Peakster's First Formal Experiment a Success!

[Silveredwings]

N-n-n-n-nice J-j-j-job!

[GasSavers_roadrunner]

Originally Posted by Peakster

I just put the video of my experiment on YouTube. Enjoy!

Nice video, Peakster

[GasSavers_scostanz]

Very nice test, thanks for sharing! I wonder how this translates to other vehicles though? Based on limited input, the results seem to be consistent with other Metro's but it isn't clear that you can transfer that to another model.

Just wondering.

-- Scott

[Peakster]

Originally Posted by scostanz

Very nice test, thanks for sharing! I wonder how this translates to other vehicles though? Based on limited input, the results seem to be consistent with other Metro's but it isn't clear that you can transfer that to another model.

Just wondering.

-- Scott

Mostly likely it would be different with various model cars. For instance, if I ripped the mirrors off of The Chevy, I probably wouldn't see much difference at all because the truck has huge frontal area anyway.

Because the Geo metro gets higher FE numbers, than most cars, the mpg difference is much more readable than if I drove the truck which gets 15 mpg to begin with.

[skewbe]

Peakster, Thanks for doing and sharing. 70 MPH is probably the biggest factor IMHO. My average speed is 25 so it wouldn't help me much, but people who use the hiway a lot certainly have much more to gain with the aerodynamic improvements, ANY aerodynamic improvements.

scostanz, true enough, it could be that the mirrors are effectively blanked out from the shape/location of the windshield/bug guard/grille on another vehicle. You cannot say for certain that this transfers to another vehicle, certainly the exact numbers wont. But you can make the generalization that less frontal area equals less drag, so it probably will help reduce drag to some degree.

If you are going slow, then the mirrors offer better situational awareness and reduced blind spot, and I would keep them. Only if you spend most of your time going fast would I suggest *considering* shaving off your outside mirrors (and then consider replacing them with a camera or at least one of those multi angle wide interior jobbies).

[MetroMPG]

Or do like I did: compromise - delete the pass. outside mirror (inside replacement) and fold back the driver's side on the highway, and deploy it for city driving.

Neat vid, Peakster.

[kickflipjr]

That was a well done experiment. -25 Celsius? Brrrrrr.

[landspeed]

Thanks for publishing this . I am going to try mirrors off, and try to break the invisible barrier of 50.6 (UK) MPG - no matter what I do, I can't seem to get past the number!.

Regarding the drag of the mirrors, it has already been mentioned that they add to frontal area, and are placed in a position where the air speeds up due to being forced around the car.

There is also a long column of turbulence behind the mirrors - a few days ago, as a passenger, I held a cup of steaming hot tea (from a thermos) behind the mirror, and the turbulence was very well demonstrated!.

[landspeed]

BTW, 0.2GPH is not bad for idle - it means that, coasting with engine-on at
30mph will be like getting 150mpg, while at 60mph, it will be 300 mpg!

[eivad1]

if u get a bigger inside mirror the delete of the outside mirror is that legal