View Single Post
Old 03-01-2015, 06:51 PM   #226 (permalink)
MetroMPG
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,534

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

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 54.46 mpg (US)

Appliance car Mirage - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 57.73 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,082
Thanked 6,979 Times in 3,614 Posts
Still pic: video coming

So, I was probably right that the side curvature is too aggressive, but some of the flow problems on the lower side originate BEFORE the tail...



With apologies to the colour blind...
  • GREEN TUFTS = smooth flow or mildly turbulent
  • YELLOW TUFTS = moderate turbulence, but no recirculation (tufts pointing "backward")/separation
  • ORANGE TUFTS = high turbulence and some recirculation (tufts pointing "backward")/separation
  • RED TUFTS = permanent recirculation/separation
I'm debating doing some reconstructive surgery to reduce the curvature of the lower side panel (ie. increase the width of the "transom" / rear tail light panel).


But the problem with the flow on the lower side portion is it's not getting clean air off the side of the bumper behind the rear wheel. The air there is already highly turbulent with some recirculation/separation. So relaxing the tail curvature downstream of that isn't really going to help much on its own.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	civic-tail-tuft-still2.jpg
Views:	426
Size:	38.7 KB
ID:	17106  
__________________
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
  Reply With Quote
The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to MetroMPG For This Useful Post:
aerohead (03-11-2015), BamZipPow (01-13-2016), Cd (03-05-2015), Daox (03-03-2015), Insight for life (03-02-2015)