2011 Ford Ranger XL Reg cab.

[sid]

I blocked all the grill above the bumper and left it open below the bumper. I used coroplast. My engine temperature dropped about 8 degrees F on the average, as read by the Scangauge, after the mod. I live in Clearwater, FL.

I also made my own topper for the back. It is a practical one and not super aerodynamic like many have built here. Here is a rear view picture of it:



It weighs only 138 lb. It has a wood frame covered with 4 mm marine plywood both inside and out, with styrene foam between the plywood. It has a light layer of kevlar topped with a light layer of fiberglass both inside and outside.

I get about 30 mpg around town and about 36 mpg hwy.

[mikeyjd]

Originally Posted by sid

I blocked all the grill above the bumper and left it open below the bumper. I used coroplast. My engine temperature dropped about 8 degrees F on the average, as read by the Scangauge, after the mod. I live in Clearwater, FL.

So if you block the bottom too, the temperature decrease will double???

[Kestrel]

I just blocked the sides of the grille just now while painting the grille. I will get pics up tomorrow as it is already night. I plan to add the lower air damn next weekend.

Is a temp decrease good? The main concern when blocking air flow is over heating yes?

By "stockish" I mean that I dont want to turn the project into a full on aerodynamic truck. Trying to keep it stock looking. I dont plan to drop it, will probably get P235/75r15 tires (up from my 225/70), and get a topper. Ultragauge is on my next pay check list as well.

[mikeyjd]

Originally Posted by Kestrel

I just blocked the sides of the grille just now while painting the grille. I will get pics up tomorrow as it is already night. I plan to add the lower air damn next weekend.

Is a temp decrease good? The main concern when blocking air flow is over heating yes?

By "stockish" I mean that I dont want to turn the project into a full on aerodynamic truck. Trying to keep it stock looking. I dont plan to drop it, will probably get P235/75r15 tires (up from my 225/70), and get a topper. Ultragauge is on my next pay check list as well.

I was being sharkastic.. A grill block will increase temps which can be an ok thing unless you block to much and overheat.

I've never heard of a grill block decreasing temps. It sounds like he might have a bad tstat that coincided with the timing of the added grill block.

Ultraguage is a great investment. You won't regret it.

[Big Dave]

From a MPG-only standpoint a tonneau is second only to a full-blown aerolid.

A block doghouse makes you an Excursion (aerodynamically).

[elhigh]

I don't think we can just make a blanket statement vis-à-vis toppers and tonneau covers.

My truck experienced a significant improvement in fuel economy when I installed the topper. It's cab-height so there's nothing sticking up in the wind. I think it was good for about 10%. Obviously, your mileage may vary.

That said, if you're willing to experiment this is definitely the place to report your findings.

[COcyclist]

According to this study http://csus-dspace.calstate.edu/bits...pdf?sequence=1 the "traditional canopy" or topper is good for about a 8.6% drag reduction whereas the tonneau is only good for a 1.15% drag reduction. See page 70. The real winner in pickup drag reduction is the 3-D aerocap good for almost 20% reduction in drag. See the appendix on page 96. I would have figured the larger wake of the traditional canopy would have had worse drag.

[COcyclist]

Originally Posted by mikeyjd

I was being sharkastic.. A grill block will increase temps which can be an ok thing unless you block to much and overheat.

Ultraguage is a great investment. You won't regret it.

FWIW I own an Ultraguage and a ScanGuage II and much prefer the ScanGuage. The control buttons are on front and I didn't have to buy a seperate mount for the ScanGuage. I find the trip feature useful allowing me to easily toggle between current, today, yesterday and tank mpg and back to my guages. I monitor temp, intake air temp, instant mpg and gallons per hour. Just MHO.

[sid]

I don't think the temp sensor is bad. I originally used clear plexiglass behind the grill to block the airflow. Then I took the clear plexiglass off and made a coroplast grill block that mounted outside on top of the grill. During the short time between when I took the plexiglass off and installed the coroplast, the engine temp readings returned to what they were before I added any grill block.

I figured the drop in temperature was either due to less confused air flow or less gas being burned. 8 degrees isn't that much. Something more than 20 degrees I'd be more concerned about.

[rumdog]

Originally Posted by COcyclist

According to this study http://csus-dspace.calstate.edu/bits...pdf?sequence=1 the "traditional canopy" or topper is good for about a 8.6% drag reduction whereas the tonneau is only good for a 1.15% drag reduction. See page 70. The real winner in pickup drag reduction is the 3-D aerocap good for almost 20% reduction in drag. See the appendix on page 96. I would have figured the larger wake of the traditional canopy would have had worse drag.

That is a very interesting paper COcyclist, on airdams and aerocaps. Im surprised that the smaller airdam didnt help at all. And im a little surprised that a traditional canopy is good for 8.6% drag reduction. Who new!
But wow 19+% for 3d aerocap with 12 degree slope, and 40% less lift.
Id like to see aerocap with tailplates (plate off bottom of bumper) tested