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Old 01-05-2008, 10:02 AM   #1 (permalink)
MetroMPG
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,527

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

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 54.46 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: 65.39 mpg (US)
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SAE report: Pickup Truck tailgate aerodynamics... better up, down, or off?

Posting this link because it addresses the age-old search query: will I get better fuel economy with my truck's tailgate up, down, or removed entirely?

It's also one of the better/most comprehensive studies I'm aware of.

Pickup Truck Aerodynamics – Keep Your Tailgate Up



http://ecow.engr.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/ge...hi1/pickup.pdf

The author concludes that, on average, it's best to tell all pickup owners to leave the tailgate up.

If you read the report, the most accurate answer to the question is: "it depends".

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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
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