Good place to get started ? want to get at lest 40-45MPG.highway.

[Tahoe_Hybrid]

I would like to start Aero modding my HYBRID SUV

times are tough and it's 3.99 a gallon here (91 octane)


my 6.0Liter V8 ❤ 91 octane


it has a 6 speed with 3 OVERdrive gears


4th = traditional transmission mode Primary OD Gear at about 30mph

Second mode:
[EVT1]5th = OD 35mph+
[EVT2]6th = OD it's rarely in this Gear only a feather light load will keep it in this gear (or deceleration event) mostly at 38mph to 49mph(with a tail wind above 45mph)


The Goal is to get 40mpg to 45MPG out of it on the highway and at lest 30MPG+ in the city

AFM is disabled via Rangetechnolgy Performance Chip....(at this point it's cheaper to spend money on gas then spend it repairing the engine because of a lifter failure bc of AFM, that would cost $3,000-3500 repair bill)





I all ready have the Tires pumped up, to 50PSI using

Michelin Energy Saver Tires, these are ultra light weight tires....


I see the underbody has plenty of low hanging fruit

I did notice a HUGE parashoot area between the second muffler and bumper... (I'm sure this could rob MPG)



keep in mind this is RWD so objects need to be keep away from the aluminum drive shaft. most likely i would not be able to find another one if it was to get damaged.. since it trim specific... and they don't make the part anymore..








Don't tell me to buy a prius

if I wanted to die in a accident i would have bought a smart car instead...


The speed limits are high in my AREA 45 to 60mph in the surface streets and if you get hit at that speed you're dead.... even if you have 20 air bags

I have seen it happen lots of times

[freebeard]

I have seen it happen lots of times

Maybe worry less about mileage and install NASCAR level safety equipment? Add a boat tail/crush zone in back?

What mileage does it get now?

[Tahoe_Hybrid]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Maybe worry less about mileage and install NASCAR level safety equipment? Add a boat tail/crush zone in back?

What mileage does it get now?

it's getting about 22 in the city in v8 mode right now...


The BEST ever was 35.8mpg weather conditions were perfect

[JulianEdgar]

It's hard to see how you could make that improvement in mileage with any aero mods.

[ksa8907]

Lol

[2000mc]

Might start by trying to create a speed vs mpg chart, at least a mile long bi directional runs. I think a lot of vehicles peak in top gear at the lowest speed they can maintain. With an overdrive you rarely get into and v8/v4 you might have unexpected results

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by Julian Edgar

It's hard to see how you could make that improvement in mileage with any aero mods.

"Man reach must exceed his grasp, or what's a metaphor?"

35.8 to 40-45 isn't too much of a gap. Full underbody, four-wheel skirts and a full boat tail.

[JulianEdgar]

Originally Posted by freebeard

35.8 to 40-45 isn't too much of a gap. Full underbody, four-wheel skirts and a full boat tail.

Taking an average of those figures gives a 17 per cent required improvement in mileage. I don't have drag data vs mileage for that car, but that's likely to need a 35 - 50 per cent reduction in drag.

If everything came together perfectly it might be possible, but that doesn't seem very likely.

[freebeard]

Well, Tahoe_Hybrid, the challenge is thrown down.

I approve of setting your sights high. The 'first approximation' is two counts per mpg, or vice versa, I forget.

Aerocivic used dual side skirts to fill the gap between the front and rear tires. Whatever your do around the driveshaft.

Could you live with a boat tail? Plasma acutators?

[Tahoe_Hybrid]

Originally Posted by freebeard

"Man reach must exceed his grasp, or what's a metaphor?"

35.8 to 40-45 isn't too much of a gap. Full underbody, four-wheel skirts and a full boat tail.

35.8 was with a tail wind I just got lucky in both directions