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Old 05-09-2011, 11:15 AM   #6 (permalink)
pnambic
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 12

DGC - '08 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
90 day: 17.39 mpg (US)

Buick - '01 Buick LeSabre Limited
90 day: 18.52 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by brucepick View Post
In EcoModding Central, get started reading the Sticky "Master list of 65+ proven mods... ". It will tell you more than I certainly can.
Definitely the first order of business.

Quote:
Originally Posted by brucepick View Post
Consider a belly pan. Not a small or quick project but I think a minivan's aero is mostly pre-determined in other areas. Often the underside is an aerodynamic nightmare that can be improved, even if your creation is not perfect.
This has been top of my list. I made an aluminum one for our old '99 Plymouth years ago and it was a good exercise. It only covered the bottom side of the engine compartment (made from 3ft x 4ft sheet aluminum), but it made a noticeable improvement in handling in buffeting wind conditions (passing big trucks and such). I didn't do extensive testing, but the mileage didn't take any significant jump - maybe something on the order of half a mpg overall. It was noisy though - the aluminum liked to "pop" and resonate. I saw a 4ft x 8ft sheet of plastic at the Home Depot normally used for bathroom/bathtub walls. Wondering if I might re-purpose some for a belly pan...
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