Been lurking around - Joined! 07 Ford Ranger + 19 Ford Fusion Energi

[Plasmajab]

Good Day!

So I've been brainstorming with my vehicles. The 19 Fusion I have is a phev, so 3l/100km is an easy to do thing if you P&G and keep your foot out of it, so the main focus of what im going to be doing is on my ranger which gets an amazing.. 12-15 l/100km.. So there is definitely some room for tinkering!


I did some testing with and without the cap, and noticed the difference was minimal. Adding in about 2 SQ FT of frontal area. And 200lbs.. But I like the covered storage option. So its staying.

I added those to the calculator that is here (Thank you by the way) and found the fuel economy it suggests is bang on to what I'm getting. Now I get to play with NUMBERS!

So the next thing is finding the source of the problems. Ive looked at the front of the ranger, and there is more air gaps then a block of swiss chese. The actual radiator opening only extends to the left and right bars of the grill that are vertical. That's it. There is also the huge opening on the bottom which is useless. And huge gaps in the headlamps.. And the bumper. And Well.. You get the picture. It all adds up to a CD of .49..

If I can get that down to .35, I figure that would drop the fuel consumption to 11-13L/100km.

So far I plan on blocking up all those huge gaps which should get me some CD back. Adding a wiper cowl, and lowering the truck's front end should help get me to .35 CD. But, Is that realistic? Can you smooth a brick that much?

Thoughts?

Oh, MetroMPG, good to meet you again. I remember you from the Micra Meetups we had a while ago. I had my two boys with me and a silver micra with the black stripe along the bottom. And If memory serves you disguised a black prius... I think. Been a while.

[redpoint5]

If you're talking about the opening below the engine bay, it's necessary for some of that to remain open so that air drawn through the radiator has somewhere to exit.

[Plasmajab]

Some place to exit? Im not sure I understand but I want to.

I want to make sure were talking about the same place. Id love to show a picture, but I dont have the required posts.. The part Im talking about is the lower grille. On the 07 ford ranger it is literally a slot cut in the front bumper where the license plate and tow hooks normally are.

Im thinking that on highway the air flows through the upper grille, through the rad, against the engine and out through the bottom of the truck. Is that how it works?

[redpoint5]

Sounds right to me. Through the bottom of the truck is what I thought you were saying when referring to the "huge opening on the bottom".

I'd be curious to see a photo of what you're referring to.

Most cars have both an upper and lower grill opening. I don't know why they are designed to have 2 openings instead of a single larger one. Perhaps the division between the 2 increases air pressure and delivers higher density air?

[Plasmajab]

Ok.. Now I -think- I can add images to my master plan.

Original



And the areas I want to patch:



So the areas in light blue are what I want to put blocks in.

The thick orange lines are areas where there is 3/4-1" of gap, and the thin orange lines are around 1/2 an inch gap.