Honda's OEM vortex generators ... on the Ridgeline pickup mirrors

[KJSatz]

I was removing my Civic's cover the other day (long-term parking in parking lot) and noticed an OEM mini front air dam just past the bumper. It extended down about 2.5". Very interesting!

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by tasdrouille

Everytime I think of vortex generators, I think of golf balls. Have you ever seen the size of the wake of a golf ball versus a smooth sphere? Area wise, it's 4 to 5 times smaller. VGs have been known to keep the flow attached to a surface where it would otherwise separage and create a pressure drag zone.

Now, I don't really understand how they could be noise reducing features in this case. Where does the noise originates from? Does it come from the separation of the flow at the trailling edge of the mirror? If so I could only imagine that these would work by inducing turbulences that disrupt the laminar flow before it meets the low pressure wake.

I don't think they eliminate the noise but rather alter its frequency to one which will not affect driver comfort.