Most efficient color car

[SickMPGs]

Originally Posted by azraelswrd

I suspect there's not much difference at conventional road speeds for cars. When I look at a NASCAR track and see the entire spectrum of colors on everything -- makes me think that since they're not all just a few colors, there is probably no edge to just a few colors.

But in theory darker colors should absorb more energy, translate that into heat, transferring part of that energy back to the air and decreasing the air density... sounds pretty small though.

NASCAR trucks have lots of colors because its eye candy for the spectators, they can be identified so you can pick the one you would like to see crash and they would never tell a sponser your logo slows me down, take back all your money.

[azraelswrd]

Other than improved warm up of the engine, I don't see color improving speed or velocity that would be of measurable or major consequence. Average car is too massive.

As for the Mythbusters RESULTS, here it is:

MythBusters Episode 38: "MythBusters Revisited"

SPINOFF: A black car heats up faster than an identical white car. (From pilot 2)

confirmed

A fan wrote in and asked a follow up question: "Does the color of a car affect the way it heats up?". The MythBusters used two identical cars, one black the other white and left them both out in the summer heat with thermometers in both. By mid-afternoon the black car had heated up to a temperature of 135 °F while the white car topped off at 126 °F, almost 10 degrees cooler.

and because I think this is always cool to mention:

REVISITED: Running a car with air conditioning on is more fuel efficient than running with the windows down. (From episode 22)

partly confirmed

The fundamental flaw in the MythBusters’ test was that the point where the drag becomes powerful enough to inhibit a car’s performance with windows down was inside their 45 - 55mph margin at 50mph. Going less than 50mph it is more efficient to leave your windows down, but going greater than 50mph it is more efficient to use your A/C.

-- my own test results agreed with this as 45mph showed no major drag but at 50mph it was more apparent.

[Greenblazer]

Hey everybody knows that Green is the best color. A Green car should be getting about 10% better mileage than the other color cars.

Later,

Allan Greenblazer

[almightybmw]

shouldn't a green car get better than 10% better? seems your truck is working on 44.1% better....

[Bullockracing]

A shiny car will get better mileage... The reference to the NASCAR cars triggered a special I saw where they talked about using skins instead of decals on the bodies of the NASCAR cars. This would be similar to removing all of the little emblems on the car to smooth out the surface. Also, in WWII, the USAAC discovered that there was significant drag associated with the olive drab painted aircraft, and that by removing the drab paint and leaving the bare metal, they not only saved some weight, but big gains were the reduced drag on the plane.

[tasdrouille]

Originally Posted by Bullockracing

A shiny car will get better mileage...

That is false.

The reference to the NASCAR cars triggered a special I saw where they talked about using skins instead of decals on the bodies of the NASCAR cars. This would be similar to removing all of the little emblems on the car to smooth out the surface.

That makes sense, though the improvement won't be noticeable, we're talking less than a 1% drag reduction.

Also, in WWII, the USAAC discovered that there was significant drag associated with the olive drab painted aircraft, and that by removing the drab paint and leaving the bare metal, they not only saved some weight, but big gains were the reduced drag on the plane.

Planes do not exactly travel at the same speed as we do.

[TimJFowler]

I believe the fastest color would be plaid.

[almightybmw]

Originally Posted by TimJFowler

I believe the fastest color would be plaid.

oh snap. Ludicrous speed engage!

[justpassntime]

Depends on the area. Whatever color the police cars are in your particular part of the world is the fastest color and least costly to the driver. The proof...they go as fast as they want, don't have to stop at red lights, never get pulled over and don't have to pay for their gas!

[aerohead]

Vanishing-fluid is best.It's on the same isle as frictionless bearings,anti-gravity spray,left-handed axle stretchers,kanutin rods,dizzly-pins,chrome muffler bearings,board stretchers,hole-shrink,and automatic-installation grease.