with a deflector mounted on your vehicle. You'll enjoy amazing front-end protection, improved driving comfort, and many other benefits. That's because deflectors:

• Redirect bugs from splattering against your windshield
• Deflect rocks, gravel and other airborne debris from scratching your hood, fenders, and windshield
• Greatly reduce wind noise and turbulence from open windows and sunroofs
• Shield rain, hail, and sleet from pouring in through your open windows
• Contribute to your vehicle's fuel economy
• Add a sleek, stylish finish to your vehicle

Before we learn about how deflectors perform all these amazing feats, let's take a quick look at the different deflector types.

What are the different kinds of deflectors?

There are three basic types of deflectors, and each kind brings a unique benefit to your vehicle. Let's take a closer look:

Bug Deflectors

As their name implies, bug deflectors are engineered to keep insects from smacking into your windshield and hood. However, these tough deflectors pull double-duty. They also shield rocks, gravel, and other debris from colliding with your hood, fenders, and windshield.

Bug deflectors mount right on the leading edge of your hood, one of the most punishing positions on your vehicle. In order to withstand the harsh conditions, they're built from rugged materials. Most are made from high-impact acrylic plastic. EGR, AVS, and Lund all manufacture bug deflectors from robust plastics. For even greater strength and durability, you can get a stainless steel bug deflector. No matter which type you go with, they all easily mount using either OEM-approved 3M adhesive or hidden screws.

Window Deflectors

While bug deflectors are designed for protection, window deflectors are specifically engineered for comfort. When your windows are rolled down, they greatly reduce the deafening roar of wind and the annoying thrash of turbulence. They also shelter your interior from rain and wind drag.

Window deflectors fit around the perimeter of your windows and alter the aerodynamics of your vehicle. For long-lasting strength and durability, they too are crafted from high-impact acrylic. And, installation is a breeze. They firmly mount using either automotive-grade 3M adhesive, micro-thin flanges, or by tucking right into the window channel on select vehicles.

Sunroof Deflectors

Having a sunroof is the next best thing to owning a convertible. However, the shrieking noise and hair-mangling gusts might make you think twice about opening your ceiling hatch. Sunroof deflectors solve these problems. They modify your roof's aerodynamics to dampen the racket and redirect the wind out of your cockpit. Moreover, installing a sunroof deflector is like adding an overhead sunshade. They're tinted to reduce harsh light, so you don't have to squint while you're motoring about at midday.

These sunroof deflectors mount right in front of your sunroof. They're crafted from high-impact acrylic plastic and mount using either 3M adhesive or no-drill clips.

How Deflectors Work

Now that we have a clear understanding of the different types of deflectors, let's examine how they make driving less dangerous and more enjoyable.

Blocking bugs guide

Whether you're headed out on a cross country road trip or driving down the block to the grocer, chances are you'll run into a bug or two on the way. It seems unavoidable—their flight plans are always set on a collision course with your front-end. More than just disgusting, their gooey carcasses can impair your driving visibility by mucking up your windshield.

Block more bugs: Stop the splats by mounting a bug deflector onto the front of your vehicle. It alters your front-end's aerodynamics to launch wind up and over your windshield—not smack-dab into the middle of it. That way, when bugs zero in on your front window, the new wind current will send them sailing over your cockpit.

What's more, a bug deflector will help prevent those plump pests from crash-landing onto your hood. You may think that their slimy corpses are harmless, but their guts can be quite damaging to your paintjob. Most insects have very acidic remains, which will fuse to your vehicle's paint if left unwashed for a day or two. Even worse, bug juice can cause pitting and etching, the two gateways to surface rust and a lengthy invoice from a hairy guy named Saul down at the body shop. However, you won't have to worry about this type of damage when you install a bug deflector.

Rock deflection resource

Aside from their acidic innards eating away at your paint, bugs don't pose much of a physical threat to your vehicle. The same cannot be said for other airborne debris. Kicked-up rocks, gravel, and other road rubble can leave nasty gouges, nicks, and dents in your finish. Your hood is extremely vulnerable to this type of damage, along with your windshield and fenders. That's where a bug deflector comes to the rescue yet again.

