Areo Brick

[blueflame]

These vans rear wheel arches look easy to mod...

I think if loading and cruise speed are kept low, a larger diameter tyre should not overload the engine and (especially if aero drag is reduced) will give an improved FE.

[binky]

Well the tape has given way at last!!!!!

Have tried two rad blocks, one a pure tape ove the hole. the other a bit of aero
re flowing.,

Well fuel figures are in, and not sure what it means think there is a major improvment!! last tank got 33-36 mpg US, as opposed to 27 to 31 mpg US

That seems to lead me to think I should splash out and make these more perminant changes, will be posting last load of fuel figures asap!!!

Looks like Bertha takes to areo mods better than I thought!!

so I can second guess Nissan!!!

[doviatt]

Originally Posted by binky

Sort of brick shape

At least you have a sloping front windshield.
Can you get more brick than a VW Vanagon? Seen the profile on them?
I have a couple of these that I was considering might work for EV only because they have lots of room for batteries and such (rear engine). I'm new here and hadn't considered any aero mods 'till I found this site. I'm encouraged and I will be watching your progress.

[Matt Herring]

Binky,

Just a random question (and maybe a suggestion). Why do you fill your tank every 2-4 days with anywhere from 2-6 gallons? Are you just testing mods with quick tanks over a few days or is your vehicle tank very small?

Your fuel log is pretty up and down since you started keeping track which is probably a result of weather/road conditions for you over the brief 2-7 day window before you refuel. If you are able to stretch your tank beyond a week or maybe closer to 300+ miles you might get a better idea of how your vehicle is operating in relation to mpg. With just a small tank sample each time before you fill up you're really depending alot on weather and road conditions to provide info. for you on each tank.

Unless you are doing alot of A-B-A testing with mods you might want to stretch your tanks further (without ending up dry on the side of the road) so you get a more accurate example of an average tank. Just a suggestion!

[binky]

Hi Matt

reason I only put a small amount of fuel, at most half a tank is financial, cant afford more, as I drive about 35 miles a day everyday I kinda get a feel for the difference a mod makes, sorta driving by the seat of me pants!!!!

I know it is not very scientific, but having no way of monitoring the performance via scan guage or other means, engine is a mech injection deisel, I have to try and take what feed back I can from where I can.......

I would love to have the money to get a 300+ mile load of fuel, but that is near on 60 GBP and budgets dont get that far

Hence the gaffer tape and cardboard

Enjoy

[Matt Herring]

Binky,

Sounds like you are in the same boat as I was last summer.

Prior to joining Ecomodder I used to fill up a little at a time when I had the money too (and since US fuel was $3-4 a gallon I was only grabbing a couple gallons at a time). After joining Ecomodder I saved enough money over a week or two to put a full tank in (so I could accurately track my tanks) and then instead of filling up a few times with a few gallons I put a 5, 10, 15 bucks in an envelope in my car every few days and by the end of the tank I had enough to buy another full tank. I figured if I had enough money to put a couple gallons in every few days I'd have enough money saved up by the end of the tank to fill it completely. It took a little patience not to spend the money in the envelope but it gave me a full tanks worth of info. and paid off in the long run. Sometimes I even had a few bucks left over in the envelope after filling up to treat myself to a beer on Friday!