04-12-2014, 06:42 PM
|
#1 (permalink)
|
|
EcoModding Lurker
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 5
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
Best height for airdam
Is there a "right" height for an air dam? I am going to put one, plus side skirts, on my Honda Fit soon. But what is the optimal height? The car has about 7 inches of clearance on the front and sides.
|
|
|
|
 Today
|
|
|
|
Other popular topics in this forum...
|
|
|
|
|
04-12-2014, 07:08 PM
|
#2 (permalink)
|
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,523
Thanks: 2,203
Thanked 663 Times in 478 Posts
|
practically, the best 'height' is where it wont scrap.
|
|
|
|
|
04-12-2014, 07:27 PM
|
#3 (permalink)
|
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: US
Posts: 1,015
Chief - '06 Pontiac Grand Prix 90 day: 26.7 mpg (US) SF1 - '12 Ford Fiesta S 90 day: 30.95 mpg (US)
Thanks: 195
Thanked 247 Times in 190 Posts
|
There is no one height. The idea behind the air dam is to reduce turbulent airflow under the car and redirect it to the sides where it hopefully less turbulent. Many use a measurement that coincides with the low hanging parts. On my GP thats about 6".
In this picture you can see the subframe in the background my air dam is 1/4 inch below that. This configuration on this car vary rarely scrapes because it is further back. If it was forward of this location it would drag more often. Same with the side the wheel base will determine how low you want go.
Many here have done lawn edging air dams. Do a site search there is quite a bit of information on air dams and splitters maybe even some for a Fit. You might also want to look in to belly pans. |
|
|
|
|
04-12-2014, 10:10 PM
|
#4 (permalink)
|
|
Corporate imperialist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NewMexico (USA)
Posts: 11,181
Thanks: 270
Thanked 3,525 Times in 2,799 Posts
|
Best height for an air dam is as low as you can go.
At some point friction from the air dam scraping on the ground will over come aerodynamic gains, until the air dam wears away.
__________________
1984 chevy suburban, custom made 6.5L diesel turbocharged with a Garrett T76 and Holset HE351VE, 22:1 compression 13psi of intercooled boost.
1989 firebird mostly stock. Aside from the 6-speed manual trans, corvette gen 5 front brakes, 1LE drive shaft, 4th Gen disc brake fbody rear end.
2011 leaf SL, white, portable 240v CHAdeMO, trailer hitch, new batt as of 2014.
|
|
|
|
|
04-13-2014, 06:44 PM
|
#5 (permalink)
|
|
Lots of Questions
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: San Jose
Posts: 665
Thanks: 343
Thanked 101 Times in 79 Posts
|
I thought the best height was whatever the lowest hanging item on the car is. Any more than that and you are adding surface area to the car.
If that is the case, then moving things or tucking them up higher into the belly would be beneficial, no?
__________________
Don't forget to like our Facebook page!
Best EM Quotes:
Quote:
Originally Posted by aerohead
It has been said, that if you peel the duct tape back on Earth's equator, you'll find that the two hemispheres are held together with J B Weld.
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan9
subscribed with a soda.
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by aerohead
If you're burning,and someone throws gasoline on you,there will be a localized cooling effect, but you're still on fire.
|
|
|
|
|
|
04-14-2014, 07:59 PM
|
#7 (permalink)
|
|
EcoModding Lurker
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 5
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
Thanks for the link. 40+ pages is a lot to read. I'm going to have to mull it over and do some more measurements. Putting $150+ of parts is going to have to be sure to give me a decent ROI. The rubber belt at Tractor Supply is kinda pricey.
|
|
|
|
|
04-15-2014, 01:20 AM
|
#8 (permalink)
|
|
Not Doug
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Show Low, AZ
Posts: 12,186
Thanks: 7,225
Thanked 2,217 Times in 1,708 Posts
|
I think that the lawn edging can look good if done right. Let's see if I do better the second time!
|
|
|
|
|
04-15-2014, 01:27 AM
|
#9 (permalink)
|
|
EcoModding Lurker
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: United States
Posts: 22
Thanks: 1
Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts
|
seems best aeromods for return on investment are airdam, underbelly covers, wheel covers, and kammback or boattail. airdam and underbelly can be coroplast it seems, not too much $. Lawn edging is cheap, too, as Xist mentioned.
|
|
|
|
|
04-15-2014, 02:38 PM
|
#10 (permalink)
|
|
DieselMiser
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Richland,WA
Posts: 985
Thanks: 46
Thanked 231 Times in 160 Posts
|
Passenger Car Front Air - Dam Design Based on Aerodynamic and Fuel Economy Simulations
"To reduce the drag a lot of aero-parts are used these days such as air-dam, skirts, spoiler, undercover, dams etc. However the design of these aero-parts must be optimized to get the desired result as their addition alone does not guarantee improvement in performance."
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