Fun Factoid: The life cycle of a rock

According to astronomical eggheads, the Earth started out as little more than a seething mass of space dust and gasses. After an extended waiting period, all the cosmic ingredients fused together to form terra firma. On a much smaller scale, the same process plays out to create rocks. Different elements and minerals mingle around for long periods of time until they're finally squeezed together into huge hunks of rock. Erosion, earthquakes, and other geological incidents break up these large chunks into ever smaller pieces. Over time, they become so small and so spread out that they eventually find their way onto streets and highways across the globe. Inevitably, they get kicked up by tires, crash into windshields, and bounce off into a ditch, where the cycle begins anew.

Mounted to the nose of your vehicle, a bug deflector acts like a broad shield. When pebbles come flying in at your hood, they hit the deflector instead of your automobile. That way, stones and debris ricochet off the deflector and go whizzing harmlessly away.

Reducing wind noise and turbulence tutorial

No one likes sitting in a stuffy automobile, but an open window or a gaping moonroof causes more annoyance than it cures. Howling wind, whipping turbulence, and rain-soaked door panels are just a few of the bothersome effects of driving with a sunroof or windows open. How do you expect to rock out to Lynyrd Skynyrd's Sweet Home Alabama over the gale force air stream whistling in your ears?

Re-route the wind: These problems arise because of an interruption in your vehicle's aerodynamics. Your automobile is specially shaped and contoured to allow air to flow freely across its surfaces. When you crank down your windows or pull back the moonroof, you create an aerodynamic pothole. The wind can't help but get sucked into the hole, and you're stuck with its ear-piercing shriek and hair-tussling rush.

With a deflector fixed to your vehicle, you remain streamlined even with your windows or sunroof open. It alters the airflow, causing it to jump across the gaps instead of rushing into them. This simple shift in the wind's course will dramatically reduce wind noise and all but eliminate pesky turbulence.

The basics of improving your rainy day drive time

From calm drizzles to torrential downpours, rainy days mean only one thing to drivers: the windows must remain up. Driving in the rain, unless you want your clothes, carpet, and door panel soaked, you can't even have your window open a crack. With everything closed up like a tomb, the air in your cabin will quickly turn stuffy and stale, especially if you have passengers. Even worse, foul weather almost always leads to a build-up of fog on your windshield. But, the natural remedy for this automobile ailment, rolling down the window, just isn't practical during rain storms.

The remedy to this plague of on-the-road annoyances is simple: install deflectors around your windows and sunroof. These sleek accessories act like little umbrellas, blocking rain, sleet, and snow from sneaking into your cockpit. Even if it's raining cats and dogs, you can open your window to let in fresh, clean air. And, the circulating air will help clear up dangerous window fog.

Shop Popular Deflectors Products

• AVS Ventvisor Window Deflectors
• AVS In-Channel Ventvisor
• AVS Bugflector II
• EGR Hood Shields
• Stampede TAPEONZ Sidewind

How to improve your MPG

Benjamin Franklin once wrote that "in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." In these modern times, we can add one more item to this list: the high price of petrol. Yes, it seems like every time we pull up to the pump, the prices have shot up yet again. While we cannot simply stop driving altogether, we can take steps to improve our fuel economy. A deflector is an easy, effective tool for eking out as many miles as possible from every tank.

One of the biggest drains on fuel efficiency is your air conditioner. The added energy your AC draws to run its compressor zaps power from your motor, which then has to work harder and use more fuel. However, if you shut off the vents and roll down your windows or open your sunroof, you create another problem: drag. The wind flies into your cockpit, crashes into the rear window and creates a backward thrust. Like a marathoner with leaded shoes, your engine has to exert more energy to do the same job, so it burns more gasoline or diesel.

