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MetroMPG · 09-02-2009, 10:05 PM

Based on basjoos' comments, and seeing several concept cars with front wheel skirts, I tuft tested and then even went ahead and built one front articulated skirt last fall. See:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...etro-5403.html

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...-0-a-5462.html

The tuft testing video certainly seems to show the potential benefit of skirts.

However, today I went out and did some coastdown runs, A-BBB-AA-BB with a pair of easily attached/removed cardboard skirts, and the results seemed to suggest that the style of skirts used actually increases drag slightly. EDIT: but the difference compared to the standard deviation of the data sets is so close as to be statistically meaningless.

Bummer, but based on this, into the waste bin they go!

I'll post the full data tomorrow.

09-02-2009, 10:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
MetroMPG Batman Junior Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada Posts: 22,534 Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro Team Metro Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US) MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata 90 day: 54.46 mpg (US) Appliance car Mirage - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base) 90 day: 57.73 mpg (US) Thanks: 4,082 Thanked 6,979 Times in 3,614 Posts	Tested: front wheel skirts, A-B-A-B Based on basjoos' comments, and seeing several concept cars with front wheel skirts, I tuft tested and then even went ahead and built one front articulated skirt last fall. See: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...etro-5403.html http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...-0-a-5462.html The tuft testing video certainly seems to show the potential benefit of skirts. However, today I went out and did some coastdown runs, A-BBB-AA-BB with a pair of easily attached/removed cardboard skirts, and the results seemed to suggest that the style of skirts used actually increases drag slightly. EDIT: but the difference compared to the standard deviation of the data sets is so close as to be statistically meaningless. Bummer, but based on this, into the waste bin they go! I'll post the full data tomorrow. __________________ Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage. Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown EcoModder has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget