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

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 06-01-2010, 08:46 PM   #171 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
bondo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 279
Thanks: 90
Thanked 240 Times in 90 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fubeca View Post
Well - it was a terrible day to do any real testing but it was the only time I'll have for a while.

I warmed the truck up and drove back and forth on a 1.5 mile stretch of straight rural highway.

I ended up doing a B-A-B-A test. Each leg was 4 sets of out and back.

B: avg mpg 19.6
A: avg mpg 18.8
B: avg mpg 19.4
A: avg mpg 18.8

So it looks like a lackluster improvement of ~.7 mpg or ~4%

The ambient temp was 10* and there was a NW wind at 10-15 mph. The road was East to West.

So I don't think the test is really all that valuable. I'll be interested to see how my mileage looks over time.

I'll take some more pics and maybe you all can let me know if you see any areas that may need improvement. I was really hoping to get 10 - 20% improvement.

(EDIT: testing speed of 55 mph)


Ten degrees with a 10 to 15 mile per hour cross wind, I guess 4% increase in fuel efficiency isn't all that bad after all.

Bondo

  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 06-02-2010, 04:22 AM   #172 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: DFW
Posts: 87

The Truck - '06 Chevrolet Silverado Ext Cab 4x4
90 day: 18.5 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4
Thanked 33 Times in 15 Posts
And with that - my thread is almost back on track

Somewhere in the last few pages I reported on my next AB style testing with a 7% improvement at 70 MPH. I'm surprised at how much A/C is effecting my mileage. I wasn't expecting such an effect.
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2010, 07:16 AM   #173 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
bondo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 279
Thanks: 90
Thanked 240 Times in 90 Posts
Much better result Fubeca!

Sorry I missed seeing your post on the improvement in you percentage of fuel efficiency. That is alot better. AC does have a tremendous drain on your gas usage. I try not to run mine that often, but in the high heat and humidity of Arkansas, it is a necessity at times.

Hope you can post some even better results now that you thread is back active.

Thanks,

Bondo

Maybe the 7% increase can be reported instead of 4% in the third line of the top forum picks on the ecomodder home page.
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-14-2010, 07:55 AM   #174 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: youngsville, pa
Posts: 1
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
ive been thinking about that gap between the cab and cap as well, and i think those pool noodles would work quite well. they are flexible and wont restict movement between the cab and cap. and, if they should ever come off at speed they wont kill anybody behind you. just a thought.
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-14-2010, 09:58 PM   #175 (permalink)
sid
EcoModding Apprentice
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Florida
Posts: 202

grayranger - '10 Ford Ranger XL 2 door supercab
90 day: 30.43 mpg (US)
Thanks: 27
Thanked 48 Times in 28 Posts
I have used pipe insulation for filling and sealing the space between the cab and the topper on all three trucks I've owned, a total of 18 years of experience doing this. The kind I use is the foam rubber type. I haven't tried the type that is made with the same material as pool noodles. The foam rubber type seems to me to be more flexible and better at filling voids and sealing.

Last week I tried using this same pipe insulation to fill the gap between my bumper and my grill on my 2010 Ford Ranger. So far it seems to be staying in place. I don't drive regular enough routes to make it easy to tell if it has helped my fuel economy, though I have been averaging about 32 mpg on this tank, according to Scangauge, with 38 mpg being typical on the highway. The truck is still pretty new (bought April 21), so I'm still establishing its baseline performance.

I also use a product called Trimlock to seal between the cab and topper. I use a double seal to keep bugs and rain out, since I frequently camp in my topper. The Trimlock I use is a "C" shaped aluminum strip, covered with plastic, that has a rubber tube attached to the aluminum strip on the side opposite the opening of the "C." I'll take a picture of it and post it in the next couple days when there is daylight (it's dark now), assuming I'm allowed to post pictures. The Trimlock costs about $1.50 per running foot.
__________________
2010 Ford Ranger, extra cab, 2.3 liter
http://www.stonemarmot.com

Band's latest song/music video "I Sing Along"
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to sid For This Useful Post:
slowmover (06-17-2010)
Old 06-17-2010, 12:58 PM   #176 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: new orleans, la
Posts: 3
Thanks: 1
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Looks great !!! But, what is and where do I get "shrink plastic" because I want to try this one myself. Also, what was your city and your highway mileage each before and after the fantastic transformation AND how do you get the cover to attach to the walls of the cargo bed ??
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2010, 01:00 PM   #177 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: new orleans, la
Posts: 3
Thanks: 1
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
sorry buds, i didn't see the rest of the thread after the first picture - i'm new to the site so please forgive my asking already-answered questions.
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2010, 10:58 PM   #178 (permalink)
sid
EcoModding Apprentice
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Florida
Posts: 202

grayranger - '10 Ford Ranger XL 2 door supercab
90 day: 30.43 mpg (US)
Thanks: 27
Thanked 48 Times in 28 Posts
Here are the Trimlock pictures I promised. The first shows a piece of Trimlock.



The next shows the Trimlock on my new truck between the topper and the cab. The open end of the "C" part of the Trimlock is mounted on the edge of the 4 mm Okoume marine plywood I used for the skin of this topper, which I built.




Incidentally, my Scangauge was not properly calibrated and was reading about 10 % high. So I really averaged about 29 mpg on my last tank of gas, and about 34 mpg on the highway.
__________________
2010 Ford Ranger, extra cab, 2.3 liter
http://www.stonemarmot.com

Band's latest song/music video "I Sing Along"
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2010, 01:25 AM   #179 (permalink)
Aero Deshi
 
ChazInMT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Vero Beach, FL
Posts: 1,065

MagMetalCivic - '04 Honda Civic Sedan EX
Last 3: 34.25 mpg (US)
Thanks: 430
Thanked 668 Times in 357 Posts
Uh, Sid.....what's this topper you made look like???? From the tiny part showing in the photo, it looks like your craftmanship puts us all to shame. Show more. Please. Thanks.
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2010, 03:12 PM   #180 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Big Dave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Steppes of Central Indiana
Posts: 1,319

The Red Baron - '00 Ford F-350 XLT
90 day: 27.99 mpg (US)

Impala Phase Zero - '96 Chevrolet Impala SS
90 day: 21.03 mpg (US)
Thanks: 0
Thanked 186 Times in 127 Posts
This Trimlock stuff looks like what we've all been looking for. Where do you get it?

__________________
2000 Ford F-350 SC 4x2 6 Speed Manual
4" Slam
3.08:1 gears and Gear Vendor Overdrive
Rubber Conveyor Belt Air Dam
  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Ben Nelson's Electro-Metro Build thread bennelson Fossil Fuel Free 1499 12-22-2019 07:24 PM
The Little Red Build Thread Oval_Overload EcoModding Central 37 09-30-2010 06:19 PM
Build Thread Key Postings Index Experiment. TestDrive Forum News & Feedback 7 02-15-2009 08:53 PM
aerocap or tonneau? (build thread?) ModelE Aerodynamics 9 01-04-2009 09:36 PM
The UnNamed Wagon's build thread - Let it begin! Work in Progress XFi EcoModding Central 38 08-01-2008 12:21 AM



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