AutoSpeed - Modifying Under-Car Airflow, Part 2 In doing some research I found this. Still haven't quite got the hang of this site so some of this is coming from memory of reading the article. Seems the guy picked up 5mpg just by doing this. There is also an interesting insert about how Mercedes did it further by diffusing the airflow "away" from the rear as opposed to funneling the air from front to back in a more linear flow. Is this to decrease any added lift? He mentions an interesting tid bit about how those little plastic pieces hanging down in front of each front wheel affects both mpg and lift. (Those are in the front of my corolla, too). Judging from his results, I would pay 100.00 to 200.00 for a fitted pan that clipped on and was easily reversible. His methodology seems sound. He uses both before and after test data and empirical data tunnel reults for the interaction of both lift and drag. Any and all comments please.
If anything, the angle of that undercarriage piece creates lift. Notice in F1 cars, their undercarriage design is completely flat. I can understand why the author would want to create a slipstream under the front wheels, but under the car should be completely flat.
Even if there is a measurable amount of lift, picking up 5mpg and not being able to feel any difference in a real world road test pretty much makes it merely accademic. Given that such a small piece can contribute that much vs the expense and PIA trouble covering the entire under carriage, any more gains would have diminishing returns
