Takin' the Vortekz plunge

[SL8Brick]

http://www.vortekz.com

That's right, after months of contemplation...the Vortekz fins are going on my Volvo wagon. I may be deleting my rear lip spoiler altogether or I might keep it on and try some A/B testing in the near future. In any case, my black Vortekz kit is ordered and will be installed once my car is done @ the repair shop.
Actually, I ordered 3 sets. My Dad expressed interest in them for his Mazda5. Since his birthday is coming up soon, I ordered him a primed set which I'll have custom-painted in body color and install for him.
Also...one of my co-workers just purchased a 1999 Audi A6 Avant. This afternoon he complained to me about his poor FE and how fast the rear hatch gets dirty. I showed him the fins online and he plopped $20 in my hand for a black kit.

And BTW: Since installing a Vortekz kit on my Nephew's Camaro this past Summer, he claims a modest mpg increase on long highway trips. But he also told me that he constantly has to field questions about them from curious people almost everywhere he goes.

[Matt Timion]

I would love some good testing on these. it's interesting to say the least.

[SL8Brick]

Originally Posted by theclencher

i want one for the top of my head

If you shaved your head they would probably stick, but removing them would hurt a lot more than ripping off a bandaid.

[GasSavers_SD26]

Looking forward to reading about your research.

[SL8Brick]

Wooohooo!....All 3 of my Vortekz kits came today via FedX Ground.

I'm installing the kit for my co-worker's `99 A6 Avant today during my lunchbreak. Mine will be installed tomorrow, provided that my car repairs get completed today. And finally, the primed VGs for my Dad's Mazda5 will be sent to the local bodyshop for paint next week. Installation for those won't be until the end of the month.

[DarbyWalters]

...and of course the obligatory response..."This is useless without PICS!"

Just want to see how many and spacing...I think these things do work based on my Airtabs...

[GasSavers_SD26]

Lol! +1

[SL8Brick]

Originally Posted by DarbyWalters

...and of course the obligatory response..."This is useless without PICS!"

Just want to see how many and spacing...I think these things do work based on my Airtabs...

Since I lack digicam technology, pics are pending...but I'll see if my co-worker can snap some pics for us.

The A6 is done. Only took about 50min, taking my time. Once the roof center-line is established, the included templates take care of the spacing...its fairly idiot-proof. There are 10 fins per kit.

*EDIT 1/4/06* - And on another note: After 3 weeks of being Volvoless, my car is finally repaired. I'm sure I'll be a bit lighter in the wallet, but at least I'm back on the road again.

*EDIT 1/5/06* - The Volvo is done. (Attn:Brucepick) Interestingly enough, all 10 fins fit perfectly between the hatch hinges on the body while maintaining the recommended angles/spacing. They almost look like they belong there.

[Improbcat]

I like the suggestion on the website for how to find the point of separation.

One inexpensive method for finding points of air separation on your vehicle is by covering it with a light dust like flower or corn starch and then driving it for a short period of time (preferably on a closed course or empty street). Upon exiting your vehicle you will see the areas where the dust remains and then you can simply place the Delta Wings 100MM in front of those points.

I'm tempted to try this on Box, and see where the point of separation is. Though I don't know how much something like vortekz will help on something with a rear end shaped like an shipping crate.

EDIT: after poking around that website for a bit, I couldn't help noticing that under the pic of differences in wind tunnel testing it says "Wind tunnel testing diagram is based on previous research of a similar item". Does anyone know of a product like this with actual wind tunnel testing to back it up?

[GasSavers_SD26]

Seems like one of the University's in Georgia did a bunch of work in HD truck/trailer stuff relatively recently. From that, there have been some products made to take some advantage of that.

Now, your vehicle is smaller, yes, but if it could help reduce the drag produced at the rear, like a trailer behind a tractor.

Here's a product for a trailer...
http://www.solusinc.com/vortexstrakes.html

Really, it looks kind of simple. Thought about just attaching some aluminum angle to my trailer to do something similar. I won't really use the trailer until April, so I won't really do any testing until then. Might just get Airtabs too. Not sure yet.