Quote:
Originally Posted by Phase
Sealing panel gaps does nothing due to the boundary layer. Many people have tested it. No difference. Can’t measure it. Maybe slightly when going over 200 miles per hour but still won’t make a diff then either
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* General Motors, Wolf-Heinrich Hucho, and FIAT have published about the aerodynamics of panel gaps.
* During R&D of their 1999, PGNV, Cd 0.163 'Precept', GM included gap-drag within the 'features drag' ensemble, which also included windshield wipers, and door handles.
* Counter-intuitively, the transverse gap on the 1st-gen Golf/Rabbit rear hatch was actually beneficial, and taping it closed in the wind tunnel registered a measurable drag increase.
* In the 1980s, FIAT's streamlining of their Cd 0.45 Ritmo / Strada included 'air-tighting' of gaps at the bonnet, doors, and boot, together with other tricks, ending up at Cd 0.32.
* So like we've talked about since 2005, every vehicle needs to be treated on a case-specific basis, and we need to avoid all-encompassing ( one-size-fits-all ) delta-drag attributions for specific mods.