Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - Some deep thinking on getting Best MPG in a VAN

racprops · 09-26-2018, 07:25 AM

Thanks.

A belly pan seems like a major project and I am under the idea that my grown effects which is only a couple of inches off the ground keeps a major part of the air from getting under the van.

I have driven Chevy Vans from around 1978, and in the 80s and 90s I drove across the USA about a dozen times. All have had stock bodies.

ALL until this Van was blown around the road by passing Big Rigs. Passing or being passed has always been a bit of a fight, the same for winds and so when I first took this van on its first major road trip knowing it was even higher than all my other vans I expected it to be even worst.

So on the first trip as I over took a BIG RIG braced to handle the bow wake of the truck and slipped right by with no problem, smooth as glass.

WTF....must be a odd cross wind killing the normal bow wake so I again was braced as I over took or was passed by many big rigs before I could relax, this new van with its cosmetic ground effect was REALLY working, cross winds and big rigs were no longer pushing the van around.

After about driving a Chevy vans, a 1994, a 1978 for about 25 years I was very surprised by this behavior. And very happy to have it.

So by this behavior, a MAJOR change in how it handles passing big rigs and wind I really think it is fairly aerodynamic.

So cutting into the roof or making a belly pan seems unneeded.

09-26-2018, 07:25 AM	#77 (permalink)
racprops Master EcoModder Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Phoenix AZ Posts: 799 Thanks: 4 Thanked 66 Times in 58 Posts	Thanks. A belly pan seems like a major project and I am under the idea that my grown effects which is only a couple of inches off the ground keeps a major part of the air from getting under the van. I have driven Chevy Vans from around 1978, and in the 80s and 90s I drove across the USA about a dozen times. All have had stock bodies. ALL until this Van was blown around the road by passing Big Rigs. Passing or being passed has always been a bit of a fight, the same for winds and so when I first took this van on its first major road trip knowing it was even higher than all my other vans I expected it to be even worst. So on the first trip as I over took a BIG RIG braced to handle the bow wake of the truck and slipped right by with no problem, smooth as glass. WTF....must be a odd cross wind killing the normal bow wake so I again was braced as I over took or was passed by many big rigs before I could relax, this new van with its cosmetic ground effect was REALLY working, cross winds and big rigs were no longer pushing the van around. After about driving a Chevy vans, a 1994, a 1978 for about 25 years I was very surprised by this behavior. And very happy to have it. So by this behavior, a MAJOR change in how it handles passing big rigs and wind I really think it is fairly aerodynamic. So cutting into the roof or making a belly pan seems unneeded.