Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - 3 options to resolve mpg drop after front air dam install?

beluga · 06-21-2014, 03:41 AM

I installed a front lawn edge airdam on 4/10.

You can see that for fill-ups after 4/6 in my fuel log graph that I lost 1-2mpg since that time. I could feel more air resistance too.

1990 toyota camry dx wagon Gas Mileage (baby beluga) - EcoModder.com

So which of these resolutions would you recommend?

remove the airdam completely
cut out part of the airdam that's in the middle; leave the parts in front of the tires
leave the whole thing on and add a belly pan right behind it

I notice that the Volt, hybrid cars and Tesla/nissan gt-r all handle airflow, airdams, differently...

Volt has a low-hanging easily scratched up tuner-ish airdam "lip" all the way around.
Hybrids and Bimmers have air blocking flaps only in front of the tires to reduce air drag on tires. Tesla/GT-R/Jetta TDI have full belly pans.

My dam looks nice but i'll chuck it if it's not helping. So far it's not helping. I'm ALSO sad that my mpg increase from various mods is only helping me 8% or so vs a lot of 30-40+% increases in MPG I see from many other people here... not sure what I'm doing wrong. Will check tire pressure again tomorrow...

Wondering what to do... I recall some people complaining of similar air dam mpg reductions on their small cars or big trucks.

Thanks for any advice!

06-21-2014, 03:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
beluga EcoModding Lurker Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: fremont,california,usa Posts: 33 baby beluga - '90 toyota camry dx wagon 90 day: 29.21 mpg (US) red1 - '97 Matsuda Miata 90 day: 31.01 mpg (US) Thanks: 70 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	3 options to resolve mpg drop after front air dam install? I installed a front lawn edge airdam on 4/10. You can see that for fill-ups after 4/6 in my fuel log graph that I lost 1-2mpg since that time. I could feel more air resistance too. 1990 toyota camry dx wagon Gas Mileage (baby beluga) - EcoModder.com So which of these resolutions would you recommend? remove the airdam completely cut out part of the airdam that's in the middle; leave the parts in front of the tires leave the whole thing on and add a belly pan right behind it I notice that the Volt, hybrid cars and Tesla/nissan gt-r all handle airflow, airdams, differently... Volt has a low-hanging easily scratched up tuner-ish airdam "lip" all the way around. Hybrids and Bimmers have air blocking flaps only in front of the tires to reduce air drag on tires. Tesla/GT-R/Jetta TDI have full belly pans. My dam looks nice but i'll chuck it if it's not helping. So far it's not helping. I'm ALSO sad that my mpg increase from various mods is only helping me 8% or so vs a lot of 30-40+% increases in MPG I see from many other people here... not sure what I'm doing wrong. Will check tire pressure again tomorrow... Wondering what to do... I recall some people complaining of similar air dam mpg reductions on their small cars or big trucks. Thanks for any advice! __________________ Sorry, new users are not permitted to post links in their signatures.