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Old 01-17-2011, 11:35 AM   #505 (permalink)
basjoos
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Many body gaps are wider than 1/8", so they are affecting the shape of the boundary layer on the surrounding sheet metal. Also some body gaps, such as those around parts of the doors and the top of the hatch, open up into spaces large enough that air currents could flow through them, increasing drag as outside air is diverted into the gap, flows through the spaces inside the gap, and then exits back into the air flow somewhere else. If you look at how much dirt gets into the area inside the front of the door where the door hinges hide, its obvious that outside air and spray are getting into that area. Gap sealing won't produce a large drop in drag, but every bit counts, especially at higher speeds.
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