View Single Post
Old 12-22-2009, 03:57 PM   #39 (permalink)
MetroMPG
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,521

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 52.48 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,077
Thanked 6,965 Times in 3,606 Posts
A rear spoiler at the end of the Prius could have been put there for several reasons, and unless we can talk to the aerodynamicist, we'll never know for sure which (or which combination of these) applies:
  • as a styling element (ie. aerodynamically useless or even detrimental)
  • to reduce rear lift
  • to reduce drag by changing the "effective" rear slope
  • to reduce drag by forcing cleaner separation where airflow might otherwise "wrap" around a surface
I would just carry on with what you're doing and not worry about a spoiler. The angle you're working with is fine, and that's the most important issue.

FYI, in your previous post you said you weren't sure if you learned anything from the Ranger tuft testing video. The key thing there was we saw the tufts streaming aft on both the sides and top surfaces of his aero cap, which indicates attached flow. It confirms that his angles weren't too extreme and that he should see an efficiency improvement from his work.
__________________
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
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to MetroMPG For This Useful Post:
aerohead (12-31-2009)