Mythbusters "tests" efficiency of dimples vs. smooth, and clean vs. muddy car

[roflwaffle]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

That's only a 5.2% improvement by my calcs using their data. So their own calcs seem fishy too. Unless I just screwed it up. (Plausible!)

Tee Hee!

[MetroMPG]

Well here's hoping they do a followup.

(Imagine getting paid to do this stuff? The things we could test!!)

My biggest problem with this particular show is you can be certain that there are uncritical viewers who now believe in their hearts of hearts that a dimpled car body is better. EG:

"MYTHBUSTERS prove golf ball dimple theory on cars works!!!"

You can be guaranteed that the next time someone tries hawking some slap-on fuel saving textured product, they'll be pointing to this episode as proof! Just you wait!

[Piwoslaw]

Originally Posted by metrompg

you can be guaranteed that the next time someone tries hawking some slap-on fuel saving textured product, they'll be pointing to this episode as proof! Just you wait!

[MetroMPG]

Ha!



I think the only thing definitively proven by this episode is that good testing is really hard to do.

[drew1d]

I think they did a pretty good test. As with any test, some things could have been changed, but all in all they prove their theories in entertaining ways.

I'm sure putting dimples in the car change the aero. But will it always be an improvement? I think it would take a lot of trial and error to figure out what the optimal configuration would be, and that would take a lot of work to make changes everytime. I'm not holding my breath to start seeing dimples on cars because of the cost.

[Sorrow Six Star]

found this at that other linked thread... the LSR one...

Also the current IRL rulebook bans textured paint on the race cars.



make me want to bedliner the Subie to see if it is more aero that way,.. how would I simulate a more textured finish?


cool discussion even if some of y'all did get a little hot about it!

[Christ]

Originally Posted by Sorrow Six Star

found this at that other linked thread... the LSR one...

Also the current IRL rulebook bans textured paint on the race cars.



make me want to bedliner the Subie to see if it is more aero that way,.. how would I simulate a more textured finish?


cool discussion even if some of y'all did get a little hot about it!

Yeah, football regulations have banned helium filled foot balls as well... even though it's been proven that putting helium in a ball won't make it fly any further. Suicide is punishable by imprisonment... Just 'cuz it's in the rules, doesn't mean it'll actually change anything. The rules are determined by perception, not science.

Hot? Nah, this thread didn't get hot... this was lukewarm, at best. You should check some of the other "NO IT WON'T WORK" replies around the site. It happens, I guess!

Plus side of RhinoLinings, in case you wanted to use them on your car - A car bomb wouldn't turn your car into a pile of shrapnel. It's been proven to be able to withstand explosive forces and impacts without cracking/breaking.

[shovel]

I bedlined my 91 Trooper's exterior, and one of my neighbors bedlined his 96 XJ.... actually a lot of guys have bedliner-coated 4x4's.

Nothing to do with aero though (heh... gen 1 isuzu trooper, 33" mud tires a foot wide almost entirely exposed to air flow, solid axles hanging below a very anti-aero belly... not a lot you can do there) - but damn bedliner makes a tough, simple to repair when scratched or dented, finish.

[roflwaffle]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

...might I suggest the wording: IM-PLAUSABLE.

I think it's totally plausible they screwed up their calcs and didn't run an accurate test!

Course, it's MBs, so it's not like it has to be rigorous.

[brucey]

I just realized half my subie is covered in bedliner and it could possibly contribute to the high MPG I'm able to get out of it.

I never did a test on how this is effecting mileage. I never thought it would do anything at all, really. This would be a real REAL pain to test properly, too.