The solution to these woes is deflectors. They adjust your vehicle's aerodynamics to compensate for the opened windows and sunroof. Instead of rushing in, the air blows innocently over the openings, so you avoid drag. Cruising around town with the AC off and the windows down will help give you the most bang for your fuel bucks.

The deflector style guide

Besides being incredibly functional, our line of deflectors also adds a subtle touch of style to your vehicle. These are not the shoddy, one-size-fits-all plastic shields that you find at greasy auto parts warehouses. Far from it. Except for a couple of sunroof models, all of our deflectors are custom-designed for a perfect fit on your specific year, make, and model. They follow all of your automobile's curves, contours, and lines for a clean finish that looks factory-installed.

What's more, most of the deflectors give you at least 2 color options. The traditional deflector color is smoked-grey, and this option still remains quite popular. However, clear deflectors are rapidly rising in popularity. Like a chameleon whose color changes to match his surroundings, the transparent deflectors blend in with your paintjob.

If you really want to stand out on the road, you can break from tradition with a stainless steel deflector. These rugged beasts are meticulously polished to a mirror polish. Plus, the high chromium content in the stainless alloy repels rust, oxidation, and corrosion.

Which deflector is right for me?

There are a number of deflectors to choose from, so figuring out which one is right for your vehicle may seem daunting. To streamline the selection process, consider these 3 key questions:

• Where do you live?
• Do you want protection or comfort?
• What finish do you want?

Where do you live?

When it comes to deciding on the right deflector for your vehicle, your zip code is a factor. Pest populations and weather patterns vary from city to city, so you need to be prepared for your hometown conditions.

For people who live in insect-infested areas (e.g. Florida, Montana, Hawaii, etc.), then a bug deflector is an excellent choice. It greatly reduces the rate of kamikaze cockroaches slamming into your windshield and hood, keeping your automobile from looking like an amateur entomology experiment.

If you live in the sunny Southwest or other warm areas, then take a look at our sunroof and window deflectors. They reduce wind noise and drag, so you can cool off with the windows down instead of cranking the AC. Plus, the sunroof deflector acts like an additional sun visor to keep harsh rays out of your eyes.

People who live in stormy Seattle or other rainy regions should also opt for a set of window deflectors and a sunroof deflector. They give you the freedom to crack open your window on grey days without being doused by the downpour. That way, you can vent your stuffy cabin and defog your windshield.

Do you want protection or comfort?

For most of us, maintaining our vehicle's appearance is a matter of pride. Scratches in the finish and nasty stains on the windshield are just plain ugly, and we want to avoid them. Other drivers, though, are more concerned with having a comfortable interior rather than a stylish exterior. Which camp do you fall into?

When you want serious front-end protection from dents, dings, and scratches caused by airborne debris, then equip your vehicle with a bug deflector.

For some extra creature comforts to make your commute more enjoyable, go with a set of window deflectors and/or a sunroof deflector.

Or, you can mount all 3 deflector types and get the best of both worlds.

What finish do you want?

No matter how you slice it, looks do matter. From the clothes we wear to the automobiles we drive, we make choices based on our personal tastes and our unique senses of style. When you're picking a deflector, keep the finish in mind.

For the more traditional look, go with the smoked finish. This classic color blends in perfectly with dark trim and adds a sharp accent to light paint jobs. Plus, all 3 deflector types have a smoke finish option, so you can have a matching package.

For a subtle style upgrade, look into a clear deflector. The transparent acrylic allows your paint to show through, so the deflector becomes nearly invisible. See-through window deflectors are especially effective because they don't affect the line of vision through your side windows. Turn to EGR, AVS, and Weathertech for quality clear deflectors.

For a more aggressive finish, check out our stainless steel bug deflector. It's polished to a mirror shine and matches most shiny metal accessories, such as nerf bars, grille guards, and chrome door handles.

For an extreme front-end makeover, check out our new printed bug deflectors. They're screen printed with intricate, stylish graphics, including military insignia, patriotic patterns, and sizzling flames.