Aerocivic - how to drop your Cd from 0.31 to 0.17

[BamZipPow]

The black Coroplast I have on my dropped front air dam (6 years old) hasn't broken down at all like the "free" Coroplast from the elections. That's even with the free Coroplast being painted and coated. Just something to think about.

[Grant-53]

I aim for a tail with a top angle of -4 degrees and a bottom angle of 8-10 degrees as a starting point. I have had good success with clear and white coroplast holding up. I also use 1 in. hex mesh wire bonded between .005" sheets of tarp material . I get discarded pieces from plywood shipping covers at a lumber yard or construction site.

[Hypermiler1995]

Originally Posted by basjoos

Front skirt slightly open with wheels cuts all of the way to the left.


[/CENTER]

would it be possible to make a hinged metal flap to cover this?
When I look at this, I think of metro mpg's test that showed LOWERED mpg because that would have to catch some wind even when closed.

[Hypermiler1995]

Originally Posted by BamZipPow

The black Coroplast I have on my dropped front air dam (6 years old) hasn't broken down at all like the "free" Coroplast from the elections. That's even with the free Coroplast being painted and coated. Just something to think about.

where do you get it?

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by Hypermiler1995

would it be possible to make a hinged metal flap to cover this?
When I look at this, I think of metro mpg's test that showed LOWERED mpg because that would have to catch some wind even when closed.

When the skirt is closed,the gap is within a favorable pressure gradient created by the body camber;with the boundary layer held against the body by the attacking airstream.
There will be a tiny perturbation but it is essentially meaningless.Air pools right there and the outer flow just skips over it.
You can see it in the 'Aerohead's going to the wind tunnel' video,where the air is skipping over the exposed sharp edges of my crappy headlight covers.

[ECONORAM]

Originally Posted by Hypermiler1995

where do you get it?

I got some at Regal Plastics in OKC. There should be sign shops that carry it also.

Originally Posted by BamZipPow

The black Coroplast I have on my dropped front air dam (6 years old) hasn't broken down at all like the "free" Coroplast from the elections. That's even with the free Coroplast being painted and coated. Just something to think about.

I've had mixed success with Coroplast. It did well as a fairing, but not good when I used it as an engine belly panel with a couple cutouts. One heavy rainstorm and large puddles...and I ripped it to pieces just rolling through the puddle(s).

[Sven7]

Originally Posted by Hypermiler1995

where do you get it?

Look for plastics suppliers too- the sign companies might upcharge. I did a quick google search and found quite a few in Missouri.

Basjoos, I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with. It's not easy to improve on perfection, is it?

[BabyDiesel]

I saw that the AeroCivic vanished from the Top 10 highest Gas Car mpg list. Have you been doing the body/drive train modifications that was hinted at?? Hope all is well Basjoos!

[basjoos]

It probably dropped off because I haven't entered enough recent tanks. I have several entered in the notebook I keep in the car that I haven't gotten around to entering here yet. I'm doing mostly short distance local driving so its a long time between refills.

I haven't yet done the additional mod yet because funds are tight. Since I don't have the long commute anymore and I 've already done all of the "low hanging fruit" aeromods, this aeromod would take a very long time to pay for itself in fuel savings, especially at current gas prices. My working philosophy is that the aeromods I install need to pay for themselves in fuel savings. But I have the plans for the mod made up and if gas prices shoot up or when finances allow, I will implement it. In lieu of a "real" job, I'm running the family farm now, so the car hobby is taking a back seat except when it results in a cost savings. Both the aerocivic and myself are doing fine.

[Fat Charlie]

Originally Posted by basjoos

...I 've already done all of the "low hanging fruit" aeromods...

This coming from basjoos!