Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > EcoModding Central
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 08-07-2022, 08:28 PM   #31 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Ecky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 5,005

ND Miata - '15 Mazda MX-5 Special Package
90 day: 42.54 mpg (US)
Thanks: 2,866
Thanked 2,501 Times in 1,547 Posts
A few items from the brochure from Verus, who makes the diffuser and black panels:










  Reply With Quote
The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Ecky For This Useful Post:
COcyclist (08-09-2022), freebeard (08-07-2022), Gasoline Fumes (08-08-2022), MetroMPG (08-21-2022)
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 08-08-2022, 07:20 PM   #32 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Ecky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 5,005

ND Miata - '15 Mazda MX-5 Special Package
90 day: 42.54 mpg (US)
Thanks: 2,866
Thanked 2,501 Times in 1,547 Posts
Shamelessly stolen from someone else who has these panels installed:





Source
  Reply With Quote
The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Ecky For This Useful Post:
COcyclist (08-18-2022), freebeard (08-08-2022), Gasoline Fumes (08-09-2022), MetroMPG (08-21-2022)
Old 08-18-2022, 02:23 AM   #33 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Ecky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 5,005

ND Miata - '15 Mazda MX-5 Special Package
90 day: 42.54 mpg (US)
Thanks: 2,866
Thanked 2,501 Times in 1,547 Posts
First parts came in. Shipping took approximately 1 month. I have some ramps on the way and picked up a sheet of coroplast, which I plan to use to make a temporary diffuser.










It was raining today so I wasn't able to do any top-down testing. The notch exists so that the roof latch clears when raising and lowering the top.
  Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Ecky For This Useful Post:
Gasoline Fumes (08-22-2022), MetroMPG (08-21-2022)
Old 08-21-2022, 08:02 PM   #34 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
Wow

Ecky - wow. Congratulations all around!! Beautiful place to live, wonderful car to drive.

I missed this thread when you started it. Subscribed!

I'm envious of the 25 year progress in engineering between our cars. Yours gets such great highway fuel economy out of the box. Numbers that mine struggles to get with me throwing every driving trick in the book at it (except generally no P&G), not to mention all the ecomods.

I threw my mountain bike in mine this morning, the destination being about a 60 minute round trip on deserted rural roads, and I barely squeaked 50 MPG US out of it, driving extremely conservatively. Averaged maybe 40 mph.

Don't get me wrong: It was a beautiful morning & I really enjoyed the drive! (And the ride.) Still jealous though.

Are you doing any engine-off coasting? I do lots. (I avoid fuel cut/engine braking because I discovered the engine sucks a fair amount of oil past the rings under high vacuum.)
__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to MetroMPG For This Useful Post:
Ecky (08-21-2022), Xist (09-29-2022)
Old 08-21-2022, 08:58 PM   #35 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Ecky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 5,005

ND Miata - '15 Mazda MX-5 Special Package
90 day: 42.54 mpg (US)
Thanks: 2,866
Thanked 2,501 Times in 1,547 Posts
Your thread was actually quite inspirational for me, in picking this car. I'm still in awe that you're able to squeeze 50mpg out of yours, when most drivers are struggling to break 30 in an NA, even driving conservatively.

I've been a bit reluctant about EOC, even if it seems like very low hanging fruit, what with how the roads are here. The push-to-start probably isn't as scary as it seems to tinker with, but I imagine some of the traditional methods of killing an engine while driving might not play as nicely with the electronics.

My biggest economy hurdle right now is in my desire to take curves very fast, which often means use of brakes somewhere down the line. There isn't a whole lot of weight savings to be found, so I'm kinda waiting to see how the nut behind the wheel adjusts.

Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	PXL_20220814_054844379.jpg
Views:	4
Size:	87.4 KB
ID:	32765  
  Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Ecky For This Useful Post:
COcyclist (06-24-2023), wdb (08-23-2022)
Old 08-21-2022, 09:23 PM   #36 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
Wow again - the photos. So nice.


Special request: I notice most (all?) are hosted on a 3rd party server. Eventually, they will disappear from the internet... and this thread.


Maybe upload a few locally? Or at least some of the important ones?



---


Your talk about the panel behind/between the headrests has me thinking.


It makes sense that could help aero, similarly to the way drag is reduced with a tailgate up vs. down on pickup trucks. Encapsulated vortex/turbulence.



Makes me want to do some tuft testing. Are you aware of any existing testing?
__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2022, 10:04 PM   #37 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Ecky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 5,005

ND Miata - '15 Mazda MX-5 Special Package
90 day: 42.54 mpg (US)
Thanks: 2,866
Thanked 2,501 Times in 1,547 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroMPG View Post
Wow again - the photos. So nice.


Special request: I notice most (all?) are hosted on a 3rd party server. Eventually, they will disappear from the internet... and this thread.


Maybe upload a few locally? Or at least some of the important ones?



---


Your talk about the panel behind/between the headrests has me thinking.


It makes sense that could help aero, similarly to the way drag is reduced with a tailgate up vs. down on pickup trucks. Encapsulated vortex/turbulence.



Makes me want to do some tuft testing. Are you aware of any existing testing?
I'll upload some of the photos locally, no problem.

I haven't seen anyone publish any numbers, or even visuals (like tuft tests), it's entirely anecdotal. I can say that with the windows up and the top down, the air in the "cabin" is really quite still, except for on the top of my head and in that area between the seats.

Any ideas on how I might be able to visualize this?
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2022, 09:16 PM   #38 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
Tuft testing is the best way I know... unless you have access to a wind tunnel or really good CFD.


I was looking at my tonneau vs. the way your roof section makes a pseudo-tonneau, flush with the deck lid. Yours looks better to my eye.








I haven't done any tuft testing in a long time, but now I want to.
__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to MetroMPG For This Useful Post:
Ecky (08-22-2022)
Old 08-22-2022, 09:50 PM   #39 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
Looks like the screen does cause a separation bubble in the cabin that air flows over:




Unfortunately, it's not clear if there's any benefit in terms of drag reduction.



From:
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	Screen Shot 2022-08-22 at 9.51.34 PM.jpg
Views:	160
Size:	120.8 KB
ID:	32779  
__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to MetroMPG For This Useful Post:
Ecky (08-23-2022), wdb (08-23-2022)
Old 08-23-2022, 01:02 AM   #40 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Ecky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 5,005

ND Miata - '15 Mazda MX-5 Special Package
90 day: 42.54 mpg (US)
Thanks: 2,866
Thanked 2,501 Times in 1,547 Posts
I put in a few hours of driving today. Subjectively, the buffeting, which was already low, is reduced. With the windows up (top down still) it's virtually zero, and there is almost zero wind noise.

My last tank average was right around 36mpg, though it was almost 100% city driving. I'm about half a tank into the next one, and I'm sitting at 38mpg. Possibly no relation to the deflector, but rather, just environmental conditions.

I saw this fabric (?) deflector in the video you linked, and it gave me some ideas. It might also be interesting to see if there's a specific height where a spoiler would help. To my eye, the trunk lid's trailing edge is probably too low to spoil the air.

Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	1.jpg
Views:	17
Size:	43.2 KB
ID:	32780  
  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com