Mythbusters Golf Ball Car

[BamZipPow]

Originally Posted by slurp812

Yes, they applied clay smooth. Then ran course. Then using a tool they created, added dimples. This removed some clay of course, which was put back inside the car, so the weight was equal. And ran 2nd run.

Would weight distribution have any effect on MPG then? I think they just tossed the box of dimples in the back seat...

[BamZipPow]

I'd also be curious on what the air pressure was in the tires...

[theholycow]

Unless the box of dimples weighed 1000 pounds, it could not have made a measurable difference.

If it was heavy and weighed down the rear of the car, I suspect that would have reduced fuel economy through bad aerodynamic effect.

[BamZipPow]

You can see how much further the rear of the dimpled car squats down compared to clay car. I think they could've improved their numbers if they tossed the clay in the engine bay instead...

[theholycow]

Weird. The first picture looks more level than the other three. I wonder what's up with that?

[VetteOwner]

lol cars on the other side of the arched road

even then, if it were more level it prolly woulda gotten better mpg

[dieselbenz]

The car is bouncing over bumps in the road.

[BamZipPow]

Hmmm...that car should have ODBII on it, right? I'm surprised they didn't hook up a data logger to log all the parameters of the car while making those runs. I'm sure that would give us more confidence if that data would've been captured and posted along with the results.