Did you know?

[JDl]

We know, BSc and all!

Allow me friends, fellow audio enthusiasts, indulge me, if you will, without thinking that I'm attempting to big myself up, because I, in addition am educated.
I did a 1 year Foundation Course, and a 3 year BA Honours Philosophy Degree, at the University of Wales. I got a 2-1 and the certificate to prove it.
I did this full time whilst self-employed, from 2008 to 2012, commencing with this folly at the ripe old age of 44. Considering I had had a very troubled school life, t'was not easy and I had to work pretty hard to manage it.

 

[jjbomber]

We know, BSc and all!

Most on here are educated in BS, some over qualified!

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Some interesting bits about car aerodynamics in Matt Prior's Autocar column this week, as he's running an old Audi A2 and trying narrower tyres with simpler wheels - always had a soft spot for the A2, too expensive but light, efficient and surprisingly big inside for such a small car. Mrs GSV had two.

The first mainstream mention of Cd I can recall was Audi's 100 of 1982. Compared with similarly-powered rivals that took a similar time to reach 50 mph, the 100 then gained half a second to 60 and 4 s to 100, all down to aero. But my main 'did you know?' here is this.

US TV series mythbusters tried running the same car at 65mph, once when absolutely filthy and again when rigorously clean. In the former state it returned 24mpg, the latter 26.4.

 

[Gray]

US TV series mythbusters tried running the same car at 65mph, once when absolutely filthy and again when rigorously clean. In the former state it returned 24mpg, the latter 26.4.

I've always thought there'd be a measurable difference.
Though in 40 years of car ownership, I think I've cleaned a car (inside or out) maybe twice - and taken one through a car wash once.
2.4 extra mpg isn't going to turn me into my ex-neighbour - he cleaned his car a minimum of once week.
He must've saved a fortune on fuel.

 

[Angle Poise-Lamp]

I've always thought there'd be a measurable difference.
Though in 40 years of car ownership, I think I've cleaned a car (inside or out) maybe twice - and took one through a car wash once.
2.4 extra mpg isn't going going to turn me into my ex-neighbour - I think he cleaned his car a minimum of once week.
He must've saved a fortune on fuel.

Just looked into that. Seems the best way to improve fuel consumption for motorway cruising, would be to cover your car in clay with a dimpled surface, like a golf ball. In everyday driving, the weight -penalty would probably outweigh the drag reduction.

 

[Gray]

Just looked into that. Seems the best way to improve fuel consumption for motorway cruising, would be to cover your car in clay with a dimpled surface, like a golf ball. In everyday driving, the weight -penalty would probably outweigh the drag reduction.

Thanks, I'll let the dirt build up, then dimple it 👍

 

[Stuart83]

Some interesting bits about car aerodynamics in Matt Prior's Autocar column this week, as he's running an old Audi A2 and trying narrower tyres with simpler wheels - always had a soft spot for the A2, too expensive but light, efficient and surprisingly big inside for such a small car. Mrs GSV had two.

The first mainstream mention of Cd I can recall was Audi's 100 of 1982. Compared with similarly-powered rivals that took a similar time to reach 50 mph, the 100 then gained half a second to 60 and 4 s to 100, all down to aero. But my main 'did you know?' here is this.

US TV series mythbusters tried running the same car at 65mph, once when absolutely filthy and again when rigorously clean. In the former state it returned 24mpg, the latter 26.4.

I saw all sorts around the modded car scene as a yoof that actually works exponentially better and almost free, it's been doing the rounds since the early days of mods way back but has like the above it's drawbacks, although running skinnies with the things we had would be suicide and most car enthusiasts never have a dirty enough car to experience any such aerodynamic gains from cleaning it, I can only wonder at how dirty it must of been to actually slow it down
(Tbh most people would see a more noticeable difference from maintaining the correct tyre pressure)

The number one noticeable aero "gains" alluded to above given both for acceleration and maxing a car was to simply "get slippy" and tape up the front grills, leading edges and panel gaps 🤣
Of course common sense means most in the scenes early days knew where to put the tape to avoid the obvious overheating, i met some absolute masters mechanics and tuners on those usually cold winter nights.
(not to confuse the early days of the modding scene the 🔔ends that used to borrow mammys car and pollute the local McDonald's car park to show off their "low powered open diff" ecobox so embarrassingly balding off one front side tire so their mam can pay for another so she can get to work)

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

I can only wonder at how dirty it must of been to actually slow it down

MPG figures were measured at the same speed.