Spoiler operation

[IvoDC]

I have the push button on my center console that allows me to manually operate the rear spoiler.
As with everyone, the spoiler always automatically rises at 120km/h (75mph), and lowers again at 80km/h (50mph). You cannot prevent this unless you disconnect the control system.
- I can manually raise it when it is stationary (and the ignition is on) and lower it again (e.g. to clean underneath). Which is standard for every F-Type I presume, unless you have the fixed spoiler.
. While driving, I can raise it manually at any speed up to 120 km/h. After that it rises automatically. But I find it annoying that I can never lower it manually while driving, at any speed. And the strange thing is that it no longer lowers automatically at 80 km/h if I have raised it manually before.
When I have raised the spoiler manually, at any speed, the automatic system is apparently overruled and I must first come to a full stop before I can lower it again. I don't understand what's the point of it. I fail to see the logic of it.

I have already read that the spoiler is sometimes programmed differently on pre-facelift models and in other countries. So i suppose it has no sense to talk to the dealer about it.

 

[Lunar]

No not for everyone - those figures are for the coupe, the convertible’s spoiler rises at around 63mph and lowers at around 43mph.

I can’t remember right now but If you’ve raised it manually and then short press the button (indicator goes out?) it will then return to auto mode and lower at the appropriate speed.

Not sure why you don’t just leave it to do its thing though - unless you have fixed spoiler envy

When stationary it’s constant pressure to raise and lower as a safety precaution in case there is a small person with their fingers near it.

 

[cj10jeeper]

All sounds like it's working correctly to me.
With regards to the lowering at any speed. It seems to me appropriate that at higher than the normal speed for it to have been automatically or manually raised, you cannot lower it. That's clearly a safety measure.
Since in your instance you have manually raised the spoiler then unless you cancel that mode then I can see it's correct it would remain up.

I don't think talking to a dealer is going to get you much further than a diagnostic bill for an 'All working OK' response

 

[IvoDC]

I also don't think a dealer will be of much help in this case.
Today I've done a bit of experimenting during a short trip. To raise the spoiler when standing still and contact on, I have to press the button for a full second before the spoiler comes up in one movement. To bring it down again, I have to keep pressing the button till the spoiler is completely flat again. Which make sense from safety point.
When driving at a speed lower than 12okml/h, I can raise the spoiler manually by pressing shortly on the button. the LED on the button lights up, and the spoiler raises in one smooth movement. If i press the button shortly again (not long like i tried in France), the spoiler lowers in one continuous movement.
So it looks like it functions like it is supposed to do.
Tho only test I still have to perform is driving 120km/h so the spoiler raises automatically, slow down to ~100km/h, and try if i can lower the spoiler manually. Thus not having to slow down to 80km/h to lower is automatically.

My thoughts about this subject:
- i like the lines of the F-type more with the spoiler down. And I'm certainly not a fan of the fixed spoiler. There is one driving around in here with a fixed spoiler, and everytime I see him I think: " mmm NO )
- As the maximum highway speed in Belgium is only 120km/h, I don't need the spoiler to come up at that speed. i would like to reprogramm that so it only happens at 130km/h, but that is something I'm not able to do myself. and I didn't find topics here of someone who succeeded in doing that. So I doubt it is even possible.
- I noticed that when I drive 120km/h, and the spoiler raises, my fuel consumption jumps up. So it definitely has a profound influence on the streamline. That's why I keep my speed just below that threshold now.

 

[Kev]

The spoiler raises at that particular speed to provide additional downforce at the rear to help with high speed stability and will increase drag, and with an increase in drag comes an increase of fuel consumption. If the spoiler isn’t deployed then you could start to get a bit of lift at the rear making for an aerodynamically unstable car

 

[IvoDC]

Yes, I know what the effect of the spoiler is. And at high speeds it certainly has its merits. But I doubt the lift without the spoiler between 120 and 130km/h is noticeable. Now every time I drive 120km/h that spoiler blocks half of my rear view without being necessary and costing me more fuel :roll: .

 

[cj10jeeper]

Yes, I know what the effect of the spoiler is. And at high speeds it certainly has its merits. But I doubt the lift without the spoiler between 120 and 130km/h is noticeable. Now every time I drive 120km/h that spoiler blocks half of my rear view without being necessary and costing me more fuel :roll: .

You can be sure that Jaguar engineers with all their experience, wind tunnel and air flow data, across the whole package of body profile, underfloor panels, sills, splitter, spoiler, etc. etc. would have worked out the optimum crossover points of fuel use, when lift becomes an issue and downforce beneficial to enhance stability (and acceleration, etc.), is required. Given in general spoilers are effective above 80kph it looks like they have set it a fair margin above that in their trade-offs.

If you suggest that downforce is so minimal at 130kph, which I'm sure it is given at 300kph it's only 120kg, then by definition so is the drag minimal and any increased fuel use.

Aside trying to see the odd car behind you at >120kph I really can't see the point of looking to override the factoring settings.

 

[TH51]

- As the maximum highway speed in Belgium is only 120km/h, I don't need the spoiler to come up at that speed. i would like to reprogramm that so it only happens at 130km/h, but that is something I'm not able to do myself. and I didn't find topics here of someone who succeeded in doing that. So I doubt it is even possible.
- I noticed that when I drive 120km/h, and the spoiler raises, my fuel consumption jumps up. So it definitely has a profound influence on the streamline. That's why I keep my speed just below that threshold now.

120 km/h ... you're lucky. With our maximum speed limit we never get to see our spoiler raised. :roll: