Dear ACEV: if all it takes is another test to disprove Mythbusters... no matter how poorly either test is constructed, here you go:
Fastskinz Test Drive: Can a Golf Ball Covering Improve MPGs? - Popular Mechanics
There... despite flaws which are just as bad as the Mythbusters test, this "proves" dimples don't work!
Confounding, ain't it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroMPG
EG: How do we know the results seen aren't due to a drivetrain that was gradually warming up and getting more efficient? (This is normal and well understood.)
EG: How do we know the results seen aren't due to the transmission torque converter not being locked during the "before" run because perhaps the drivetrain wasn't up to full operating temperature?
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This is a pet peeve of mine. When we do acceleration tests for cars for our annual COTY tests, we pay attention to the trending of the times. If it gets slower and slower as the engine and tranny warm up, abort... she's done.
But sometimes... just sometimes, with the new cars we test, a car is actually still breaking in as we do the test... each run is faster and faster... Just a few blasts at full throttle loosen everything up and let the car breathe easier.
Just the fact that a car cools down and heats up between tests makes simple A-B tests very, very variable.