Front license plate effect on aerodynamics?

[ecocruze]

Just curious if anyone has tested where it is legal to not have a front license plate the effects of the from plate? I would rather not get a ticket testing it so looking here for some insight onto the subject. If it is grossly detrimental has anyone come up with a deflector of sorts to help mitigate the effects?

[California98Civic]

I have not tested, but here is a pic of your model car with front plate. Given that there are open grills above and below, I think the plate's effect has to be minimal, because the grill opening will have a bigger effect.

But you could relocate it downward to create part of a lower grill block. That is what I did with mine.

[ecocruze]

I have the eco with the actuated shutters on lower grill. And upper grill is blocked off for the winter. The improvement from blocking the upper license plate sized upper grill was impressive. Curious if it would be anything substatial.

[spacemanspif]

I didn't like the way my plate hung below the bumper and intruded into the lower grill so I put it in a brake and folded the "garden state" lower section over. The brake only did a 90* bend but once the fold was started it was easy to finish. Never had any grief from cops. As long as the important numbers are visible I'd think it wouldn't matter.

[California98Civic]

Looking at a side view, it seems unlikely that there would be much benefit. Still, u could experiment with placing it over the lower grill in the middle.

Http://ecomodder.com/forum/newattach...anageattach&p=

[ecocruze]

I'm seeing a pretty solid consensus that the aero effect would be minimal. Really wish I had a way to test how much drag it added without and wind tunnel. The upper grill block gave me in the ballpark of 4 mpg on my daily commute. How much of that would be the reduction of drag and how much is attributed to faster warm up time. Just thinking if I made a smooth edge to the bottom of license plate to help contour air up to the face of the plate. It would allow the air to run smoothly over the plate and over upper grill block and continue as normal through the flow of the cars curvature.

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by 14'ecocruze

I'm seeing a pretty solid consensus that the aero effect would be minimal. Really wish I had a way to test how much drag it added without and wind tunnel. The upper grill block gave me in the ballpark of 4 mpg on my daily commute. How much of that would be the reduction of drag and how much is attributed to faster warm up time. Just thinking if I made a smooth edge to the bottom of license plate to help contour air up to the face of the plate. It would allow the air to run smoothly over the plate and over upper grill block and continue as normal through the flow of the cars curvature.

I think the relatively tiny turbulence created by the plate is probably "masked" by other, greater sources of turbulence further down the line, especially at the trailing edges of the car (window and decklid). More attention back there, or under the car with an undertray, would possibly be much more significant for you. ...just an untrained opinion...

EDIT: a video from a wind tunnel featuring your Cruze body type:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyqZkLM_weI

[me and my metro]

When I was running my 95 Metro econocar the front license plate was the center of the grill block.

[ChazInMT]

Bear in mind that the air sort of "Piles up" on the front of your car, and in doing so creates it's own shape which happens to be quite an efficient one. The air blowing over the plate will not create much if any drag over a plate not being there. Things that do matter on the front of a car are mods that push air more to the side rather than over the top. Also any grill block should be made so that the opening is as low, small, and centered as possible.

[ecocruze]

Originally Posted by me and my metro

When I was running my 95 Metro econocar the front license plate was the center of the grill block.

Seems my upper grill block is about the same size as the plate. May see if I can squeeze the license plate into that spot instead.