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Old 06-01-2011, 06:07 PM   #118 (permalink)
California98Civic
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Coastal Southern California
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Black and Green - '98 Honda Civic DX Coupe
Team Honda
90 day: 66.42 mpg (US)

Black and Red - '00 Nashbar Custom built eBike
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Spoiler design 3 tested: -1.35mpg

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pendragon View Post
With the plate/spoiler angled up to intersect "the template" with a shorter overhang of the rear of the car as shown in the diagram, I have to wonder just how much additional drag will be created
Well, Pendragon, wonder no more, because I just tested it. Drag and/or downforce added by the angle might just be what caused a decline in MPG. Across my 18 mile "course" at 16.5 throttle steady:

A (no mod): 51.7
B (mod): 50.4
A (no mod): 52.0

This was so dramatic a difference I could see it just a few miles after starting out. Slower speeds were another obvious indicator. Clearly, this design does not work, possibly for the reasons you suggest, though there are others here who might know more and might comment. But I will say that at 60mph it was difficult to keep the leading edge of the assembly taped flat onto the trunk lid surface. Even though it was just 2-3" behind the base of the rear window, it would separate and flap in the wind like a parachute. I taped it down hard with duct tape and started again. I should have tuft tested first. The air does not move the way I thought.

Next, I want to try a less aggressive approach, combining ideas you (Pendragon) and Brucepic and probably others have already suggested. That tiny "kamm" type add-on at the top of the window (for cleaner separation) and a small, flat spoiler that does not extend beyond the bumper and that is flat or slightly angled downward.

EDIT: Added previous long flat design photo, the over lay of both angles, and flat spoiler test results on the long flat spoiler, for reference: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tml#post241134
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See my car's mod & maintenance thread and my electric bicycle's thread for ongoing projects. I will rebuild Black and Green over decades as parts die, until it becomes a different car of roughly the same shape and color. My minimum fuel economy goal is 55 mpg while averaging posted speed limits. I generally top 60 mpg. See also my Honda manual transmission specs thread.




Last edited by California98Civic; 06-01-2011 at 06:58 PM..
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